Crystal Palace are still in the drop zone, but they're off the bottom of the table after a 1-0 win at home against West Ham United on Tuesday. New manager Tony Pulis has already managed to remake the team in his image, with Palace scoring first on a header, then turning in a great defensive performance for the remainder of the match.
Crystal Palace vs. West Ham United: Final score 1-0, hosts get a crucial victory
Tony Pulis has already made his mark on Crystal Palace, who earned a big home win over relegation rivals West Ham United on Tuesday night.
Bryn Lennon
It was all West Ham early on, though, and Palace were probably a bit lucky to avoid conceding inside the opening half hour. There were no clear-cut chances for West Ham, but they were well on top, playing most of the opening 30 minutes in Palace’s defensive third.
The game turned around in the 42nd minute when Marouane Chamakh turned in his second goal of the season. Barry Bannan set it up with an in-swinging cross from the right flank that glanced off Chamakh's head, past Jussi Jaaskelainen and a West Ham defender that was standing on the line.
Cameron Jerome had a massive chance to double his team's lead in the 52nd minute when he was played through on goal, but failed to beat Jaaskelainen one-on-one, instead hitting his shot right at the West Ham keeper. It looked at the time like it might be a turning point in the match, but West Ham failed to generate much of an attack.
Sam Allardyce tried to liven up his team by bringing Joe Cole and Modibo Maiga into the game in the 58th minute, but Palace held on comfortably, restricting West Ham to just two shots on target on the night.
Crystal Palace: Speroni, Moxey, Delaney, Gabbidon, Ward, Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Puncheon (Kebe 66’), Bannan (O’Keefe 82’), Chamakh (Williams 85’), Jerome
Goals: Chamakh (42’)
West Ham: Jaaskelainen, Rat (McCartney 78’), Collins, Tomkins, O’Brien, Noble, Diame, Nolan (J. Cole 58’), Downing, C. Cole (Maiga 58’), Morrison
Goals: None
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