West Ham 1-1 Crystal Palace
by Paul Donovan

WEST HAM should regard this as two points lost in what was a hard-fought contest at the London Stadium.

The home side should have gone on to win the game after a spectacular equalising goal from Sebastian Haller was followed by Palace being reduced to 10 men for the final 20 minutes after Christian Benteke was sent off.

West Ham seemed to lack the urgency required to go on and win the game.

Palace took the lead after 15 minutes, when Benteke headed home a Joel Ward cross from the right.

The big striker could have had a hat-trick by half time, had he taken his chances.

The introduction of Manuel Lanzini at half time added a spring in the home side's step.

The half was just 10 minutes old when Lanzini sent Vladimir Coufal away down the right.

Coufal’s cross was met by the acrobatic Haller whose overhead kick smashed into the back of the net.

Benteke then was sent off after getting a second booking for elbowing Tomas Soucek in the face as the two jumped for the ball.

He had been booked in the first half for a similar elbow on Angelo Ogbonna.

The final West Ham effort came a minute into injury time, when a Declan Rice effort from 20 yards skimmed over.

West Ham manager David Moyes felt his side produced a flat performance.

“At half time I would have snatched your hand off for a point,” said Moyes, who felt West Ham might have snatched it after Palace were reduced to 10 men.

“We had one or two chances but nothing clear cut.”

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson was aggrieved at the sending off for what he saw as two “honest challenges.”