Written by: @daena_bodie

So there it is, just like that, West Ham’s six game unbeaten run has come to an end. Having gone through a period that saw the Hammers sitting in the dizzying heights of the Premier League’s top six, the club is back down in eight. The performance against Palace wasn’t necessarily a bad one, but it was a match that saw chances go begging, a couple of tough decisions go against the Hammers, and ultimately the East Londoners failed to put the game to bed.

Coming away with a 2-1 loss after being ahead through a superb bit of build-up play is a tough pill to swallow. More so due to the fact that Pellegrini’s men showed exactly what they can do when they move the ball quickly and efficiently across the pitch. Of course, as fans, the Hammers can’t expect that level of quality every time they have the ball, but it certainly begs the question “Why can’t we threaten more and create more chances?”

It’s hard to fault Pellegrini’s player selection as he opted for what can be considered the clubs strongest XI, while some will still debate between Masuaku and Cresswell. It’s also difficult to argue the Chilean’s tactics as the players on the pitch had every opportunity to win the match. However, every fan knows that the minimum you can give in the Premier League is effort and it can be said that effort was severely lacking for a number of the Hammers starting XI.

It’s hard to ignore the pedestrian pace of the Palace match, especially in the first half. Stats show that West Ham have only scored four goals in the first half of matches so far this season with clubs like Watford, Sheffield United, and Newcastle amongst those with fewer. This stat is alarming but hardly surprising based on what fans are seeing. The Hammers have consistently been slow to start in games this season. Granted, they improve as the game goes on, but there is a noticeable lack of intensity from the off.

Whether this has been a tactical decision from Pellegrini, or the players simply need a reality check at half time, the lack of pace shown again in the Palace match is definitely cause for concern. Both teams sauntered around the pitch, neither offered a lot, and the Hammers looked as if they felt they deserved to win just by showing up. But having more quality on display doesn’t win you matches in the Premier League.

If the club is going to really start pushing for a top six place, it is crucial that no game is taken for granted and Pellegrini has to do more to combat that. Whether it’s Crystal Palace or Man United, unbeaten runs aside, consecutive clean sheets aside, West Ham have got to consistently show fans the quality that is within the team.