Crystal Palace edged closer to mathematical safety as they returned to winning ways with a thrilling 4-3 victory over West Ham at Selhurst Park.
Palace produced a scintillating response to Tomas Soucek’s early opener as Jordan Ayew, Wilfried Zaha and Jeffrey Schlupp struck in the space of 15 first-half minutes to seize control of the game, but the Eagles’ vulnerability at set-pieces would repeatedly offer West Ham lifelines.
After Michail Antonio reduced the deficit from a corner before the break, Palace restored their two-goal lead midway through the second half, with Eberechi Eze winning and converting a penalty. But back came West Ham again, with Nayef Aguerd nodding in to atone for his foul on Eze and set up a grandstand finale.
West Ham’s potency at set-pieces was not matched by their overall attacking output, though, as Palace held on for a first Premier League win in three which lifts them up to 11th in the table and sees Roy Hodgson’s side reach the coveted 40-point mark with four games to play. West Ham remain 15th, five points clear of the relegation zone with five games left to guarantee safety.
