![Palace](https://cdn.whufc.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/palace-726-oct-17.jpg)
Guardian football reporter Jacob Steinberg saw the Hammers record a crucial win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park and picked out a number of individuals for playing their part in a memorable victory.
Steinberg is now hoping the Hammers can maintain their winning feeling and get another crucial victory over Sunderland at London Stadium on Saturday.....
A lot of West Ham fans were expecting a difficult game against Palace considering the form they had shown coming into the game.
Manuel Lanzini got the early goal and although Palace came back strongly in the second half, I thought the Hammers produced some great defending and deserved to come away with all three points.
All the talk after the game was about the system that Slaven Bilic used and you have to say it had a lot to do with the return of Aaron Cresswell.
He should never have been sent-off, but he showed the quality he can bring to the team and brings the balance back on the left hand side.
He has played so well over the last two seasons and losing him for the start of the season was a big blow.
But we all saw the quality he gives you with his assist for the goal and he made a big difference.
I think that is the best West Ham have played all season and Slaven had them so well organised.
The players had the desire to run for every ball and work hard until the final whistle was blown.
I know Slaven won't get carried away and this is only one victory. The Club now need to get a few wins under their belts to move towards the top half of the table, but this was a very encouraging performance.
It was great to see Lanzini get on the scoresheet. He has had a slow start to the season and got dropped for the Middlesbrough game.
But he came back with a point to prove and got the crucial winning goal. He didn't have much of a pre-season following his injury for Argentina at the Olympics.
But this was the first time he looked properly at it and he puts it all together in the midfield.
He links up so well with Dimitri Payet and the formation that Slaven played on Saturday freed those two up to show their attacking qualities.
I also think Pedro Obiang has made a big difference to the team. He has been unlucky not to get more playing time and it was hard for him to break into the side.
But his importance to the team has become more evident in recent weeks and I hope he can kick on now and keep his place. He looks a really good player.
We saw a different side to Simone Zaza and his work-rate was fantastic on Saturday playing as the lone striker.
He was winning headers and holding up the ball and the next step for him is to get on the scoresheet.
Cheikhou Kouyate switched back into a defensive role and this was not the first time he has been asked to do that. I remember he did a good job playing there against Tottenham and Manchester United in recent seasons.
With Cresswell suspended for the next game, it is hard to see how they can play the same system but I would probably expect Angelo Ogbonna to play left-back.
Sunderland have yet to win a game, but this is a huge match for West Ham and they need to start winning at London Stadium and feel comfortable playing there.
It will not be easy and the Hammers have struggled against teams managed by David Moyes over the years.
But I would expect West Ham to win the game.