2 Points Lost-Irons Progress Thwarted

In what was an enthralling and entertaining match to watch at the London Stadium, if you were a neutral, West Ham twice went ahead through the Duracel bunny that is Pablo Fornals and Michail Antonio, unfortunately Conor Gallagher scored a brace for Patrick Vieira's Crystal Palace to draw the visitors level as David Moyes winning start to the season came to an ultimately frustrating end in what was a stonking London derby.

Everything looked plain sailing for the club to continue it's unlikely leadership of the Barclays premier league following Pablo Fornals goal in the 39th minute after playing a superb one two with Michail Antonio, but Palace who were much better after half time levelled when midfielder Gallagher, who is on a season long loan from Chelsea, found the target.

Antonio thought he had won it when he smacked his shot past Vicente Guaita for his fourth goal of the season, however joy at scoring his 50th Premier League goal was short lived as the visitors equalised again, through Gallagher's clever turn and finish which left Craig Dawson for dust and Fabianski slightly embarrassed.

Earlier in the game, Palace defender Joel Ward clearance off the line at 0-0 after Vladimir Coufal's free-kick almost led to an own goal. Hammers could and should have made their advantage count on several occasions

David Moyes' boys had played with such vigour and style in the opening two games that they were expected to steam roller a fragile Crystal Palace, alas it was not to be and ultimately this felt like two points dropped against a team that had failed to score in 270 minutes under their new boss.

It could have got even worse as Palace finished the game in the ascendancy, with Marc Guehi wasting an easy chance in stoppage time when he sent a free header over the bar. Seven points from the first three games of any campaign is a pretty decent return, and one that David Moyes would probably have been happy with ahead of the start of the season, but such is the air of expectancy that his team have generated, that fans will be very disappointed with the result.
Perhaps it is best that the bubble burst just ahead of the transfer window closing, Hammers didn't play poorly at all, rather it was Palace who by upping their game exposed some hitherto hidden frailties. Although to be fair to David Moyes his side have scored TEN goals in 270 minutes of football and are playing a style that is pleasing on the eye.There is room for improvement and Moyes will be keen to get new signing Kurt Zouma into his back line tout de suite, as well as trying to do some late additional business before Tuesday's transfer deadline.

We do not have an agenda against Andriy Yarmolenko, although it probably seems that way, but he is not the sort of player to have on the bench that is going to scare the opposition and strike fear into their defenders with his blistering pace. The Ukraine International is only at the club because no one that wants him can afford him, his presence illustrates the club's paucity of attacking players, let alone those of out and out strikers!

It's not all gloom and doom though, no one appeared to have picked up any injuries and on another day Hammers could have won. Moyes has addressed the need for a centre back and for a keeper, all he needs now to at least have a fighting chance is an additional midfield player and that almost most mythical of things, a striker, which would be number FIFTY of the Twins tenure.

Things could be worse, instead of worrying about being knocked off the top of the table, Hammers fans could be enduring the fate of their London Neighbour's Arsenal's fans and be fretting that they are bottom of the League, even below Norwich! LN