Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the Premier League clash between West Ham United and Crystal Palace.

We're set for an entertaining afternoon of action from Upton Park, as West Ham will be looking to cross the magical 40-point mark with a victory over the Eagles, who passed them in the table in midweek.

Sam Allardyce's side should be safe from the drop but will want to secure their Premier League status sooner rather than later, as defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal have soured their recent form after they took a large step to safety by beating Sunderland three weeks ago. However, that will be easier said than done against one of the league's form sides.

Tony Pulis has complete a remarkable job of moving Palace to safety in their first season back in the top flight. They looked dead and buried when he took over in November, but he and his players have performed brilliantly to haul themselves clear of danger with four games to spare. They're one of the form teams in the league and their victory over Everton on Wednesday was their fourth on the bounce, their best run in the Premier League since the mid 90's.

One of the main reasons for their recent revival has been the form of Jason Puncheon. The winger can't stop scoring at the moment as he has notched four goals in his side's last three games. Palace have also been quite tight at the back bar a couple of moments against Everton, and they will look to continue that this afternoon to keep themselves moving up the table.

The team news has just been announced and we'll start with the home side.

WEST HAM STARTING XI: Adrian, Reid, McCartney, Nolan, Tomkins, Jarvis, Armero, Carroll, Noble, Diame, Downing.

WEST HAM SUBS: Taylor, O'Brien, Jaaskelainen, C.Cole, J.Cole, Johnson, Nocerino.

CRYSTAL PALACE STARTING XI: Speroni, Mariappa, Dann, Delaney, Ward, Digkacoi, Jedinak, Puncheon, Ledley, Bolasie, Jerome.

CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: Hennessey, Gabbidon, Parr, Guedioura, Ince, Gayle, Murray.

The two sides exchange pleasantries before kickoff.

PIC: It's time to swap teamsheets #COYI pic.twitter.com/8ggV7kjgHC — West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) April 19, 2014

Allardyce has made two changes to his side from their defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates. George McCartney and Kevin Nolan come back into the side at the expense of Guy Demel and Antonio Nocerino. Palace are unchanged from the side that beat Everton on Wednesday.

Earlier this week, Allardyce was full of praise for the job Pulis has done with the Eagles turning their season around after looking like certs for the drop before Christmas, he told reporters: "I think that he has proven beyond any question of a doubt his qualities as a manager. Contrary to what anyone says, his team does not play like his Stoke team did.

"There are some similarities, but he has a bunch of players who are different to the ones he had at Stoke and he gets the best out of them. That's all you can do as a manager, work with the tools you've got and get the best out of them. Certainly he's doing that at the moment."

STAT ATTACK! Palace can do the double over West Ham for the first time in the top flight. The Eagles beat the Hammers to mark Pulis's first win as manager back in December at Selhurst Park.

STAT ATTACK! Palace can set a new club record of notching three away wins in a row if they record a victory this afternoon.

West Ham fans have been paying tribute to striker Dylan Tombides following his death at age 20, after a three-year battle with testicular cancer.

PIC: Hammers fans have been leaving tributes to Dylan Tombides at the Boleyn Ground. pic.twitter.com/G3bHOH3VGp — West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) April 19, 2014

Premier League Update: Tottenham Hotspur have beaten Fulham in the first Premier League game of the day to increase the Cottagers relegation woes. Read our report of the action here.

STAT ATTACK! Last stat of the afternoon before kickoff. West Ham have lost six games from winning positions this season following their loss to Arsenal after Matt Jarvis handed them the lead. They can equal the Premier League record of seven games if the same happens today.

We're nearly ready for the off at Upton Park.

PANORAMIC: Here is the Press Box view of the Boleyn Ground #COYI pic.twitter.com/PpYvxmzKfe — West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) April 19, 2014

The players are making their way out onto the pitch and we should be underway shortly.

There's a minute's silence for Dylan Tombides following his death on Friday.

KICKOFF! We're underway at Upton Park.

An early raid for Bolasie down the left as he takes on McCartney. The winger manages to get a cross in and it deflects into path of Ledley, but the ball just hits off his foot and falls into the path of Adrian, who gathers with ease.

West Ham make a surge of their own down the right and Jarvis can't find an opening to deliver the ball into the box for the awaiting. He knocks the ball back to McCartney who lifts a cross into the area, but Speroni is able to claim the ball.

West Ham lose the ball in the Palace half and the visitors break with Jerome who does well to win a corner. From the resulting corner, the delivery is poor as the ball goes through the box and out of play.

CHANCE! Nolan wins the ball in the final third of the pitch and he hits a cross immediately to the back post where to Carroll. However, Mariappa leaps with the striker to just do enough to put him off, as he headed his effort wide of the target.

Noble slips a lovely through ball down the left for the run of Jarvis. The winger fires a ball across the face of goal, but there is no-one in claret and blue down the middle to turn the ball home and Delaney clears. It would have been a simple finish, but none of the home side's front men gambled.

Noble again lifts a ball over the top for Jarvis, who knocks the ball back to Diame who tries to find Carroll in the middle. The striker goes down with Delaney and then appeals to the linesman that his shirt was being tugged, but the official didn't seem interested.

Jerome wins a throw-in and Ward raids forward as he collects a through ball from Bolasie. He takes a touch to get inside the box, but Nolan is there to prod the ball away from the left back just when he was about to shoot.

OFF THE LINE! From the resulting corner Digkacoi gets up highest in the area from Bolasie's corner, and he heads at goal but his goalbound effort was cleared off the line by the back of Carroll, who was retreating. So close for the visitors.

CHANCE! Bolasie again causes problems for the Hammers as he beats McCartney down the left and he lifts a cross to the back post where Dann tries to latch onto the cross. The defender gets his head to the ball, but he can only direct his effort over the bar. The effort may have taken a deflection off Armero before going over.

CHANCE! Palace play a short corner and Mariappa races onto the ball into the box and he fires an effort first time. His shot is goalbound and Nolan throws himself in front of the ball to divert it behind, but it may have hit his arm. The Eagles players appeal for the spot kick but referee Martin Atkinson waves play on.

SHOT! Palace are in complete control of the game at the moment, as they string several passes together on the edge of the area and Digkacoi shoots but Adrian does well to make the save. West Ham are all over the place and need to rally here.

West Ham are struggling to get a hold of the game. They've had a brief respite from Palace due to two set-pieces but they've wasted both of them over-hitting long balls to Carroll in the box, which the striker was powerless to do anything with.

CHANCE! A mistake from Jarvis allows Bolasie to raid down the right flank this time. The winger fires a low cross into the box and Jerome controls and shoots first time, but Tompkins is there to make a crucial block and the Hammers are able to clear.

SAVE! West Ham come back at the other end as Diame takes the ball on the left and he manages to cut inside onto his right foot. He decides to shoot from 25 yards and the ball looks to be finding the net, until Speroni sticks out a hand to tip Diame's effort over the bar.

Straight from the West Ham corner Palace break down the left and Ledley has the chance to whip a cross into the box, but McCartney manages to track back and make the crucial block. That looked dangerous for the home side.

PENALTY APPEAL! West Ham attack down the left and Downing fires a cross in from the left, which misses everyone. Jarvis collects and lifts the ball to Carroll, who is eased out of the way by Jedinak and he falls to ground. He looks for a penalty but the referee waves play on. That looked like a penalty and the Hammers can feel quite aggrieved with that decision.

The Hammers come again and Jarvis lifts another cross into the area which travels to the back post for Carroll. He can't quite bring the ball under control and Palace defenders swarm around the ball, and just when the striker is about to pull the trigger Dann makes a good tackle and Jedinak hoofs the ball clear.

DOUBLE SAVE! Speroni does brilliantly to keep the scores level for the visitors. First he spreads himself to stop a low shot from Diame after Nolan has released the midfielder through on goal. From the follow-up Downing whipped a cross to the back post for Carroll, who beat Ward in the air but the keeper was there to palm the ball away.

Carroll is becoming more and more of a threat for the Hammers and he goes close again as Armero whips a cross to the back post. The striker outjumps Delaney on the six-yard box, but his glancing header goes harmlessly wide of the post.

Applause rings round Upton Park as the West Ham fans pay tribute to Dylan Tombides following his death yesterday. Tobides wore the number 38 shirt during his time with the Hammers, and the number will now be retired.

A calm few minutes as we approach the end of the half. Both sides have been going full pelt at each other since the first whistle, so this could be a welcome change of pace.

West Ham break down the left and Downing hits a first time cross into the box. Nolan is in the middle and tries to get a head on the ball but can't make good contact, and the contact he does make takes it away from Carroll behind him.

There will be one minute of added time.

Half time at Upton Park and the first half has revolved around Andy Carroll. He kept his side level early in the game as he got in the way of Kagisho Dikgacoi's goalbound header, but then saw his close-range effort well saved by Julian Speroni, in what has been an end-to-end game.

Both teams have had excellent chances but it's still goalless. The managers will be pleased with how their sides have looked in the attacking third of the pitch, but maybe not how open they've been at the back. If the teams find their clinical edge we could a lot of goals in the second half, if it's anything like the first.

Yannick Bolasie has been a constant thorn in the side of the Hammers defence, but has been inconsistent with his delivery. Matt Jarvis and Stewart Downing have played well, but have had the same problem. Allardyce and Pulis will be urging for better quality from the wide areas after the break.

STATS: West Ham have dominated possession in the first half as they have had 68% of the ball compared to Palace's 32%. Shots is pretty equal with the Hammers leading that 6 to five, while Palace have had seven corners compared to just one for the home side.

The players are back out on the pitch and we should be underway shortly.

KICKOFF! We're back underway at Upton Park.

Jarvis gets the ball down the left and cuts back onto his right foot to lift a cross into the area. Carroll tries to latch onto the cross, but he goes down although he has no complaints this time.

YELLOW CARD! McCartney goes into the book for bringing down Bolasie down the Palace left.

CHANCE! Downing raids down the left and fires a low cross into the area and Carroll manages to collect the ball at the back post. He takes a touch out of his feet but instead of knocking the ball back to Diame on the edge of the area, he shoots low towards the bottom corner, but his effort goes wide.

West Ham have the chance to break down the right as McCartney feeds Jarvis, who then releases the full back further down the flank. McCartney tries to fire a low right-footed cross into the area, but Speroni gathers the ball with ease.

CHANCE! Carroll has another chance to find the net as Jarvis raids down the right and his cross is deflected back into the path of the striker, but his right-footed shot was blocked behind by Delaney.

Palace win a penalty as Jerome breaks down the right and is brought down in the area by Armero with a clumsy challenge. The Eagles skipper Jedinak took the ball and confidently smashed the ball into the top corner leaving Adrian with no chance to fire his side into the lead. Palace on course for their fifth win in a row.

Downing tries to rally his side and raid at Mariappa. He manages to cut inside onto his right foot and fires at goal, but the defender manages to get back at him and make the block. From the resulting corner Palace manage to clear their lines.

CHANCE! West Ham push men forward but are hit on the break by the Eagles. Jerome runs down the right and drags a cross into the path of Bolasie, but the winger scuffs his shot over the bar. A let off for the home side.

CHANCES! Palace should be two ahead now as they miss a plethora of chances inside the box. First Bolasie raids down the flank and finds Puncheon inside the box, his effort is deflected to Ledley, he takes a swing at the ball and it flies to Puncheon again. The winger slides a ball to Bolasie inside the six-yard box but his miskicks the ball, only for the ball to come back to Pucheon but Tomkins does enough to divert the ball behind.

CHANCE! Another chance for Palace as the home side switch off again and they play a short corner, and Mariappa's effort goes just wide of the post and should be a corner, but the referee points for a goal kick.

SUBSTITUTION: Carlton Cole replaces Matt Jarvis and the Hammers fans are not happy, screaming 'you don't know you're doing' at Allardyce.

Bolasie raids forward down the left again and he fires a low ball across the face of goal, which Jerome just can't reach. It's all Palace at the moment.

Palace are working the out ball very well down the left and Bolasie sprints into the space and gets into the box. He tries to cut back onto his right foot and shoot at goal, but Noble gets back to make the block to stop the goalbound effort.

West Ham are pumping long balls into the box and the ball is just not sticking for them as Carlton Cole loses possession inside the box and Palace breakaway yet again.

SUBSTITUTION: Joe Cole replaces Downing for the home side.

Palace work the ball well down the right flank for Jerome, who holds the ball and guides it back to Puncheon. The winger slides a pass to Bolasie who tries to get down the right of McCartney, but the defender does well to block his cross behind for a corner.

SUBSTITUTION: Palace make a change as Glenn Murray replaces Jerome.

The visitors are finding space all over the West Ham half and Jedinak slides a pass to Puncheon on the edge of the area. The winger tries to find space for shot but takes too many touches and Noble wins the ball with a well-timed tackle.

CHANCE! Joe Cole gets the ball on the edge of the area, he takes a nice touch to get away from Dann and then fires a low shot at goal, which goes just wide of the post.

SUBSTITUTIONS: A change each for both sides as Nolan is replaced by Antonio Nocerino and Danny Gabbidon comes on for Puncheon.

Nocerino almost makes an instant impact for the home side as he latches onto a pass from Carlton Cole and whips a cross into the box. The striker flicks the ball to the back post where Joe Cole tries to volley home, but his effort flies over the bar.

West Ham are piling bodies forward but the Palace defence is holding firm as long ball, after long ball is pumped into the penalty area.

There will be four minutes of added time.

SUBSTITUTION: Final change for Palace as Jonathan Parr comes on for Bolasie.

Still the long ball tactics continue from the home side and again Palace resist, and they look to be heading for the fifth win in a row in the Premier League.

YELLOW CARD: Murray is booked for handball as he tried to control the ball.

One last chance to threaten for the home side as they win a free kick. However, Noble's delivery is cleared with ease and that should be that.

Palace hold out for the win and it's another victory for them. It's now five on the bounce and what a run of form they are currently in, and what a job Tony Pulis has done to turn their season around. They have 43 points from 35 games now, collecting just four before Pulis arrived at the club. The Eagles are 11th in the Premier League and will have their sights set on higher following Jedinak's winner.

West Ham have now lost their third game in a row, and their fans let Allardyce know their opinions of that at the final whistle. They looked very one dimensional this afternoon as they continued to just launch long balls into the box at Carroll, and the Palace defended that threat well, especially in the second half. Truth be told Palace could have added to the scoreline, so Allardyce can be grateful the situation isn't as bad as it could have been.

Thanks for joining our commentary this afternoon. Be sure to stay with Sports Mole for the rest of the action from the Premier League this weekend. But from me, it's goodbye.