Alan Pardew content with draw against West Ham United

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has said that he is content with coming away from Upton Park with a point against West Ham United this afternoon.

The Eagles initially squandered a one-goal lead in the first half, but West Ham were reduced to 10 men after the break and Dwight Gayle made the most of the numerical advantage to earn a point for his side.

The result means that Palace are still without a league victory in 2016, with their winless run now stretching to 14 games, but Pardew was happy enough with a draw against the high-flying Hammers.

"If someone had offered a me a draw at 2-1 down with the form West Ham are in at the moment I'd have taken it," Pardew told reporters.

"Dwight is probably our most natural goalscorer. He's been in the gym while he's been out injured and he looks bigger and stronger in the shirt now.

"Our fans have been incredibly loyal to the team and me through this run, and it was nice to get that goal in front of them."

The match was notable for a trademark Dimitri Payet free kick that gave West Ham the lead, and Pardew admits that there was not a lot Wayne Hennessey could have done to stop it flying in, despite it being on the goalkeeper's side.

"We talked about putting a hole in the wall, or the goalkeeper standing more central. But I just think that's just unsavable," he added.

The draw means that Palace remain seven points clear of the bottom three with just seven games of the season remaining.