Crystal Palace captain Joel Ward is adamant they'll go to West Ham full of determination.

Palace go into the game in the middle of a form slump.

But Ward told the club's website: “First things first, it's going to be a battle.

“It'll be a slightly different game, with it being a London derby, but it's going to be a hard-fought game. It always has been with us and West Ham.

“Last year we had some good results [2-1 and 4-3 wins] against them, and hopefully we can continue that on, go there and give a good account of ourselves, and turn the last two games around and get some momentum behind us.

“Sometimes your character shows when your back's up against the wall and things aren't easy. You've sometimes got to come out fighting – it's how you respond to adversity that matters.

“There's a desire to change it, so we need the momentum to kick on and go to where we can go to as a club. I can speak on behalf of the lads that they all want to do that as well."

He added: “I'm not a ranter and raver. I will try to hopefully lead by example. What we do in and around the training ground, off the pitch and on the pitch, will hopefully speak volumes and will carry through.

“We've got a great group of lads and an honest group of lads. There are always going to be moments throughout the season when you have ups and downs, but it's how you get around each other and, when your backs are against the wall, come out fighting, so to speak."