Lucky Hammers hold out to reach the top 10

Nobes …scored from the spot

West Ham completely forgot  that they are a big team and need to play like one …well for the second 45 minutes anyway!

And sadly it that half which will be remembered despite them playing so well  in the first half and going in with a lead via Mark Noble’s spot kick.

We had traded blows with Palace and come out on top despite requiring a couple of heroic moments from Fabianski who pulled out two great saves.

And although the hosts created the better chances  we had more than our share of things and looked likely to go one better than we’d managed against Liverpool.

But the second period saw the Eagles attacking us almost at will and all the old frailties showed up notably when what appeared to be some less than average defending allowed Wilfried Zaha to lift in a close range goal.

That was the prelude to some non stop Palace attacking with sub Batshuayi driving narrowly wide as we found ourselves under siege.

It was heart in the mouth stuff and the relief at the final whistle was palpable although in reality the point saw us move into 10th place on 33 points.

Truth of it is we need fresh legs as a lot has been asked of the 15 or so who have been available and with a break until the 22n the Hammers will hope to have  Lanzini and Nasri back to provide some much needed creativity. There’s chances too  Balbuena could be back.

The match today marked the return of Marko Arnautovic but it would be wrong to judge him on this game when he received so little service.

Anderson had a brilliant first half and Rice had the usual fine 90. Cresswell is looking bang back to his best and in that first 45 there was not a poor player on the pitch for us.

But as is our way we were all put through the wringer in the second and we can be thankful that no more damage was done than the deserved equaliser.

But we were lucky – of that there’s no doubt.