CROYDON, London (Interstat) — In a Premier League fixture that defied pregame projections, Crystal Palace and West Ham United played to a scoreless draw Monday at Selhurst Park, a result that left both London clubs searching for their first victory of the young season.

The match, played on April 20, 2026, failed to produce a goal despite statistical models heavily favoring the home side. Interstat’s ELO system had given Crystal Palace an 84.70 percent probability to win, while its game simulator had predicted a 1-1 draw, an outcome that at least anticipated goals.

Instead, the game was marked by stout defending, missed opportunities and a flurry of late disciplinary actions. The stalemate leaves both teams with identical records in league play: zero wins, zero losses and one draw. Their overall records across all competitions this season mirror that mark.

The most notable chances of the contest arose from the boots of substitutes. The key performance came from West Ham’s El Hadji Malick Diouf, who entered the match in the second half. Diouf provided a critical assist on a play that nearly broke the deadlock, but the resulting shot was ultimately kept out by the Crystal Palace defense.

For the hosts, defender Daniel Muñoz also recorded an assist, pushing forward from his backline role to create one of Palace’s more dangerous attacks. Midfielder Brennan Johnson was credited with an assist as well, as Palace’s engine in the middle of the park tried to spur the attack.

Discipline became a focal point as the match wore on. Johnson received the game’s first booking in the 21st minute for a tactical foul. The tension culminated in a bizarre sequence deep into second-half stoppage time. In the 90+2 minute, both Muñoz and Diouf — the two players who had provided the primary creative sparks — were shown yellow cards, suggesting a heated conclusion to the frustrating affair.

The result will likely be viewed as a point gained for West Ham United, which managed a clean sheet on the road against a team favored to win. For Crystal Palace, the inability to convert its perceived advantage and high probability of victory into three points will be a disappointment, especially in front of the home supporters. Both sides will look to find their attacking rhythm as the Premier League season continues.