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| Slaven Bilic strolled into Selhurst Park, and swaggered out with all three points |
FOR Slaven Bilic it was a very special occasion.
Never mind the away successes at Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City this season.
Beating Palace was the one to get excited about.
They did it with a swagger too, playing the kind of quality football Hammers fans had never seen under the departed Sam Allardyce.
It was all too much for Palace who played the second half with 10 men following the dismissal of Dwight Gayle in the 44th minute.
Bilic said: "Those wins at Arsenal, Liverpool and City were satisfying because they made history. We hadn't won at those places for years. People are not going to go out and get a tattoo because we won at Palace but, for me, to come to Selhurst Park and do it in such style makes me so very proud.
"It was a London derby which means a lot to the supporters and I like Palace they are a good side and made it very hard for us. So winning was something special.
"All I am trying to do is work hard and I can guarantee that we won't get carried away by what we have achieved with this performance."
Certainly Dwight's dismissal changed the face of the game and Palace boss Alan Pardew was unhappy with referee Mark Clattenburg's decision to book the striker, who had already been shown a yellow card.
"I am not saying he [Clattenburg] was biased against us, I just think the decision to issue a second card was rash," said Pardew. "Was it a cast iron yellow? In my opinion it wasn't and it has cost the boy a ban.
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| Andy Carroll had little to complain about, as he returned to his bustling, bullying self up front |
"I think that is fair and I am in a good position to make that call. I don't see a problem with that and nor should the FA."
Gayle, in tears as he walked off the pitch, has given Palace more problems. He will miss the away game against Leicester on Saturday to leave Pardew short of fit front men for the up and coming games with Manchester City, United and Liverpool.
Carl Jenkinson, who opened the scoring for West Ham, before Yohan Cabaye's penalty levelled matters, clashed with Gayle on two occasions and said: "He was obviously up for the game and putting himself about and you don't want to be making the kind of challenges he was booked for because you can end up hurting players."
Manuel Lanzini and Dimitri Payet put Palace to the sword in the last two minutes and Jenkinson added: "This was a massive win for us and when you think the forward power we could call on from the bench it is clear how much strength we have. That is going to be a massive asset."
CRYSTAL PALACE (4-2-3-1) Hennessey 7; Kelly 6, Dann 7, Hangeland 7, Souare 7, Zaha 5 (Sako 45), Cabaye 6 (Ledley 72), McArthur 6 (Jedinak 62), Puncheon 6, Bolassie 5, Gayle 5.
Booked: Gayle, Jedinak.
Sent off: Gayle 44.
Goal: Cabaye 24pen.
Next Up: Leicester (a), Sat, PL.
WEST HAM (4-2-3-1): Adrian 6; Jenkinson 6, Tomkins 6, Collins 6, Cresswell 6, Moses 6 (Zarate 69), Noble 6 (Carroll 62), Kouyate 7), Payet 8, Lanzini 7, Sakho (Jelavic 80).
Booked: Tomkins, Payet.
Goals: Jenkinson 23, Lanzini 88, Payet 92.
Next Up: Chelsea (h), Sat, PL.
Referee: M Clattenburg (Co Durham).
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