Crystal Palace vs West Ham preview - Pulis wants home front

Posted Tuesday, December 03, 2013 by PA

Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis is aware his team must turn the corner and clinch their first home win since August 31 when they take on West Ham in Tuesday's Barclays Premier League match.

The Eagles go into the London derby at Selhurst Park in desperate need of points as they lie at the foot of the standings, six points from safety.

Palace have mustered just four of their current seven points at home this season.

"We have two games at home and we need to win our own games, there's no question about that," Pulis said in Monday's press conference.

"If we get the crowd behind us, which I don't doubt that, and we get some breaks, then we can do well.

"We are in desperate need of taking results to stay in the Premier League."

Tuesday's match will mark Pulis' first home game since taking over the London outfit last week.

"I'm looking forward to the atmosphere and being a local derby, it gives it a bit of spice," he said. "We need everything from everybody.

"We need this group to get together. We need to stay in the game if we can."

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has stated he will rotate his squad for the trip to Selhurst Park, as continues a schedule of three matches in eight days.

The Hammers have no fresh injury concerns after Saturday's victory over Fulham, with Andy Carroll (heel), Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder) and Razvan Rat (hamstring) remaining sidelined.

West Ham climbed to 15th in the table after dispatching Fulham, but Allardyce stresses the victory means nothing if they are unable to prevail at Selhurst Park.

"The win is just a small contribution to help the situation we're in, but we have to enlarge on that," he said.

"Saturday will have been a waste if we lose to Crystal Palace because they're below us and will gain three points on us."