West Ham in crisis as Potter under pressure after Palace loss

West Ham’s 2-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday deepened a crisis at the London Stadium and left manager Graham Potter fighting for his job as fans staged protests against the club hierarchy. Jean-Philippe Mateta’s first-half header from a corner and Tyrick Mitchell’s late volley secured Palace’s win; Jarrod Bowen’s header briefly levelled the game after the break. The result left West Ham in the bottom third of the Premier League and increased calls for immediate action.

The defeat highlighted West Ham’s recurring set-piece vulnerabilities. The hosts conceded from a well-rehearsed corner routine that trapped goalkeeper Alphonse Areola and left Mateta unmarked, a pattern that has seen the club give up an unusually high proportion of goals from corners this season. Supporters made their displeasure clear before kick-off with marches and protests aimed at chairman and directors, and a sizeable section of the crowd booed a 78th-minute substitution that saw creative midfielder Mateus Fernandes removed, chanting “sacked in the morning.”

Potter acknowledged the difficult moment in his post-match remarks, urging unity. “I have no complaints about the club or the support, but I...