Zaha goes all loopy to make a point DEFLECTED GOAL EASES RELEGATION WORRIES
WILFRIED ZAHA made sure the applause was directed in the right place as he sparked Palace to a point.
Palace’s talisman winger ( far right) grabbed a 76thminute equaliser to continue Palace’s fight for survival.
Zaha faces the FA beaks this week to appeal against a second match ban for being sent off for sarcastically applauding referee Andre Marriner during the game against Southampton.
He had already been suspended for one match and was allowed to play yesterday while his appeal against another game was heard.
After being on the wrong end of a decision against Liverpool on Monday, West Ham can thank their lucky stars life evened out. Referee Craig Pawson awarded them a contentious penalty in the 28th minute.
Declan Rice flicked Felipe Anderson’s def l ected f ree- kick f orward and Antonio headed the ball, but was clattered by Palace keeper Vicente Guaita who had raced from his line.
Pawson immediately pointed to the spot and
Hammers skipper Mark Noble stepped up and rifled home.
Palace manager
Roy Hodgson (above) said: “Technically, it was a penalty, 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 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-toface rather than hear it from his officials. In my opinion, we were hard- done- by on some free-kick decisions. “But this gives me so much confidence for the rest of the season. I feel now we can start looking at those above us rather than below if we carry on like this.” Palace had won five of their last eight matches on home turf, after winning none of their first six. Yet the Hammers gave them a stern test in the first half.
Anderson tried hard and West Ham’s defence was superb as Palace raised the stakes in the second half, particularly with the arrival of Michy Batshuayi. Palace deservedly found gold dust in the 76th minute.
The ball buzzed around West Ham’s defence before landing at Zaha’s feet. He was robbed, got it back and still had time to forage forward, finally getting in a shot that clipped Issa
Diop’s heels to finally loop over the impressive Lukasz Fabianski.
Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini said:
“I think it’s a good point. We played very well in the first half, scored a goal and created chances. In the second half, they scored a lucky goal, with the deflection, but they deserved it.”