West Ham 'desperate' for victory at Crystal Palace, says David Gold

Vaishali Bhardwaj14 October 2016

West Ham chairman David Gold has admitted the Hammers are "desperate" for a win when the club travel to take on London rivals Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.

Slaven Bilic's side have endured a torrid beginning to the new season, winning just one Premier League game and losing five times already this term - a streak that has left West Ham sitting in 18th place in the standings.

The Hammers now take on eighth-placed Palace at Selhurst Park tomorrow evening and, ahead of the game, Gold admitted it is a match West Ham must win if they are to begin the journey of climbing out of the relegation zone.

Writing in his column for West Ham's official website, Gold said: "We hope it will be a memorable weekend all-round for the football club and we can go into that game on Sundaycelebrating victory for the first-team at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

"I still have fond memories of the 3-1 win there last year and it would be fantastic if we could come away with a similar result.

"Palace are playing very well at the moment but we desperately need a victory and I want to walk into my office with my head held high on Monday!

"We know the importance of getting out the bottom three and we have every chance of doing that this weekend."

Palace's starting team on Saturday is likely to feature West Ham academy graduate James Tomkins, who left the Hammers for the Eagles in the summer after being told he may not play each week.

Gold believes the travelling West Ham fans will give Tomkins, 27, a warm reception on Saturday but hopes the defender will not be on the winning side this weekend.

"This will be the first time we are coming up against James Tomkins on Saturday and I am sure that he will get a great reception from the West Ham United fans," he said.

"He came through the youth academy and was a great servant to the football club. We wish him well at Palace, but not necessarily this week!"

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