Moyes’ men in another class

PATRICK VIEIRA has rightly earned plaudits for a start to his Premier League managerial career that has seen Crystal Palace clamber to the comfort of mid-table.

But it was perhaps fitting that he should get a reminder of the distance still left to travel from a West Ham side led by David Moyes (above).

This defeat that Vieira’s men ultimately suffered did not exactly feel fair in the context of the overall balance of an, at times, end-to-end game.

However, impressing between both boxes rarely gets you results in this division; it is what happens inside the penalty area that makes all the difference.

And Moyes, who recently marked his 1,000th game as a manager, will no doubt have enjoyed doling out that particular lesson to his less experienced counterpart.

Palace fans had every reason to go into this London derby expecting far more after a previously impressive home record under their new boss.

The 10 games they had played at Selhurst Park this term had brought a return of four wins, five draws and just a solitary defeat.

By contrast, their record on the road showed six defeats, three draws and only one win – that, incredibly, coming against all-conquering Manchester City.

So, when Jeffrey

Schlupp missed two

early chances to put the hosts into the lead, the home support could have been forgiven for anticipating a straightforward afternoon.

Unfortunately, further examination of the Eagles’ fixture list showed that they had welcomed just one team currently in the top seven to Selhurst Park so far this season – a shambolic early-season Tottenham.

And West Ham – up to fifth thanks to this win – were about to underline the difference between the league’s lesser lights and those chasing European football.

First, Michail Antonio poked home an unmissable Said Benrahma cross from close range to underline his importance to the visitors.

Then, Manuel Lanzini finished off a rapid counter by juggling the ball before powerfully striking home beyond Vicente Guaita.

And the result was all but confirmed when the Argentine added his second just before the break, arrowing in a penalty clumsily given away by Luka Milivojevic.

To their credit, Palace continued to create the majority of the chances and Odsonne Edouard and Michael Olise grabbed what proved to be little more than late consolation goals.

It is easily forgotten that

West Ham were languishing in 17th position on both times that Moyes recently took the reigns.

And the transformation the Scot has overseen since has taken the club into the latter stages of this season’s Europa League and given them genuine hope of gatecrashing the Champions League spots.

Vieira’s promising start, as well as the second-half fightback overseen in this game, provide hope that he can walk a similar path.

It is easily forgotten that West Ham were languishing in 17th on both times that Moyes recently took the reins