Andy Carroll’s stunning overhead kick helped West Ham United put a difficult week off the pitch behind them with a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Dimitri Payet’s refusal to play for the Hammers had dominated the build up to the game, but an impressive display helped ease concerns about the club’s ability to cope in his absence.

Sofiane Feghouli’s first goal for the club had given West Ham the lead in the second half and Manuel Lanzini added a third late on at London Stadium.

United will look to replicate the performance when they travel to take on Middlesbrough in the Premier League next week.

Slaven Bilic remained true to his pre-match press conference promise and opted to omit Payet from the Hammers’ matchday squad.

A disjointed opening saw the Hammers enjoy the better of the possession but, as has been the case for much of the season, their end product was found wanting and they created little.

Indeed, it took until the 27th minute for the hosts to fashion their first sight of goal as Mark Noble made an industrious run down the right wing and crossed for Carroll.

The England international connected sweetly with a first-time volley some 12 yards from goal but could only flash over the bar on his weaker right foot.

Palace responded in kind and Yohan Cabaye tested Darren Randolph three minutes later with a volley from distance, which the West Ham stopper did well to hold.

He could do little but watch on in hope moments later as former Hammer James Tomkins spurned a glorious chance to give the visitors the lead.

Having lost his marker Tomkins arrived unchecked to meet Andros Townsend’s free kick from the right, only to stab wide from inside the six yard box.

It was the standout chance in a lethargic first half in which both sides toiled to create and showcased the sort of dearth in quality which has left them fighting relegation.

The second half certainly started in a brighter fashion, with Carroll and Cabaye both seeing volleyed efforts from the edge of the box miss the target.

Carroll had a far more presentable chance to break the deadlock with 52 minutes played after Feghouli jinked outside his marker and whipped in a dangerous cross from the right.

The West Ham number nine got up well to head at goal, but Tomkins rose bravely to deflect his effort behind for a corner.

By now Sam Allardyce’s Eagles were struggling to get even the faintest of grips on the game and the Hammers dominance told with just over 20 minutes remaining.

A lofted pass down the left channel set Antonio through on goal and the Hammers’ top scorer rounded the onrushing Wayne Hennessey.

With the goal at his mercy, Antonio sent a left footed shot across the face of goal and Feghouli arrived to apply the simplest of finishes from a yard out.

The go ahead strike was just reward for an improved second half display and West Ham were good value for their lead.

Antonio could well have made it two, but shanked a left footed effort hopelessly wide when put through on goal in the 75th minute.

The game was soon put to bed in superlative inducing fashion, however, as Carroll produced an acrobatic finish to convert Antonio’s cross.

A dinked ball from the left dropped behind Carroll at the back post and the burly centre-forward launched himself into the air and rifled an unstoppable overhead kick into the top right corner.

It was a fitting way for the Hammers’ number nine to mark a fine individual display.

Lanzini added the finishing touch for West Ham in the 85th minute, racing onto Antonio’s through ball and chipping over Hennessey to seal a valuable win for the Hammers.

West Ham United: Randolph; Reid, Collins, Ogbonna (Byram HT), Antonio (Fletcher 90), Noble, Obiang, Feghouli, Cresswell, Lanzini (Fernandes 86), Carroll

Subs not used: Adiran; Calleri, Oxford, Quina

Crystal Palace: Hennessey; Tomkins, Dann, Delaney, Ward, McArthur (Chung-Yong Lee 71), Ledley (Schlupp 81), Townsend (Remy 71), Cabaye, Puncheon, Benteke

Subs not used: Speroni, Flamini, Fryers, Kelly

Bookings: Noble (foul on Townsend 34), Carroll (foul on Ward 42), Byram (70), Ward (90)

Referee: Neil Swarbrick

Attendance: 56,984