The game was delayed by 15 minutes, but my word, was it worth the wait.
For the neutrals who tuned in to see what the Premier League had to offer this Saturday afternoon, they were in for a mouth-watering defensive rampage for their viewing pleasure.
For Crystal Palace and West Ham fans, this has been a nerve-wracking goal fest full of ups and downs and topless parties and VAR frustrations and ‘you’re going down’ and ‘we’re not, we’re not’.
It was wonderfully crazy and in the end it was Palace who took the points from a game in which seven different goalscorers scored. They have now reached that magical 40 point mark and are above Chelsea as they continue this amazing renaissance under Roy Hodgson.
Unfortunately for David Moyes, West Ham are still in the race against relegation. Really bad. This made it two defeats in four days, with Manchester City and Manchester United following the week after.
Crystal Palace saw off a spirited West Ham challenge to secure three points at Selhurst Park
The result marks the club’s continued revitalization since Roy Hodgson’s return in March
Moyes remained unsatisfied with Palace’s fourth goal – a penalty won and scored by Eberechi Eze. It was scrutinized by VAR Jarred Gillett who felt there wasn’t enough wrong with it to overturn referee Craig Pawson’s decision.
That was ultimately the difference between the two teams here.
The announcement came seven minutes before the 12:30 start – kick-off would be delayed for 15 minutes due to turnstile problems leaving thousands of supporters outside. West Ham were not happy with the short term. They were nimble, lined up to walk out and, to be honest, wouldn’t mind if Holmesdale Road End were a little less rowdy than usual.
Palace could not delay kick-off further lest they risk eating into the 3pm blackout. When the players finally got on the field, one name was repeatedly chanted. It was that of Wilfried Zaha, the 30-year-old captain whose contract expires in July.
In contrast to the kick-off, West Ham did not wait to take the lead. They scored within 10 minutes as Tomas Soucek grabbed his first goal since August. Michael Olise’s header from Jarrod Bowen’s corner was poor. Soucek accepted his gift and shot the ball past Sam Johnstone for 1-0.
After fifteen minutes it was 1-1 and Olise made up for his mistake. Jordan Ayew, played offside by Kurt Zouma, burst out behind West Ham’s back-line to beat Lukasz Fabianski.
Ayew couldn’t contain his excitement as he took off his shirt. As it turned out, Zouma was injured while trying to stop him from scoring, forcing West Ham to make an unwanted substitution.
Tomas Soucek put West Ham ahead with a goal after just nine minutes in the London derby
But Palace hit back after Jordan Ayew slid his shot past West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski
The hosts took the initiative and Wilfried Zaha put Roy Hodgson’s side ahead after 20 minutes
Jeffrey Schlupp added a third on 30 minutes to double the home side’s advantage
The visitors were a constant threat from set pieces and Mikhail Antonio scored from a corner kick
As Zouma stumbled through the tunnel – to chants of ‘this is how your cat feels’ – Palace took the lead. Olise’s low ball through the box trickled to Zaha at the back post. Unmarked by Vladimir Coufal, he made it 2-1 after 20 minutes.
One of the loudest cheers of the day was reserved for the 23rd minute when Hodgson controlled a ball that fell from the Gods. Turns out you never lose it, 75 or not.
In the 29th minute it was 3-1 and West Ham only had themselves to thank for that. Nayef Aguerd tried to play out from behind by passing to Soucek, who saw Jeffrey Schlupp breathing down his neck. Soucek lost the ball and Schlupp pushed it under Fabianski.
The West Ham players held an on-pitch inquiry, with Declan Rice waving his arms as if to say, ‘Get y’all together.’
The fifth goal of the game came in the 35th minute. Emerson’s corner kick was tapped towards the back post by Soucek. There Mikhail Antonio waited to make it 3-2 with Cheick Doucoure playing him offside as Palace complained of further dismal defending at a set piece.
We then experienced a goal drought as the score stayed the same until half time. Palace wanted help before the break, arguing that Zaha was put aside by Coufal in the penalty area.
Referee Craig Pawson said it was six of one, half a dozen the other, and their battle continued in the second half with Coufal booked for a cynical trip on Zaha. “He’s just too good for you,” Palace supporters chanted to the West Ham right-back.
The referee controversially awarded Palace a penalty for a foul on Eberechi Eze and the 24-year-old duly converted from the spot
Nayef Aguerd took comfort from another corner after a VAR check
But despite a long injury time, Moyes’ (right) team failed to find the equalizer
Palace finally got their penalty in the 63rd minute as Eze and Ayew played a one-two. Eze collapsed under pressure from Aguerd, who was adamant about not hitting his opponent. Pawson pointed to the spot and as soft as it was, VAR Jarred Gillett said there was nothing obvious or obvious wrong with the decision.
Eze himself took the penalty and made it 4-2, which upset Fabianski.
In the 72nd minute it was 4-3 and it was deja vu from earlier. There was another corner, this time from Bowen. Another flick-on at the nearest post by Soucek. Another goal, Aguerd the scorer. VAR Gillett looked for a handball to disallow but couldn’t find one.
This was West Ham’s fifth goal from a corner in their last six Premier League games. They keep getting better at their choreography and tried to score a late equalizer from other similar scenarios. It wasn’t to be. Palace is not in this fight for survival, but West Ham is not.