Crystal Palace suffered yet another injury blow as they shared the spoils in an even game with West Ham at the London Stadium.

The visitors took the lead through Christian Benteke after a well-delivered cross by Andros Townsend on 23 minutes.

But the hosts drew level through skipper Mark Noble after ex-Hammers defender James Tomkins gave away a penalty shortly before the end of the first half.

Roy Hodgson selected a starting 11 which saw Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha together up top, while a returning Andros Townsend featured alongside Bakary Sako in wide support.

The first half began in earnest with Hodgson’s men taking it to the Hammers with intent out wide. Javier Hernández perhaps would have scored had it not been for a last-ditch James Tomkins block yards out from his own goal.

But the risks turned into rewards when Townsend attacked down the right and played a cross into Benteke which was headed for the opening goal 23 minutes in.

The lead did not last too long, as Tomkins gave away a penalty inside the box to provide West Ham with an opportunity to level. On 42 mins, skipper Mark Noble converted the spot-kick for 1-1.

When Sako went down after a heavy challenge from full back Pablo Zabaleta, the home support was less than pleased when they booed him while receiving treatment.

He would re-enter the game for only a few seconds before going down in pain, forcing Hodgson into an early substitution by bringing on Yohan Cabaye.

Chances towards the end of the first-half were spurned when Luka Milivojevic and James McArthur both could not hit the target.

During the second half, David Moyes’ side gathered momentum after the restart when Wayne Hennessey was forced into a close-range save which almost gave West Ham the lead for the first time in the game.

While there were some potentially threatening crosses and corners at both ends, after the hour mark the game’s tempo dropped and chances remained even between both sides.

During the last 10 minutes, both teams looked to occasionally attack the other when the opportunity clearly presented itself, with Palace’s favoured option being through Patrick van Aanholt.

Hodgson made only one substitution all game, which was Cabaye, as it looked as though both managers were content with points being shared.

The game petered out into a 1-1 draw in the end.