ZAHA LENDS EAGLES A HAND

WILFRIED ZAHA didn’t sarcastically clap the referee this time – although he had every right to boo him.

Palace’s winger grabbed a 76th-minute equaliser to earn them what could prove to be a vital point.

Zaha was handed an additional one-match ban and fined £10,000 after he applauded Andre Marriner following a red card against Southampton.

He had already been suspended for one match but was allowed to play yesterday while his appeal against the added game was heard.

But after being at the wrong end of a decision against Liverpool on Monday, West Ham can thank their lucky stars here.

Referee Craig Pawson awarded them a highly-contentious 28th-minute penalty.

Declan Rice flicked on Felipe Anderson’s free-kick and Michail Antonio headed the ball forward but seemingly lost it as Palace keeper Vicente Guaita clattered in to him.

Pawson immediately pointed to the spot and Hammers skipper Mark Noble stepped up and rifled home. Palace manager Roy Hodgson said: “Technically it was a foul but Antonio by then had lost the ball.

“He wasn’t in a goalscoring opportunity. I would have been disappointed if this had cost us the game.

“Mr Pawson is a good referee but opinions always vary in this game. I spoke to officials afterwards to make my point. I had been moaning a bit about the things I had seen and wanted to say it face to face.

“My opinion was we were hard done by over some free-kick decisions.

“I would have been deeply disappointed if we had lost this game, but even if we had I would have been pleased how we played.

“We can start looking at those above us rather than below if we carry on like this.”

Palace had started to make Selhurst Park a fortress having won five of their last eight matches on home turf, after winning none of their first six.

The Hammers put them to the test in the first half, with Anderson causing problems but Palace raised the stakes after the break and finally drew level.

Zaha was robbed, got it back and fired in a shot that clipped Issa Diop’s heels to finally beat the impressive Lukasz Fabianski.

Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini said: “It’s a good point. We played very well in the first half, scored a goal and created chances. In the second half they had possession of the ball.

“They scored a lucky goal with the deflection but they deserved it.”