Dimitri Payet scores stunning free-kick but West Ham held by Crystal PalaceDimitri Payet added another exquisite free-kick to his collection but Dwight Gayle dented West Ham's Champions League hopes by snatching a 2-2 draw for Crystal Palace.Payet, fresh from stunning strikes at Manchester United and, for France, against Russia, conjured up another sublime set-piece at Upton Park.But West Ham lost Cheikhou Kouyate to a straight red card before substitute Gayle's first Premier League goal of the season earned Palace a valuable point in their bid to steer clear of relegation trouble.Damien Delaney had earlier given Palace the lead after a mistake by Hammers keeper Adrian, only for Manuel Lanzini to equalise.Bakary Sako's 15th-minute free-kick from the right appeared to be curling out of play until, at the last moment, Adrian decided it might creep inside his far post.But as the Spaniard attempted to gather the ball he inadvertently scooped it back into play, allowing Delaney to nod into an empty net.Palace's lead lasted less than three minutes before Michail Antonio raided down the right and crossed to the back post.Diafra Sakho's header back across goal was intercepted by Scott Dann, but cleared only as far as Lanzini who smashed it back past the defender and into the net.Such has been Payet's prowess with free-kicks lately that Eagles boss Alan Pardew even warned his side not to commit fouls within 30 yards of goal.Yet Payet had already sent one sighter over the crossbar when Joel Ward chopped the Frenchman down 25 yards out, four minutes before half-time.Pardew looked resigned to his fate as he trudged back to his seat in the dug-out while Payet weighed up his options.Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey left plenty of room to his right, expecting Payet to reprise his spectacular recent efforts.However, as Hennessey began to move right Payet, rather than lift the ball over the seven-man wall, calmly curled the ball round it into the opposite corner to give West Ham the half-time leadBut the hosts' afternoon began to turn sour in the 67th minute when Kouyate was shown a straight red card for his lunge on Gayle.Palace had already been denied an equaliser when Aaron Cresswell cleared Sako's shot off the line after Adrian had gone walkabout.And with 15 minutes to go both West Ham's centre-halves, Angelo Ogbonna and Winston Reid, made a mess of Pape Souare's cross allowing Gayle to lash in the equaliser.TWEET OF THE MATCH"Best free kick taker in the World #WeveGotPayet" - Jack Sullivan, son of West Ham co-owner David Sullivan.https://twitter.com/jsullivanwhu/status/716277315039207425 PLAYER RATINGSWest HamAdrian: 5Aaron Cresswell: 6Winston Reid: 6Angelo Ogbonna: 6Michail Antonio: 7Cheikhou Kouyate: 6Mark Noble: 7Manuel Lanzini: 7Dimitri Payet: 7Emmanuel Emenike: 6Diafra Sakho: 7SubsAndy Carroll (for Emenike, 60 mins): 6Enner Valencia (for Sakho, 69 mins): 6Pedro Obiang (for Noble, 80 mins): 6Crystal PalaceWayne Hennessey: 6Joel Ward: 6Scott Dann: 6Damien Delaney: 7Pape Souare: 7Wilfried Zaha: 6Jason Puncheon: 6Mile Jedinak: 6Joe Ledley: 7Bakary Sako: 6Yannick Bolasie: 6SubsDwight Gayle (for Zaha, 46 mins): 7Fraizer Campbel (for Ledley, 71 mins)l: 6STAR MANDimitri PayetThe Frenchman was once again the classiest player on the pitch and scored another wonderful goal.MOMENT OF THE MATCHPayet's free-kick
Have you ever seen a goalkeeper sent the wrong way from 25 yards out? Well you have now.VIEW FROM THE BENCHInjuries forced Palace to start with Bolasie in attack, although Sako was out on the left wing
West Ham had virtually their strongest line-up available for a change.MOAN OF THE MATCHCrystal Palace seem to have identical twins playing in central midfield
The question is, which one of bearded duo Ledley and Jedinak is trying to look like the other?WHO'S UP NEXTWest Ham v Arsenal, Premier League (Saturday, April 9)Crystal Palace v Norwich, Premier League (Saturday, April 9)
Source : PA
Source: PA