Noble refusing to hold it back Skipper’s fury at late Hammer blow
shocked. We gave them two goals – a penalty and their last goal.
“I’m not going to dig out our players, because we’re going to need them and they’re top players. But we gave away a two-goal lead.
“I’ve said it too many times. You get punished in this league if you make mistakes. It’s common sense.
“We’ve been in this position enough now. We have to learn to see out games. Simple as.”
Noble had to be held back from Cabaye at the end and added: “I’ve played 400-odd games for this club and had many battles with many players. You have 90 minutes of a battle with a player but you always shake hands with each other after.
“I didn’t like his attitude. That’s why I had something to say. That’s how I’ve been brought up.”
After his best display for the club, West Ham’s England goalkeeper Joe Hart could barely contain himself either. “I can’t believe we have done that. We’ve fought all the way and been unprofessional at the end. No one does things on purpose, but it’s two points dropped,” said Hart.
There is no doubt that at the beginning of a week and two matches that were supposed to decide his future as manager, Bilic would have taken a midweek Carabao Cup victory at Tottenham after being two goals down and then a point at Palace. But it could, and should, have been two wins.
Somehow, Bilic mustered the dignity to say: “It is not easy but as long as I see my team giving everything, then I am happy.”
And Bilic’s team played well. After Palace had a decent shout for a penalty turned down when Zaha was felled, Aaron Cresswell crossed for Hernandez to flick in a fine goal.
Hart made a brilliant double stop to deny Tomkins and Jeffrey Schlupp and then Andre Ayew slammed home a fine third goal in a week. It should have been plain sailing. But this is West Ham. Angelo Ogbonna brought down Andros Townsend with an unnecessary challenge and Luka Milivojevic rammed in the penalty.
Palace piled on the pressure – Cabaye hit the post, Zaha was twice foiled by Hart, who then tipped Tomkins’ header on to the bar. But the Hammers should have held on.
To be fair to Palace, they deserved it for their efforts. Palace manager Roy Hodgson said: “I’ve never written off Hart and people who watch this performance will see his presence.”
CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-2-1): Booked: NEXT UP: WEST HAM (3-4-1-2): Goals: