Two quick-fire first-half goals set West Ham United on their way to a vital three points and bragging rights in the London derby at Selhurst Park on Saturday, in the process piling on the misery for Crystal Palace whose week goes from bad to worse.

Prior to the game, all the talk was about the club’s failed search for a new manager as they ruled out Malky Mackay due to his controversial text messages, while Glenn Hoddle and Tim Sherwood are said to have turned down the job, leaving Keith Millen in charge once again.

The last Premier League fixture on this ground was an exciting 3-3 draw with Liverpool back in May, and this had a similar theme once the visitors had raced into a two goal half-time lead. But unlike that terrific game at the end of last season, the hosts found the deficit too much to claw back.

Hammers debutant Mauro Zarate broke the deadlock in the 34th minute with a brilliant dipping volley from outside the area after Mark Noble’s shot was deflected into his path and the Argentine showed great technique to finish in the bottom corner.

The lead was doubled three minutes later as Stewart Downing cut in from the right-hand side on to his favoured left foot and steered a low shot into the net to give the visitors some breathing space going into the break.

James Tomkins almost put the away side three up but he rattled the crossbar minutes after the restart, then Marouane Chamakh pulled a goal back moments later as he collected a pass from Mile Jedinak and fired past Adrian.

With the Eagles looking for an equaliser, Carlton Cole killed off any hopes of a potential comeback just after the hour mark as he pounced on a poor clearance from Damien Delaney to lash the ball in to the back of net and restore the away side’s two-goal cushion.

The visitors looked the more likely side to strike again and another one of Sam Allardyce’s summer signings Diafra Sakho was denied his first goal for the club in the dying minutes as Speroni tipped his header around the post.

Palace looked deflated after the concession of the third goal and fans will be hoping that a better week is to follow awaiting news of a permanent manager before next weekend’s visit to Newcastle United.