John Carew came off the bench and scored his first goal for the club as West Ham battled back for a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace.

The Hammers conceded an early goal when Darren Ambrose scored but Kevin Nolan netted a quick equaliser for them.

Palace regained the lead through the lively Glenn Murray at the start of the second half but Carew’s 80th minute header rescued a point for the Irons and extended their unbeaten away record this season.

Manuel Almunia came in for his debut in goal, for the injured Robert Green, after joining on an emergency loan from Arsenal.

The Hammers also handed a first appearance to midfielder Papa Boupa Diop who was joined in the side by Jack Collison at the expense of Mark Noble, who had a toe injury, and Sam Baldock. Joey O’Brien also missed out with a hamstring injury and Julien Faubert slotted in to the defence.

West Ham got off to a terrible start as they conceded the opener after just six minutes at Selhurst Park. A long ball over the top caused the Irons all sorts of problems and Ambrose rifled his shot beyond debutant Almunia.

The visitors had their first sight of goal when Carlton Cole lashed a low strike which finished up in the side netting.

But it did not take long for the Hammers to equalise. George McCartney’s 16th minute cross was nodded back by Cole and skipper Nolan was on hand to tap the ball in from close range.

The match settled down after the Irons’ goal with neither side creating too many notable chances. For the Hammers, it was a chance to establish some control in the game after their quick equaliser.

West Ham had a golden opportunity to take the lead late on in the first half when Cole headed a near post corner narrowly past the upright.

The Irons created another chance before the break when Faubert’s cross was tamely met by Nolan with only keeper Julian Speroni to beat.

West Ham ended the half strongly and were left to rue another wasted effort when Nolan blazed Henri Lansbury’s pass well over the crossbar.

But Palace missed a sitter on the stroke of half time when Murray was unable to steer his volley on target from just yards out.

The Eagles regained the lead at the start of the second half when Wilfried Zaha passed the ball to Murray and the former Brighton star placed his shot beyond the dive of Almunia.

It was a sluggish performance from the Hammers following the restart but they notched an attempt when David Bentley’s low strike went past Speroni’s post.

Sam Allardyce needed some more from his attack and he introduced Carew and Baldock in place of Cole and Collison with just over 20 minutes remaining.

The Irons fashioned a decent chance when Lansbury picked up the ball on the edge of the area but his shot was blocked by a defender.

West Ham were enjoying their best spell of the half and they came inches away from a second equaliser when Abdoulaye Faye’s header was just too far ahead of Nolan.

But Allardyce’s side grabbed the equaliser, ten minutes from time, which they merited when Nolan’s cross was headed home by substitute Carew.

Crystal Palace: Speroni; Wright, Parr, McCarthy, Gardner; Ambrose (Ramage, 70), Jedinak, Zaha (Easter, 84), Williams (Scannell, 66), Moxey; Murray

West Ham: Almunia; McCartney, Tomkins, Faye, Faubert; Nolan, Bentley (Sears, 89), Collison (Baldock, 68), Bouba Diop, Lansbury, Cole (Carew, 68)

Referee: K Wright

Attendance: 20,074