EAGLES STRIKER ADMITS IT WAS RELIEF VAR GOAL STOOD

JORDAN AYEW sent Crystal Palace fans wild with delight — with a massive helping hand from VAR.

The frontman pounced with a late finish when he turned home Martin Kelly’s header from close range, but his joy was short-lived when the goal was chalked off for offside.

However, replays proved he was onside by the faintest of margins and the Ghanaian’s effort completed a fine turnaround from Roy Hodgson’s side.

Ayew said: “You need a bit of luck. I think we deserved the three points. It was a tight game and we were lucky, but we’ll take it.

“Usually when you wait that long it’s not a goal, so it’s a positive.”

Palace went a goal down early in the second half when Sebastien Haller bagged his fourth goal of the campaign. But Declan Rice was penalised for handball soon after and Patrick van Aanholt scored from the penalty spot.

And, just as the game looked to be heading for a draw, up popped Ayew to give Hodgson the spoils in the battle of the Premier League’s oldest managers. gers.

Plenty had d been made of Manuel Pellegrini and Hodgson’s combined 138 38 years in the build-up to this his game.

And for much uch of the first half, it felt like ike we’d been inside the London ndon Stadium a similar amount ount of time.

However, the second period started ted far more brightly and d Angelo

Ogbonna should hould have given West

Ham the lead. d.

Manuel l

Lanzini’s freeekick finally y dropped to o the Italian n but, leaning g back, he volleyed over. It was a warning for Palace there was more impetus in the home side after, presumably, some choice words from Pellegrini during the interval.

And when Felipe Anderson shimmied down the left, he worked the ball across to Ryan Fredericks, Haller stretching out a leg to stab his low cross home.

West Ham’s lead lasted less than nine minutes, t hough, with Rice penalised for handling. Rice hoped VAR would come to his rescue given it was such close range, but referee Michael Oliver’s decision, rightly, was allowed to stand.

Van Aanholt put the ball beyond Roberto and the two sides looked to be heading for a draw.

But when Ayew popped up in the box, VAR did intervene and Palace, who moved up to fourth, were thrilled it did.

Hodgson said: “There’s not much to argue about [with Ayew’s goal]. I think it’s hard for players to accept that decisions are made that are down to millimetres. I understand it must be harsh for West Ham for it to be r ruled in our favour.”

Pelleg Pellegrini said: “We need to accept VAR. V I always say the human eye cannot can see these things. VAR exists and an it decided it was a goal.

“It’s a tough feeling. Not only to get nothing noth from the game, but also missing the chance to be among the top t three positions in the table.”