WILFRIED Zaha could not hide his disappointment after being subbed off in the dying stages of Crystal Palace’s dramatic 4-3 win over West Ham.
The 30-year-old forward was a constant thorn in the visitor’s side, putting the hosts 2-1 up after 20 minutes after they had trailed 1-0 to a Tomas Soucek strike after just nine minutes.
AFPRoy Hodgson shakes hands with Wilfried Zaha after he was subbed off against West Ham[/caption]
Zaha got his name on the scoresheet against West HamRex
However, with Crystal Palace winning 4-3 in the final stages, boss Roy Hodgson made the call to take his talisman off.
Joining his team-mates on the bench following being subbed off, Zaha cut a frustrated figure.
It was the Ivory Coast star’s first start in five games, after he picked up a groin injury in Hodgson’s first game back in charge of the Eagles against Leicester on April 1.
Before the game, Zaha received a rousing reception from the home fans as he warmed up on the pitch.
The game was scheduled for a 12:30 kick off, but was delayed 15 minutes following an issue with the turnstiles at Selhurst Park.
When the action got underway, it was the Hammers who struck first through Soucek after Michael Olise made an error in the build up.
The French winger made up for his mistake just six minutes later by setting up Jordan Ayew for Palace’s equaliser six minutes later.
Then, Zaha headed home an Olise cross at the far post to give the home side the advantage.
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Jeffrey Schlupp put Palace 3-1 up, before Michail Antonio reduced the deficit.
A controversial Eberechi Eze penalty at the midway point of the second half gave his side a two-goal cushion again, before Moroccan international Nayef Aguerd got West Ham back in the game again.
Palace survived a nervy finish to hold on for all three points as they leapfrogged Chelsea into 11th spot.