Defensive lapses prove costly at Palace

Crystal Palace 4 West Ham 3 

The kick-off is delayed by 15 minutes thanks to dodgy season ticket readers and in the first half it seems West Ham's defence might have failed to get in too. It's another goal in the first 15 minutes for the Irons when Olise heads a corner across his own box and Soucek slams home for his first league goal since August.

But then there's a defensive collapse. Zouma isn't quite tight enough on Ayew who slots home with a good finish. Kurt is injured trying to tackle and goes off to be replaced by Ogbonna. While the defence is regrouping a cross from Emerson's flank isn't cut out and Zaha mishits home having got away from Coufal at the far post. 

The Hammers just can't cope with the flair of Eze, Olise and Zaha, aided by the team play of Ayew, and concede a catastrophic third. Aguerd foolishly gives the ball to Soucek in a dangerous position. Tomas has his pocket picked by Schlupp, who calmly slots it past Fabianski.

At least the Irons keep at it and pull one back from another corner. Soucek flicks on and Antonio heads in at the back stick. 

At the break Moyes brings on Benrahma and Cresswell for Fornals and Emerson, though the Hammers never get any passing going in midfield and the extra day's rest Palace have had proves crucial. Palace go 4-2 up with a dodgy penalty scored by Eze. Aguerd's arm was out but he barely touched Eze.

West Ham only ever look like scoring from a corner and sure enough, Soucek gets his head to another corner and his looping header is just about turned in by Aguerd. An eventful afternoon for Tomas who has scored one goal and made three assists, two for West Ham and one for Palace. 

We have eight minutes of added time, but Palace deserve the points and Benrahma's final wayward cross sums up the afternoon. Very disappointing to score three goals away from home and lose. Assuming we lose at City, WHU need to get something from the Man United game now.