"?West Ham produced a performance that may well be the turning point in their 'always hiding' fortune, when Manuel Lanzini's smart close-range finish proved the difference in a clean sheet victory which will have the travelling fans sighing collectively in relief.
Slaven Bilic made the decision to push Cheikhou Kouyate into the centre-back position in a back three, but Aaron Cresswell's return will have been a pleasing sight amid West Ham's defensive troubles this season.
The weather's taking a bit of a turn! ???? #CRYWHU pic.twitter.com/GvHKaBZ6bw
A tense Hammers side gave the ball away a little in the early exchanges, but closed down well afterwards. An invigorated Cresswell fired a shot into the side netting with four minutes on the clock, and a mishit effort from Simone Zaza dribbled into Steve Mandanda's arms.
Their defensive worries looked to have resumed for Crystal Palace's first shot; Wilfried Zaha was in an acre of space on the edge of the penalty area to control the ball and whip an effort wide of Adrian's right post. Rain then started to fall, moistening the surface and quickly slowing the ball down off the bounce.
West Ham had gone close through a Kouyate header, but found themselves deservedly in front minutes later. Dimitri Payet supplied Cresswell down the wing, who showed the fans what they had been missing with a beautiful driven ball across to Manuel Lanzini, who finished it clinically.
Pardew cut a visibly frustrated figure as his side failed to dominate the midfield area, often resorting to long balls up to Christian Benteke. One such cross from Andros Townsend was brilliantly defended by Kouyate, who was left floored after his bravery.
GOAL Crystal Palace 0-1 West Ham (19 mins). Lanzini slots home an Aaron Cresswell cross to put the Hammers ahead #CRYWHU
Palace started to recover after West Ham's strong start, but Joe Ledley's wild swipe to give away a corner did not help. The Hammers were much better organised than in other games, with Pedro Obiang marshalling the midfield area and Winston Reid and Kouyate composed at the back.
Zaza attacked a Payet corner with his head, and a second almost fell to a Hammers head as well. After a spell of indifferent Eagles control, Lanzini drilled a shot at Mandanda.
Moments later, a horribly unfortunate situation gave the home side a penalty and a way back into the match at the beginning of a wildly exciting end to the half.
Mikhail Antonio looked to have brought down Zaha, and the distraction of the appeal caused Angelo Ogbonna to lose focus and foul the incoming Benteke. The Belgian stepped up to face Adrian, and the keeper dived the wrong way. Fortunately for the stopper, the Belgian offered up an awful spot-kick into the stands.
PENALTY MISSED Benteke is brought down and he picks himself up and smashes it over the bar. It remains 0-1 #CRYWHU
He almost made up for it a minute later, aiming a superb header towards the top corner. This time Adrian went the right way, but saw the headed effort clip the post. The whistle blew to bring an end to the chaos, but it was actually West Ham's newfound composure in the 45 minutes which was the talking point.
West Ham's good passing football continued after the break, the ever excellent Payet and Lanzini pulling the strings. The Frenchman was almost laid through on goal, but Mandanda rushed out well.
The game opened up a little more for the Eagles, and Yohan Cabaye's dragged shot wide ended a promising move. Payet tried to curl a shot beyond Mandanda on the break afterwards with the keeper off his line, but some desperate defending forced the visitors out.
An urgent Palace started to work at pace, and Zaza's hold-up play became increasingly important. Andros Townsend curled an effort into Adrian's gloves.
Last throw of the dice for Palace, Connor Wickham on for James McArthur. Quarter of the game to go. #CRYWHU
After Zaha's hopeful attempt to get himself a penalty, Palace pressed ever more insistently. The visitors' defence kept working hard in an effort which must have had Bilic smiling.
That feature of West Ham's play was nowhere more evident than in Winston Reid coolly 'chesting' the ball back to Adrian under sincere pressure. The Palace chances kept coming, though.
Payet whipped a beautiful corner through the bodies, and Antonio found the post. In a fairly controversial turn of events, Cresswell was then sent off for two yellow cards in approximately thirty seconds - first for a supposed dive in the penalty area, then for bringing down Zaha on the run. The 'dive' yellow was extremely harsh.
With ten men, the Hammers faced an agonising ten minutes. Star man Payet was taken off as defence looked to be their way of seeing the match out.
Horrible refereeing! Never a dive, it was a penalty. And not a 2nd yellow. Cresswell badly treated.
Benteke's wasteful night continued with a clear header over the bar, and a miserable volley wide. It was a sloppy night for the lone forward, overseen by a head-shaking Pardew.
An absolutely outstanding Adrian save denied sub Connor Wickham from levelling late on, and it proved the final action for the relieved goalkeeper, and a revitalised West Ham celebrated a critically important victory.
A second #PL win of the season lifts West Ham out of the bottom three and condemns Palace to their first defeat in five #CRYWHU pic.twitter.com/FRjEjoLqkY