A penalty from Mile Jedinak has given Crystal Palace a 1-0 win over West Ham United at Upton Park in the Premier League this afternoon.
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Players from both sides led a minute's applause ahead of kickoff to mark the death of 20-year-old West Ham striker Dylan Tombides, who passed away following a three-year battle with cancer yesterday.
The home side had a chance to open the scoring after 10 minutes when Kevin Nolan sent the ball in for Andy Carroll, but Adrian Mariappa was able to stop the striker from heading in.
Palace had a dominant spell midway through the first half, with Carroll clearing a Kagisho Dikgacoi header off the line, while Yannick Bolasie and Mariappa also had opportunities.
The hosts wanted a penalty shortly before the break when Carroll was brought down under a challenge from Jedinak, but the referee did not believe that it was a foul.
Julian Speroni had to make a couple of saves late on as West Ham tried to edge ahead, but Nolan and Carroll were both denied by the Palace keeper.
Carroll continued to look West Ham's best chance of a goal at the start of the second half as Stewart Downing crossed the ball in for the striker, who then passed to Mohamed Diame, who sent the ball wide.
However, the visitors managed to break the deadlock just before the hour mark when Cameron Jerome was fouled in the box, giving Tony Pulis's side a spot kick, which Jedinak calmly converted.
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West Ham saw plenty of the ball as they looked for an equaliser but had few chances, while Jerome almost extended Palace's lead with a counter-attacking move.
There were more chances for the visitors when Jason Puncheon tried to force the ball in, but his finish took a deflection off Joe Ledley, while Mariappa hit the post.
Antonio Nocerino came off the bench to provide a fresh threat for the Hammers late on, but the home side could not get back on level terms.
The result leaves Palace 11th in the table, while West Ham sit 12th.
Sian Cowper
