West Ham United's Champions League hopes have been dealt a blow courtesy of a 2-2 draw with out-of-form Crystal Palace at Upton Park this afternoon.
The hosts fell behind early as Palace went in search of their first league victory in 2016, but goals from Manuel Lanzini and Dimitri Payet saw them come from behind before Dwight Gayle rescued a point for the visitors.
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There were just 15 minutes on the clock when Damien Delaney gave his side the lead, nodding home a rebound from close range after Adrian could only paw the ball into his path when trying to deal with a free kick.
They were ahead for only three minutes, however, before Lanzini celebrated his permanent move to the club by collecting Diafra Sakho's knockdown inside the box and drilling a shot past Wayne Hennessey.
Sakho came close himself shortly afterwards, but Hennessey was equal to his low effort before also denying a 25-yard strike from Payet midway through the first half.
Palace should have regained the lead just past the half-hour mark when Pape Souare's cross found Jason Puncheon in the middle, but he couldn't keep his volley down from six yards out.
The Hammers responded with a chance of their own moments later, but neither Emmanuel Emenike nor Michail Antonio could get a shot away as Palace survived.
Sakho then nodded a corner wide from just six yards as West Ham's pressure began to build, but they wouldn't have to wait too much longer for a second goal, and it arrived in style too.
Payet was tripped around 25 yards from goal before picking himself up and producing a trademark dipping free kick into the top corner via both the crossbar and post.
A quiet start to the second half saw few chances for either side until Lanzini carried the ball forward a long way and sent a bouncing effort towards goal that Hennessey was equal to.
The hosts were indebted to Aaron Cresswell for keeping them ahead in the 66th minute when he cleared Bakary Sako's strike off the line after Adrian had won a tackle on the edge of his own box, only to see the ball break to Palace.
The Eagles were handed a boost just one minute later, though, as Cheikhou Kouyate was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Gayle after seeing the ball escape from his control.
That gave Palace a boost as they began to bombard West Ham's box with crosses, and the equaliser eventually arrived 15 minutes from time when Angelo Ogbonna's scuffed clearance from a Souare delivery hit Winston Reid and fell to Gayle, who stroked the loose ball home.
Both teams pushed for a late winner in the closing stages, but despite end-to-end play neither could find the decisive goal as West Ham lost ground in the Champions League race and Palace's winless run in the league extended to 14 games.
Barney Corkhill
