The watching contingent from Juventus were probably having second thoughts about a possible link with Crystal Palace after West Ham took them apart last night. With West Ham missing the increasingly influential midfielder Frank Lampard with flu, and Palace minus the injured Attilio Lombardo and Bruce Dyer up front, it looked as though both teams might struggle to create the excitement of last month's abandoned match.

Nothing could have been further from the truth. West Ham, who came into the game boasting a better home Premiership record than any team but Manchester United, went ahead on 31 minutes when Eyal Berkovic collected the ball on the right of the area, pulled it sharply back from near the by-line and set up John Hartson for a 16-yard shot which produced the big striker's 17th goal of the season.

Palace had already gone close when Hermann Hreidarsson's shot took a deflection off West Ham's David Unsworth and forced a smart reflex save from Craig Forrest.

Berkovic, at the hub of all that was most threatening from the home side, then curled an enticing 16-yard shot just wide, before Palace went down the other end and equalised.

Simon Rodger swung in a corner from the right, Andy Linighan got a near-post flick-on, and Neil Shipperley managed to scramble the ball over the line.

Four minutes later, on the stroke of half-time, West Ham retook the lead. Lazaridis crossed from the left, Hartson, on the back post, thumped a header against the bar, and Berkovic was presented with an open goal.

West Ham stretched their lead within three minutes of the second half. Lazaridis swung in a corner from the left, Ian Pearce got the flick-on and the ball fell into the stride of the advancing Unsworth who shot home from close range.

Hartson turned provider on 70 minutes to cross from Steve Lomas to power home a volley and complete the rout.

West Ham: Forrest, Breacker, Unsworth, Hartson, Lomas, Ferdinand, Moncur, Lazaridis (Rowland 71), Pearce, Abou (Alves 80), Berk ovic. Subs Not Used: Potts, Dowie, Sealey. Goals: Hartson 31, Berkovic 45, Unsworth 48, Lomas 71.

Crystal Palace: Miller, Edworthy, Gordon, Linighan, Warhurst, Shipperley, Rodger, Smith (Padovano 12), Hreidarsson, Emblen, Zo har. Subs Not Used: Veart, Nash, Davies, Fullarton. Booked: Hreidarsson. Goals: Ship perley 42.

Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).