MOYES MUST PLAY WAITING GAME BUT END TO REIGN LOOKS IN SIGHT

THE official party line - from David Moyes and from West Ham's hierarchy - has not changed: a decision over the manager's future will not be taken until the campaign is done and the summer recess in swing.

- Malik Ouzia

The sense, though, is that the scales are tilting decisively in one direction, towards a natural conclusion and a parting of the ways.

Three days after bowing out of Europe in defiant style, West Ham folded meekly here to leave their hopes for another season of Thursday night fun in the mire.

So abject was their display yesterday that neither Moyes, nor his players, attempted to use the tight turnaround as an excuse, despite it being freely offered up.

"The players got praised for their performance on Thursday night, but today was so bad I cannot put it into words," Moyes said. "In truth, I am embarrassed to sit here and be speaking on behalf of the team and the way they have performed." Crystal Palace were outstanding and fully deserving of their win, racing into a 4-0 lead inside 31 minutes and eventually on to a 5-2 triumph, making it back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time all season.

But while the Eagles are finishing the season strongly, lifted by Oliver Glasner's arrival to a level of late-season urgency and enthusiasm that belies their comfortable position, West Ham are falling apart.