Julen Lopetegui had said it would take time for West Ham’s eight summer signings to settle in east London.
When the team news came out at Selhurst Park, there was no doubt some disappointment in the away end to see only Max Kilman and Guido Rodriguez – the two new arrivals who started the opening day defeat by Aston Villa – named in the starting XI.
But by full-time they could perhaps appreciate Lopetegui’s slow but steady approach to bedding them in. The second half substitutions of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Niclas Fullkrug breathed life into what had been a fairly dull London derby.
The Hammers had not registered a shot on target before the pair came off the bench. Within nine minutes of their introductions, Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen had put them 2-0 ahead and sealed Lopetegui’s first Premier League victory since taking charge.
It was two new boys who created the goals for two long-serving West Ham players. Wan-Bissaka’s driving run down the right led to Soucek’s scruffy opener before Kilman set up Bowen for the second five minutes later.
Tomas Soucek opened the scoring for West Ham with a well placed finish in the second half
Captain Jarrod Bowen doubled the West Ham advantage with a driven left footed strike
Julen Lopetegui was able to celebrate his first victory since taking charge of West Ham
Fullkrug may not have had a direct hand in either goal, but his presence appeared to draw Palace defenders out of position, giving Bowen the freedom of south London to open his account for the season.
After a disappointing start to his reign, the jigsaw pieces are starting to fit together for Lopetegui.
For Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, there appears to be too many pieces missing. Michael Olise and Joachim Anderson have already departed the club while Jordan Ayew also appears to be on his way to Leicester. The future of captain Marc Guehi, who started and captained the side, remains uncertain amid interest from Newcastle.
Much like their defeat at Brentford last week, Palace had the better of the chances in the first half but failed to take them. Their wastefulness in front of goal, coupled with some excellent defending from Kilman, meant West Ham kept their first clean sheet in 20 Premier League games.
In a frantic opening, Soucek was inches away from giving West Ham the lead when he was allowed a free header from a Bowen corner, but his effort bounced just wide.
Eberechi Eze should then perhaps have put Palace in front at the other end in when he was played through by Adam Wharton, but the forward’s shot was too close to Alphonse Areola, who stuck out a leg to divert the ball away. Odsonne Edouard was the next Palace player to be wasteful, dragging an effort wide of the far post.
Eze then nearly curled in what would have been a spectacular goal just before half-time, but his fine effort rattled the crossbar before West Ham cleared.
Summer signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka made an impact with a driving run ahead of the opener
Another new arrival, Max Kilman, brought the ball out from the back ahead of Bowen’s goal
Bowen celebrated doubling West Ham’s lead to earn their opening Premier League victory
Bowen, right, and Soucek were quick to help a ball boy caught in a crush after the goal
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has seen his side lose their opening two matches
As the hour mark passed, both managers turned to their bench. Lopetegui introduced Fullkrug and Wan-Bissaka, who replaced Michail Antonio and Vladimir Coufal, while Glasner brought on Daichi Kamada for Jefferson Lerma.
It was Lopetegui’s substitution that paid dividends. Wan-Bissaka drove down the right wing and sent a cross into the middle. The ball bounced around before dropping to Soucek, who pounced to finish past Dean Henderson. The away fans celebrated so wildly that one of the advertising boards fell down, with a Palace ball boy caught up in the melee. Bowen and Soucek were quick to help the shaken youngster out of the crush before ground staff helped led him off the pitch.
Ground staff then attempted to repair the broken board, but the away end was shaking again minutes later as West Ham doubled their lead.
It was a move that started from the back as Kilman brought the ball forward before picking out Bowen in space. The Hammers’ captain out-paced the Palace defence before firing an unstoppable shot into the bottom right corner past a helpless Dean Henderson.
The hosts could have pulled a goal back when Tyrick Mitchell picked out Ismaila Sarr in the box, but his effort hit the post and bounced wide.
