West Ham’s Joe Hart has been criticised this season but did the ‘keeper show why Slaven Bilic has shown faith in him at Crystal Palace?
Joe Hart looks on after Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace scores a late equaliser during the Premier League match against West Ham United.
West Ham United would have been bitterly disappointed to have been denied their first Premier League away win of the season at Crystal Palace due to a 97th-minute equaliser from Wilfried Zaha.
The Hammers lead 2-0 at Selhurst Park, but were pegged back by the bottom-placed side in what has to go down as an opportunity missed for manager Slaven Bilic.
Slaven Bilic, manager of West Ham United, looks on prior to the Premier League match against Crystal Palace.
However, one thing Bilic – who has received plenty of criticism this term – should perhaps be praised for is the faith he has shown in on-loan Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Hart put in a superb performance against the Eagles with a string of excellent saves to keep West Ham in the tie for as long as they were; something which caught the eye of Match Of The Day pundit Danny Murphy.
Joe Hart (R) saves off Crystal Palace midfielder Jeffrey Schlupp’s shot (C) during the English Premier League football match against West Ham United.
“He was exceptional. It was a terrific performance from him,” Murphy said. “This is why Gareth Southgate still chooses him (for England).
“His performance grew the more Palace threw at him. It’s actually really good to see him playing so well again.”
Hart has had a difficult time himself over the past 18 months after being deemed surplus to requirements by incoming City boss Pep Guardiola in 2016 and sent on loan to Torino, where he struggled for form.
The 30-year-old has also come under fire for his displays since arriving at the London Stadium for the 2017/18 campaign, but Bilic has retained his trust in the England international and looks to now be getting rewarded for that.
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