Crystal Palace 4-3 West Ham United: Eagles edge seven-goal thriller to reach 40-point mark

Crystal Palace deservedly edged a seven-goal thriller against West Ham to reach the 40-point mark targeted by manager Roy Hodgson and leave the Hammers in relegation trouble.

Former England boss Hodgson has led Palace to four wins in six games since returning as manager last month to almost certainly guide the Eagles, now 11 points clear of the bottom three, to safety.

Kick-off in south London was delayed by 15 minutes because of an issue with the turnstiles - but there was no shortage of action once the match got under way.

Although West Ham took an early lead when Tomas Soucek punished Michael Olise's failure to clear a corner, Palace swung the game in their favour with three goals in an impressive 15-minute spell.

Jordan Ayew levelled within six minutes with a first-time finish at the end a slick move, before the returning Wilfried Zaha finished from Eberechi Eze's pass across the six-yard box and Jeffrey Schlupp added a third after dispossessing Soucek.

A superb first-half took another twist when West Ham again capitalised on a corner, Michail Antonio heading in at the back post to reduce the deficit before the break.

Eze's penalty restored Palace's two-goal advantage midway through the second half after he was judged to have been fouled by Nayef Aguerd - but the Hammers defender made amends as the visitors responded with a scrappy third from yet another set-piece.

However, David Moyes' side could not find a late equaliser to boost their survival prospects and West Ham remain five points above the relegation places with five games remaining.

Exciting Palace delight Hodgson

These are the days that 75-year-old Hodgson returned to management for.

Although Palace's unbeaten start since his return to the club last month was ended at Wolves earlier in the week, a run of three wins and a draw had taken the Eagles to within touching distance of what Hodgson described as the "magical" 40 points required to confirm safety.

With the pressure seemingly lifted from his players' shoulders, Hodgson welcomed back captain Zaha after a four-match absence with injury as part of a fluid attack that delivered joyous moments for the home support.

Accompanied by Olise, Eze, Ayew and Schlupp in an energetic front line, Palace were lively from the outset and did not allow their early setback to derail their afternoon.

Soucek, a constant menace at corners, kept West Ham in the match with his set-piece threat and it was the Czech midfielder who reacted quickest when Olise's miscued header dropped in the six-yard box.

But, backed by a rocking Selhurst Park, the Palace response was emphatic.

Olise continued to display his promise and registered his ninth Premier League assist of the season - a tally bettered only by Kevin de Bruyne (16), Bukayo Saka (11) and Leandro Trossard (10) - when he picked out the run of Ayew for a well-taken finish before Ayew left Eze's pass at the front post, allowing Zaha to slot in.

Schlupp was then rewarded for his determined pressing, rolling the ball under Lukasz Fabianski as Palace threatened to run riot.

West Ham, whose midweek loss to Liverpool was only their second defeat in 11 games in all competitions, have found form at a vital point of the season - and Moyes' side were able to reduce the deficit before the interval through Antonio.

Yet while Moyes will likely feel aggrieved that Eze's penalty was not overturned - Aguerd appeared to make minimal contact with the forward - he can have few complaints about the result.

Aguerd was awarded the Hammers' third as he and Antonio combined at the back post to bundle in after Soucek's flick-on, but Palace held on to earn a victory they deserved to all but secure their Premier League status.

West Ham, meanwhile, must watch on as their relegation rivals battle for points over the remainder of the weekend.

Player of the match

EzeEberechi Eze

Crystal Palace

Squad number10Player nameEze

Squad number7Player nameOlise

Squad number11Player nameZaha

Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew

Squad number4Player nameMilivojevic

Squad number22Player nameÉdouard

Squad number15Player nameSchlupp

Squad number28Player nameDoucouré

Squad number6Player nameGuéhi

Squad number16Player nameAndersen

Squad number3Player nameMitchell

Squad number2Player nameWard

Squad number21Player nameJohnstone

West Ham United

Squad number9Player nameAntonio

Squad number28Player nameSoucek

Squad number11Player nameLucas Paquetá

Squad number20Player nameBowen

Squad number41Player nameRice

Squad number27Player nameAguerd

Squad number1Player nameFabianski

Squad number5Player nameCoufal

Squad number8Player nameFornals

Squad number22Player nameBenrahma

Squad number18Player nameIngs

Squad number3Player nameCresswell

Squad number21Player nameOgbonna

Squad number33Player nameEmerson

Squad number4Player nameZouma

Squad number14Player nameCornet

Line-ups

Crystal Palace

Formation 4-3-3

21Johnstone

2Ward16Andersen6Guéhi3Mitchell

10Eze28Doucouré15Schlupp

7Olise9J Ayew11Zaha

Substitutes

West Ham

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Fabianski

5Coufal4Zouma27Aguerd33Emerson

28Soucek41Rice

20Bowen11Lucas Paquetá8Fornals

9Antonio

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Crystal Palace 4, West Ham United 3.

Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 4, West Ham United 3.

Foul by Odsonne Édouard (Crystal Palace).

Nayef Aguerd (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Substitution, Crystal Palace. Luka Milivojevic replaces Cheick Doucouré.

Delay in match because of an injury Nayef Aguerd (West Ham United).

Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Joel Ward.

Substitution, West Ham United. Maxwel Cornet replaces Michail Antonio.

Attempt blocked. Saïd Benrahma (West Ham United) right footed shot from more than 40 yards on the left wing is blocked.

Attempt blocked. Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Eberechi Eze with a cross.

Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Nayef Aguerd.

Substitution, Crystal Palace. Odsonne Édouard replaces Wilfried Zaha.

Foul by Joel Ward (Crystal Palace).

Aaron Cresswell (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt blocked. Michael Olise (Crystal Palace) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Marc Guéhi with a headed pass.

Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Angelo Ogbonna (West Ham United).

Offside, West Ham United. Declan Rice tries a through ball, but Saïd Benrahma is caught offside.

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

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