Zaha and Eze edge Crystal Palace to win over West Ham in seven-goal thriller

The two oldest managers in the division, though Roy Hodgson has 15 years on David Moyes. And a day to suggest futuristic is not always best. Before what proved a thrilling London derby could begin, thousands of fans found themselves locked out of the Selhurst colosseum until a glitch in the club’s computerised ticket system could be rectified.

Two greybeard pragmatists meeting for the last time? If so, they signed off in style, having begun the day sharing convivial, back-slapping pre-match duties. While Hodgson is contracted only until May is out and beginning to look rather demob happy, Moyes takes unkindly to suggestions his Hammers race is run. There has been an added fieriness to him of late.

His team still have a survival job to see out. Though often struggling in the wake of Hodgson’s newfound liberalism, the Hammers at least showed a determination to stay in the game even when the likes of the outstanding Michael Olise were running through their portfolio of artistry. Three goals from three corners defended poorly by Palace were West Ham’s route back into a game that should have been out of sight, though they will need more than that in the coming weeks.

Before AZ Alkmaar in the Europa Conference League on 11 May, West Ham’s fixtures against the two Manchester clubs look unforgiving. After a defeat to Liverpool Moyes had made just two changes. Pablo Fornals making a first start since February in place of Saïd Benrahma, a disappointing arrangement lasting only for the first half.

Wilfried Zaha was back in the Palace team. Where in Hodgson’s previous tenure, Zaha, captain here, was the leading source of magic, the likes of Olise and Eberechi Eze now assume a large share of that responsibility. Though his own