West Ham United have climbed to third in the Premier League table following a 3-1 victory at Crystal Palace.
Slaven Bilic's charges took the lead a Selhurst Park when Carl Jenkinson ran onto Victor Moses's layoff to fire past Eagles goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.
Palace equalised within two minutes through Yohan Cabaye's twice-taken penalty, but they found themselves with a mountain to climb when Dwight Gayle was sent off following two bookable offences.
Though Alan Pardew's side remained in the game until the final stages, two Hammers strikes in the 88th and 94th minute, courtesy of Manuel Lanzini and Dimitri Payet, clinched all three points for the visitors.
Here is how the action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text commentary.
Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of the Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and West Ham United!
Two sides who have made impressive starts to the Premier League season go head to head at Selhurst Park this afternoon, and both will be looking to prove that they can continue to achieve success in and around the top half of the table.
Alan Pardew's charges are currently fourth in the table, with the last time the club having collected more points at the same stage of the season being 25 years ago, when they went on to finish third in the top flight.
However, the hosts this afternoon will be wary of facing a Hammers outfit who are unbeaten on their travels so far in the league this campaign, including a series of impressive victories at Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City.
Now, for the team news...
PALACE STARTING XI: Hennessey, Kelly, Hangeland, Dann (c), Souare, McArthur, Cabaye, Bolasie, Zaha, Puncheon, Gayle
WEST HAM STARTING XI: Adrian, Jenkinson, Collins, Tomkins, Cresswell, Kouyate, Noble (c), Moses, Lanzini, Payet, Sakho
PALACE SUBS: Bamford, Campbell, McCarthy, Jedinak, Sako, Delaney, Ledley
WEST HAM SUBS: Randolph, Carroll, Zarate, Valencia, Obiang, Ogbonna, Jelavic
Pardew keeps faith with the lineup that clinched a 2-0 win against West Bromwich Albion on October 3, with no changes made. He also receives a boost in that Damien Delaney and Mile Jedinak are available again, and both make the bench.
Slaven Bilic also aims to keep his side as stable as possible, and as such he makes just one enforced change, with Winston Reid not yet up to scratch following a slight injury. He is replaced at the back by James Collins.
The Hammers, much like their opponents today, are boosted by the return of notable players, such as Andy Carroll, Angelo Ogbonna and, most remarkably, Enner Valencia, who was not expected to be back until the end of October. All three are on the bench.
Eight games into the season and both these teams can be happy with their performances and results so far. Who would have thought that this would be a top six clash at this stage in time?
Nevertheless, an international break could not have arrived at a worse time for Pardew and his players, after they bounced back from successive defeats to claim two wins from two prior to the busy week of Euro 2016 qualifiers.
Losses to Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur may not have been the most surprising results during those weekends, but they were defeats which threatened to halt the momentum gained by the Eagles in the early stages of what is already proving to be an impressive campaign.
Since the game against Spurs, Palace have thrashed Charlton Athletic in the League Cup before battling to wins over Watford and West Bromwich Albion, but a difficult finish to October will push the squad to the limit as the club looks to prove that it is capable of challenging for European qualification.
Following this afternoon's clash, Pardew's side will take on high-flying Leicester City and Manchester United, while also meeting Man City in the fourth round of the League Cup.
Sitting three points off top spot after eight games may be an even better start than a confident Pardew was expecting, but he will be fully aware that one poor display could begin a run of disappointing results which would allow the teams around them to pull clear.
West Ham, meanwhile, are looking to make it four games unbeaten in the Premier League - victories over Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City remain fresh in the memory of supporters, but resilience was the key before the international break as the Hammers fought admirably to avoid defeats in back-to-back games.
Cheikhou Kouyate's stoppage-time equaliser was enough to clinch a point against Norwich City, before Carl Jenkinson and Dimitri Payet both found the net as West Ham bounced back from two goals behind to earn a 2-2 draw against Sunderland in Dick Advocaat's last game in charge.
The most recent two results are arguably the kind of displays which were missing last season, and the belief instilled in the players by Bilic means the future is surely bright for the current squad as the Hammers target a possible top six finish.
Sports Mole has recorded an audio preview of this afternoon's game at Selhurst Park. With just under half an hour to go, give it a listen and brush up in even more detail on all the details and news snippets.
HEAD TO HEAD: It was the away side who triumphed in this clash last season, with the Hammers claiming a 3-1 victory at Selhurst Park, before Glenn Murray struck twice to lead Palace to a win by the same scoreline in the reverse fixture at Upton Park in February.
Crystal Palace have only lost one of their last seven league meetings with West Ham, with four wins and two draws against the East London side.
Pardew's side are yet to draw a match in any competition this season, with seven wins and three losses overall.
They have only conceded two goals in their last four games in the Premier League, while 15 of the 18 goals - for and against - in their league matches this season have come in the second half.
Pardew, who managed West Ham a decade ago, has won 58 percent of his Premier League games as Crystal Palace manager, compared to the 36 percent he won as Hammers boss between 2003 and 2006.
West Ham, meanwhile, have the best away record in the top flight this season with three wins and one draw. They have not gone five Premier League away games without defeat since a seven-match run in January 2009.
In their eight league games so far this season, the Hammers have scored 17 goals - only Manchester City have scored more (19).
One man to watch, as has been the case in recent months, is Dimitri Payet - the Hammers man has been involved in 14 goals (five goals, nine assists) in his last 16 league appearances in England and France.
PREDICTION: With under 10 minutes until kickoff, it's time for me to have a go at predicting the result at Selhurst Park this afternoon - I reckon West Ham will edge a closely-fought game by a score of 2-1, Payet to have a hand in both goals.
Ahead of the game, Bilic had some words of support for Andy Carroll, who has been blighted by injuries since joining West Ham on a permanent £15m deal in 2013. Bilic said: "I heard about that before, that sometimes he got injured because he was not totally dedicated to being a footballer. From my first day, he was injured. But the way he was working - in six to eight weeks of struggle that was boring and not ideal and not fun - he did it as a great professional and now we are expecting big benefits out of that."
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The teams are now making their way out - once the formalities are out of the way, we'll be underway!
KICKOFF: Palace get the game underway, shooting towards the Holmesdale Road stand.
CHANCE! West Ham go up Palace's end straight away through Lanzini, who cuts the ball back to Payet in the centre of the box, but the in-form midfielder pokes wide to the right of goal.
Gayle is caught offside as he runs through on goal, but Adrian is able to save his low shot anyway.
Gayle looks to get on a long ball over the top of the West Ham defence, but Adrian comes out to clear for a throw. Lively start here at Selhurst Park.
Half-chance for Palace as Cabaye takes a quick free kick towards Gayle, who lays it off for Puncheon, but the subsequent effort is dragged well wide - nearly a throw-in.
CHANCE! Palace make a hash of a clearance and give the ball away on the edge of their own area, which allows Sakho to feed Payet, but the latter's effort is thwarted by Hennessey's low save.
CHANCE! Chaos in the Hammers box as Puncheon gets onto the ball after a melee, but his first touch takes the ball away from him and West Ham just about clear. Collins missed his kick there - could have been fatal!
A bit of a lull now following some pretty frantic action early on. Little to report except for Adrian charging out of his box to intercept a ball over the top to Souare.
Moses finds some space between the lines after a clever one-two with Noble, but Dann reads it well and nudges the former Palace striker out of the way.
West Ham win a free kick on the edge of Palace's area after a foul by Hangeland, but Cresswell skies the set piece well over the top. Back to the drawing board.
Sakho wins a corner on the left which Payet whips in towards the far post towards Tomkins, but his header goes narrowly wide and into the side netting.
BOOKING: A caution for Tomkins, who gets on the wrong side of Gayle, then pulls the striker back as he chased a through ball.
GOAL! PALACE 0-1 WEST HAM (CARL JENKINSON)
First blood goes to the Hammers! Payet offloads to Moses, who then plays a pinpoint through ball to an onrushing Jenkinson, and the latter slots underneath the body of Hennessey for the lead!
GOAL! PALACE 1-1 WEST HAM (YOHAN CABAYE, PENALTY)
Just over a minute later and the hosts are back level! Jenkinson sullies his previous good work in opening the scoring by taking down Gayle just inside the area, prompting Mark Clattenburg to give Palace a penalty, and despite ordering a retake following Gayle's premature run in the box, Cabaye does not miss either time. All level at Selhurst Park!
It's end to end stuff at the moment as Palace have two crosses cleared before West Ham break away and win a corner. Fans getting their money's worth today.
Moses heads down the left flank before slipping the ball inside to Sakho, whose clumsy effort is charged down by Dann.
BOOKING: Gayle is shown a yellow card after bringing down Payet cynically as the midfielder looked to break.
Jenkinson brings Zaha down by the left touchline, but the resulting free kick is easily cleared.
Moses and Noble combine on the right-hand side, but Zaha does well to cover his left-back and help out, which results in a goal kick for Palace.
Zaha's deflected cross off Jenkinson nearly creeps in at the near post, but Adrian gets down well to smother it.
BOOKING: Payet trips Bolasie to gift Palace a free kick, but that's not the end of it as he then has a bit of a strop and kicks the ball into the advertising boards. Out comes the yellow.
Zaha plays a deft ball over to Puncheon and Palace look to be in on goal, but West Ham track back quickly and stop the attack.
RED CARD! Palace find themselves down to ten men as Gayle is given his marching orders! He flies in on Kouyate deep inside the West Ham half, prompting Clattenburg to show him a second yellow - and his first ever dismissal!
We have a minimum of two added minutes here.
Jenkinson has plenty of space on the right, but his shot-cum-cross is a bit too strong and Payet can't get anything on it.
HALF TIME: PALACE 1-1 WEST HAM
Clattenburg blows the whistle on the first 45 minutes here at Selhurst Park and it's been an exciting half of football. Carl Jenkinson opened the scoring for the West Ham in the 22nd minute, but moments after the restart Palace won a penalty, which Yohan Cabaye stroked in at the second time of asking. In addition the hosts are down to ten men after Dwight Gayle was shown two yellow cards.
West Ham have had marginally better possession in this game at 55 percent, and also weighed in with an impressive 11 shots, though only two were on target, and four corners.
Five shots, one on target, and just one corner for Palace, who are a man down following Gayle's dismissal, but it's all square at SE25. It promises to be an interesting second half.
Here are the other half-time scores in the Premier League: Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa, Everton 0-2 Man Utd, Man City 4-1 Bournemouth, Southampton 2-0 Leicester, West Brom 0-0 Sunderland
Not long until the second half gets underway... will the full time whistle be greeted like this...
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...or like this?
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Only one way to find out... stay with Sports Mole as we bring you a blow-by-blow, kick-by-kick account of all the action at Selhurst Park!
KICKOFF: West Ham get the second half underway.
SUBSTITUTION: Bakary Sako comes on for Wilfried Zaha as Alan Pardew shuffles his pack following Gayle's sending-off.
Palace have been sitting very deep up until now but they enjoy a foray forward, Bolasie holding the ball with his back to goal just inside the area, but West Ham regroup and manage to clear.
A fairly mundane start to the second half, in all fairness, with no real chances of note so far.
Crystal Palace win a free kick, but it comes to nothing as the Hammers clear the low delivery from the six-yard area.
Puncheon does well to get past Cresswell and into a good position to have a pop, but his left-footed effort flies a few yards wide of target.
Palace win a throw off Collins on the far side, which Puncheon collects. The midfielder then shrugs off Kouyate but goes on to curl wide.
Payet feeds Kouyate down the middle, but the Senegalese's effort is charged down efficiently by Dann as it headed towards the bottom corner.
An hour into the game and it's still all level, the ten men of Palace holding on firmly and continue to push forward into West Ham's half despite the numerical disadvantage.
SUBSTITUTIONS: One for each side as Mile Jedinak comes on for James McArthur, while Mark Noble is swapped with returning striker Andy Carroll.
OFF THE BAR! Jenkinson crosses from the right into the box and onto the head of Sakho, but the latter glances the ball onto the corner of the right post with Hennessey helpless! What a let-off for the Eagles!
Payet feeds Jenkinson out wide again, but Souare gets the ensuing cross out for a corner, with Carroll going on to head wide from Payet's delivery.
BOOKING: Another corner to West Ham, which is played short, but Payet's cross is poor and allows Palace to clear. Moments later, Palace's Jedinak goes into the book for a foul on Moses.
The visitors keep turning the screw and applying pressure, as two consecutive corners come in and cause havoc in the area, but Palace clear yet again. Around quarter of an hour plus stoppage time for them to hold out.
SUBSTITUTION: Mauro Zarate comes on for Victor Moses, who is applauded by the home supporters - the Nigerian's formative days were at Palace.
Yet another West Ham corner - I think we're at nine - and the delivery is haphazardly cleared to the feet of Carroll, who fluffs his lines by firing high and wide from 25 yards out.
SUBSTITUTION: Palace goalscorer Yohan Cabaye comes off to a standing ovation to be replaced by Joe Ledley.
CHANCE! Zarate cuts in from the right and gets to the edge of the box, giving him the opportunity to let rip with a curling effort - but it goes inches wide of the right post!
Another long-range effort for the Hammers, with Lanzini trying his luck from 30 yards - the outcome is the same as Carroll's earlier shot.
Payet gets the ball into the Palace box towards Carroll at the far post, but Hennessey does well to claim.
SUBSTITUTION: This is the final change of the afternoon for Bilic, as Nikica Jelavic comes on for Diafra Sakho.
The Hammers just keep threatening - Payet creates himself some space on the edge of the box and unleashes a strong shot which is blocked by a defender.
GOAL! PALACE 1-2 WEST HAM (MANUEL LANZINI)
And right at the death, West Ham finally make their man advantage count! Carroll does well at the far post to flick on a cross, and the ball falls to Lanzini six yards out - no mistake from point-blank range to smash home and break Palace fans' hearts!
Four minutes of added time here at Selhurst Park. The way it's going, it's four extra minutes for West Ham to try and notch up a third. They're completely dominating proceedings here.
GOAL! PALACE 1-3 WEST HAM (DIMITRI PAYET)
And lo and behold, West Ham have their third, and they will be climbing to third in the Premier League! Sensational stuff from the Hammers as the Frenchman is involved in yet another goal for his side. Lanzini plays Payet in, the latter dummies and clips the ball over the advancing Hennessey, and it's game over!
FULL TIME: CRYSTAL PALACE 1-3 WEST HAM UNITED
Mark Clattenburg puts an end to the action at Selhurst Park, and what a result for the Hammers against stiff opposition as they claim a 3-1 win at ten-man Palace, with goals from Carl Jenkinson, Manuel Lanzini and Dimitri Payet - the latter two in the final few minutes of the game - rendering Yohan Cabaye's 25th-minute penalty redundant.
That's 13 points out of a possible 15 away from home for Slaven Bilic's side, putting them third in the Premier League table for the time being. Meanwhile Palace find themselves in sixth place.
That's all we have time for here at Selhurst Park, but stay with Sports Mole as we bring you all the latest match results and reactions from this and all the other big games of the day! Thank you for being part of this and enjoy the rest of your weekend!
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Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte
