Image source, Getty Images

Indeed Palace do take the lead! And it is Glenn Murray who nets. Well, sort of. The Eagles striker heads goalwards inside a packed Hammers penalty area and the ball somehow squirms into the home goal.

Hammers defender Aaron Cresswell swipes at the ball as he attempts to clear just in front of the goal-line, but only succeeds in slicing it past Adrian.

One for the dubious goals panel...

If anyone looks like scoring it is Glenn Murray. The Eagles striker sees a low shot saved by Hammers stopper Adrian at his near post. Good spell from Palace...

Neil McL: A winter World Cup isn't going to benefit England. Having it mid Champions League/Premier League will exacerbate the club vs country dispute.

David M Gullever: 'Players will be fresher' - damn right Danny.

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I'd love to tell you that there has been plenty of drama and goalmouth action so far. But I'd be a liar. Only one shot on target so far, before West Ham are caught napping again.

Palace centre-back Damien Delaney hooks goalwards before Glenn Murray goes to ground at the far post under a Hammers challenge. Referee Mike Dean shakes his head in disgust. Never a penalty.

However, Jordon Mutch could be followed down the tunnel by Glenn Murray if the Eagles striker carries on. And that would be because he has been sent off. Murray, booked earlier for a late lunge, feels the wrath of referee Mike Dean after another cumbersome challenge. Last warning.

Early bath for Palace midfielder Jordon Mutch. Don't worry Palace fans - he hasn't been shown a red card. No, he grimaces as he limps off rubbing his thigh. On trots Scotland international James McArthur in his place.

Former England captain Terry Butcher
BBC Radio 5 live at Upton Park

"The game is starting to open up a little bit more now, with Adrian making a good save to keep out Glenn Murray, but it's been flat from both sides. West Ham like to play fast and attacking football but there has been none of that really."

This is more like it. Palace break quickly, with Glenn Murray aiming to wriggle clear in the channel again. The Eagles striker unleashes a low angled shot which is beaten away by Hammers keeper Adrian. Palace's best chance so far.

Hammers midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate is unhappy with referee Mike Dean after tumbling to the turf on the edge of the Palace box. The Senegal midfielder tangled with Palace skipper Mile Jedinak, but gets nothing for his trouble. Apart from a forehead full of white paint from the pitch markings...

West Ham force a couple of corners in quick succession, but both are easily swatted away by the Palace defence. Hammers midfielder Stewart Downing tries to inject some urgency into the home team's play - then ruins his good work with an overhit throughball. Cue groans from the home crowd...

Former England captain Terry Butcher
BBC Radio 5 live at Upton Park

"Alan Pardew will be the happier of the managers. Yes West Ham have had the best chance from Mark Noble's free-kick but there's no rhythm from the home side. They haven't got their front men going and the full-backs aren't getting up there. The game has become a bit scrappy, but it's Palace's system that's winning so far."

Image source, Getty Images

Half chance for Palace. And it is that man Glenn Murray who is again in the thick of the action. West Ham cheaply give away possession as Palace break into the home half. Jason Puncheon picks out the run of Murray, who struggles to keep his balance before slashing into the side-netting.

Palace striker Glenn Murray tries his best to liven up things with a late tackle that sees referee Mike Dean reach into his pocket for the first time. Yellow card for Murray.

Not one for the neutral this game. Not a game for anyone in fact. All pretty dull as both sides scrap for supremacy in the middle of the park.

Former England defender Danny Mills
Football Focus

"I think people should get on with it, especially in this country. It's the ideal opportunity to have a winter break. Yes, the winter break would be slightly earlier, but sometimes you've got to embrace change. This is the World Cup. Major League Soccer, I know it's not as big a league, but they manage to have a two or three-week break when the World Cup is on. You've got the Africa Cup of Nations that goes on during the English season.

"England is the only country to be hugely affected by this. Every other country will just shift their winter break forward a month. Players will be fresher. Eden Hazard was awful at the last World Cup, because he was burnt out. All those European players will be fresh. We'll get much better games and a much better spectacle. It's going to happen. Get on with and accept it."

Big Sam Allardyce, wrapped up in an overcoat and smart woollen scarf, chomps furiously on his chewing gum as he assesses the opening 15 minutes. Think he is happy - but then it's hard to tell with Allardyce.

Opposite number Alan Pardew looks less happy when another training ground set-piece fails. Jason Puncheon overhits a deep free-kick and the ball floats out for a goal-kick to the jeers of the home fans.

Former England captain Terry Butcher
BBC Radio 5 live at Upton Park

"How fitting it would have been if Mark Noble, after signing a new contract, had opened the scoring. His free-kick was always bar-height though and it never seemed to dip. Crystal Palace can breathe a huge sigh of relief, that was the only dangerous moment of the game so far."

Palace keeper Julian Speroni is beaten again - but this time the away side are saved by the woodwork! Hammers captain Mark Noble comes close to celebrating his new contract with a goal, only to see his curling free-kick from the edge of the box bash the top of the crossbar. Palace survive.

Awful play from Palace! And Jason Puncheon in particular. The Eagles winger sloppily gifts possession to West Ham inside his own half as the home side sense an opportunity. Left-back Aaron Cresswell is the man in possession, slicing his attempted cross narrowly over Julian Speroni's crossbar. He didn't mean it - but it almost worked out well.

Former England defender Danny Mills
Football Focus

"I think everybody from 14th place down is in a little bit of trouble. I think there are three worse teams down there than Sunderland, though. That will be their salvation. Jermain Defoe gives them a focal point, and I think will probably get enough goals between now and the end of the season just to keep them safe."