Zarate pours the pressure on Nolan

Mauro Zarate scored on his debut and produced a performance which may have seen Kevin Nolan finally banished into the Irons shadows.

The Argentine scored a brilliant goal and ensured that the pressure is well and truly on the skipper from here on in.

He fired home a magnificent effort 34 minutes into the game to set the Irons on their way and when Stewart Downing added a second from 25 yards less than five minutes later the Irons were truly bubbling.

James Tomkins saw a header hit the bar five minutes into the second half before  Marouane Chamakh reduced the arrears with a 20 yards drive.

An equaliser looked well and truly on but Carlton Cole put things beyond doubt when firing a shot past a statuesque Speroni.

Sam Allardyce’s attacking approach was aided by the inclusion of Zarate who replaced an injured Nolan and he and Cole looked very lively indeed.

Palace had their moments partiucularly when Bannan blasted straight at Adrian from the edge of the area, but the Hammers were worthy winners.