How many more wins do 13th-placed Palace need to be safe? Five - taking them past the magical 40 mark - should do the trick I reckon. The Eagles are going about their business tidily in the opening stages here.

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

"Crystal Palace have great pace going forward through Yannick Bolasie, Wilfried Zaha and Jason Puncheon. West Ham have been backing off because they don't want to be caught out early on. Mile Jedinak is the one Palace will really welcome back though. I remember seeing him playing in Australia when I was out there as a manager, and everybody saw the potential he had."

Former England skipper Terry Butcher said he was certain it would be "an end-to-end game" (see 4 mins) - and it has certainly started that way.

Eagles left-back Martin Kelly storms forwards on the attack, forcing another away corner which Scott Dann heads on to the roof of the Hammers goal.

BBC Radio 5 live's Danny Baker show has been asking this question today:

Has a footballer or manager ever turned up at your house?

And it's reminded us of a bizarre tale from January 2013. Liverpool fan Paul Feeney was sitting at his home in the city, having his tea, when the door bell rang.

It was Marouane Fellaini, then with Everton. His car had suffered a punctured tyre en route to the airport, and he needed help. Feeney organised transport for Fellaini and allowed the midfielder to keep his car on the family's driveway while he was abroad.

"He's a nice, well-mannered lad; his Mother must be proud," Fenney wrote when recounting the experience on his blog., external

Image source, Getty Images

Pards strikes me as a dandelion and burdock kind of guy. Either way, Palace are a bit flat as the Hammers produce a bit of fizz in an attacking sense. Mark Noble's inswinging free-kick from close to the left corner flag almost catches out the away defence, but Glenn Murray is back there to head clear over his own bar.

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

"The two managers had a fairly long chat before kick-off and I'm sure Big Sam was just saying to Alan Pardew: 'Do you want a lemonade or an orange juice after the game?'

"Whenever a new manager comes in he wants a reaction from his players, and Alan Pardew has certainly had that. Palace will counter attack West Ham and try to pick holes in their back four. It'll certainly be an end-to-end game."

Palace make the early running, forcing a corner with barely 90 seconds on the clock. A pre-planned set-piece is pulled back to the edge of Hammers box, where Jordon Mutch is lurking unmarked. But his header is weak and is booted clear by home defender James Tomkins.

Image source, Getty Images

"Hi Alan, how are ya?!" inquires Sam Allardyce as he greets opposite number Pardew with a monster grin. The pair share a joke about something (maybe about their 'popularity' in Newcastle) and then take their places in the dugout.

A stream of bubbles floats across the Boleyn Ground, referee Mike Dean blows his whistle and that means it is game on.

West Ham: Adrian, Jenkinson, Reid, Tomkins, Cresswell, Song, Kouyate, Noble, Downing, Valencia, Sakho. Subs: Nene, Nolan, Jarvis, O'Brien, Collins, Demel, Jaaskelainen.

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Kelly, Mutch, Jedinak, Puncheon, Zaha, Murray, Bolasie. Subs: Hangeland, Hennessey, Gayle, McArthur, Ameobi, Ledley, Souare.

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

Steve Bower
BBC Match of the Day commentator

"Alan Pardew is nearing the end of his second month in charge of Crystal Palace and has set about a mini-evolution. His Eagles side already have a new look to them and were unlucky in defeat by Arsenal last weekend.

"One element of Palace's play that Pardew will not want to change is their ability to hit teams on the break, especially in this type of fixture. The pace of Yannick Bolasie is key, while the combative skills of fit-again captain Mile Jedinak are the team's very foundations.

"For West Ham this is the second of four successive London derbies and this run of fixtures could help refocus the club and its supporters' minds and kill off talk of their season fading away. West Ham were fifth when they beat Pardew's Newcastle at the end of November; another win over their former manager could just re-ignite their season."

There seems to be a healthy number of Palace fans in the Trevor Brooking Stand behind the goal, but we will soon see how many pockets of claret seats we can see peeking out.

The home fans are in full voice as both sets of players line up in the tunnel. West Ham skipper Mark Noble trying to calm down the excitable home mascots, while opposite skipper Mile Jedinak is a picture of concentration. Almost show-time.

Image source, Getty Images

It will be interesting to see how many Palace fans cross the Thames and turn up at the Boleyn Ground today.

That's because Eagles boss Alan Pardew wrote an open letter to supporters earlier this week, urging them to "leave the sofa for this one" when tickets remained unsold.

Away fans are being asked to fork out £44 for adults and £25 for concessions.

"I wish they were cheaper and I was asking the fans, if they can possibly afford it, to try to come along because it's a big afternoon for us," said Pardew.

Image source, PA

A poignant moment as the two teams warm up at the Boleyn Ground. Both sets of players are wearing T-shirts promoting the launch of a charity set up in the name of Hammers youngster Dylan Tombides, who died from cancer in April 2014.

The DT38 Foundation,, external set up by the Australian's family to raise awareness of testicular cancer, is being launched at today's match.

"Crystal Palace gave it a good go against Arsenal last week, especially late on.

"They still lost but it was the sort of performance that shows how much they have improved since Alan Pardew took charge at the start of the year.

"West Ham played well in their 2-2 draw at Tottenham but the problem was they did not win a game that they really should have done.

"Pardew would love to deny his former club three points but I don't see West Ham slipping up this time."

Each week Lawro pits his wits against a different guest. His opponent this weekend? England rugby union star George Ford.

What can you do in 15 minutes? Go out for a quick 2k dash around the block? Nip over to the shop to stock up on Saturday football supplies of pop, crisps and chocolate? Or sit back on the sofa and not move a muscle?

Whatever your preference, this is your 15-minute warning to do whatever you need to before the first Premier League match of the day kicks off.

Or maybe you fancy a pre-match flutter? Home win, away win or draw? Maybe Lawro's prediction will sway your mind...

Image source, Reuters

Neil Warnock was on BBC Radio 5 live's weekend preview show on Friday, discussing his former club Crystal Palace and his successor at Selhurst Park, Alan Pardew:

"The chairman and Alan have known each other a long time and it just fitted.

"Pardew wanted to come away from Newcastle. You can't keep getting slaughtered like he was there and enjoy it, whereas now they love him and they have got some good results.

"I am sure Alan will be looking at everything around the club but they have got some decent players."

BBC Radio 5 live's Danny Baker show has been asking this question today:

Has a footballer or manager ever turned up at your house?

Image source, Getty Images

Robbo: John Rudge (the former Port Vale manager) and his wife attended my 40th birthday at a family BBQ at our home in Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, and stayed for more than two hours.

Nuba: Jermain Defoe once knocked on my hotel room door mistakenly thinking it was his team-mate's room.

Charlie: Not quite my house, but when Charlton Athletic were first starting out, they used my great nan's living room as a changing room.

Great story, Charlie - and it raises all sorts of questions. What if your great nan wanted to pop out on a Saturday afternoon? Did she have to leave a key under the pot by the door?

However, after a recent barren run, the home side badly need three points today.

Talk of Europe among Hammers fans has drifted back to summer holidays rather than football trips next season after just one win in nine matches.

But a much-needed victory today will consolidate eighth place for Sam Allardyce's men and keep the heat on the Champions League-chasing sides above them.

Image source, PA

All sorts of carnage has been going on in the East End recently. Bobby Beale was revealed as his sister Lucy's killer, Mick Carter has battered his half-brother senseless, and Dot Cotton killed her son Nick. Allegedly.

But, back in the real world, Eastenders have not had to suffer any doom and gloom at the Boleyn Ground. The Hammers have lost just one of their past 11 matches in their Upton Park manor.

BBC Radio 5 live's Danny Baker show has been asking this question today:

Has a footballer or manager ever turned up at your house?

Richard Garner: John Salako turned up at our house (ahead of joining Cov City) which was for sale. He ended up going on a date with my sister!

Craig Rowand: Not a footballer, but Wolves CEO Jez Moxey used to deliver lottery tickets to my home while he was still a basketball player.

Chris Nash: Lou Macari turned up at our house to see my Dad, he had the FA Cup in his car boot too. Nobody at school believed me, sadly.

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