Crystal Palace 2-2 West Ham United
- Published
Point scant reward for gutsy Palace - Hodgson
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson felt Wilfried Zaha's 96th-minute equaliser against West Ham earned his side "scant reward" from a game they dominated.
Zaha snatched Palace their fourth point of the season with the final kick of the game, turning inside the box and finishing low through a host of bodies into the far corner.
It came at the end of a battling second half from the home side, who found themselves 2-0 down at the break thanks to a neat finish from Javier Hernandez and a stunning 20-yard drive from Andre Ayew.
Luka Milivojevic reduced the deficit from the penalty spot after Andros Townsend had been fouled in the box by Angelo Ogbonna.
Palace also hit the woodwork twice and forced a number of good saves from Joe Hart, but the Hammers keeper was powerless to prevent Zaha's effort finding the net.
There were contrasting emotions for the two managers following the last kick of the match
"If we had not got something then it would have been really, really unjust," Hodgson told BBC Sport. "To lose a game where you only faced two shots and you've had 20-odd, and hit the post and had one cleared off the line, it is hard to take.
"Although we are pleased, because you are always pleased to get a point when staring defeat in the face, I still thought it was scant reward.
"We are happy with a point but I believe, on the performance, we deserved more."
Hodgson's side remain bottom of the Premier League table, but have reduced the gap between themselves and the safety of 17th to four points.
The draw also adds to the foundations given to them two weeks ago courtesy of their home win over champions Chelsea.
It is a bitter blow to West Ham, who came into the game off the back of a rousing comeback win over Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, but now find themselves just a point above the bottom three.
Zaha the hero again
Wilfried Zaha's goal (96:06) was the second-latest goal scored in the Premier League this season, after Raheem Sterling's winner at Bournemouth in August (96:34)
It is no surprise that Palace's upturn in results - at home at least - has coincided with Zaha's return from injury.
The Ivory Coast international missed six of the seven defeats with which Palace began their league season, but returned to score the winner against Chelsea before again proving his worth on Saturday as the focal point of his side's attack.
He was not alone in offering little in the first half, but significantly upped his game in the second to provide a regular threat, forcing Hart into full-stretch diving saves from two of his six attempts at goal.
Zaha's fellow forward Townsend was also a greater presence in the game after the break and it was his run that coaxed a clumsy challenge from Ogbonna for the penalty, fired home by Milivojevic.
Cabaye struck the post with a shot and the combative James Tomkins hit the bar with a header from a corner as Palace strove, initially in vain, for a parity that Zaha would dramatically provide.
"We worked so hard. We did all the right things. We are buzzing and we deserved it," said Zaha. "The manager said at half-time that we were not playing badly.
"The stress must be crazy as a Palace fan. We are playing cup finals every week."
One step forward, two steps back
West Ham gutted after 97th minute goal - Bilic
West Ham's remarkable comeback from two goals down in their Carabao Cup tie at Tottenham on Wednesday suggested that reports of Slaven Bilic's imminent sacking were a tad premature.
The Hammers' stirring response at Wembley showcased a determination and togetherness previously lacking in what has been a dire start to a Premier League campaign that plumbed new depths with last Friday's 3-0 home loss against Brighton.
Bilic admitted that this result "felt like a defeat", with the final blow coming deep into a game in which they had shown an initial ruthlessness and then backs-to-the-wall resolve.
The first half was full of positives for the Hammers, who drafted in four of their protagonists from Wednesday's game - Ogbonna and Cresswell at the back, Mark Noble in midfield and Ayew, scorer of two in that game, in attack.
It was from Cresswell's cross that Hernandez opened the scoring with a neat finish using the outside of his boot, before Ayew scored the game's best goal, a long-range finish off the underside of the bar following a jinking run.
After conceding early in the second half they showed a resolve that has been largely lacking this season, but tarnished it in the game's final moments.
Given the opportunity to hold on to the ball deep in Palace territory, and with 96 minutes on the clock, substitute Michail Antonio fired a loose and pointless cross straight into the arms of home keeper Julian Speroni.
Less than a minute later, the home side were level and the under-pressure Bilic was storming to the changing room shaking his head in frustration.
"We knew that the game was not over at 2-0 up at half-time," said Bilic. "I am very disappointed with the penalty, but the way we conceded the leveller was very disappointing.
"We needed to keep the ball and we made the wrong decision, with Michail Antonio choosing to cross the ball rather than keep it.
"We have to manage the game on the pitch. The game was finished."
Man of the match - Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
Since the 2014-15 season, no player has scored more Premier League goals for Crystal Palace than Wilfried Zaha (15, level with Christian Benteke)
Palace still to keep a clean sheet - the stats you need to know
Crystal Palace are one of just four teams in the big 5 European leagues yet to keep a clean sheet this season (also Benevento, Malaga and Dijon).
West Ham are unbeaten in the Premier League versus Crystal Palace under Slaven Bilic (W3 D2 L0).
All 41 of Javier Hernandez's Premier League goals have been scored from inside the box; only Tim Cahill (56/56) has a higher 100% record.
Andre Ayew has scored three goals in his last two games in all competitions for West Ham - more than he'd managed in his previous 10 this season (2).
West Ham scored with both of their shots on target in this match.
What's next?
Both teams have tough fixtures. Palace travel to Tottenham on Sunday for a 12:00 BST Premier League kick-off.
West Ham are at home to Liverpool the day before (17:30).