Julen Lopetegui delighted with West Ham improvement in first win of the season

West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui was relieved by his side's improved second-half effort in Saturday’s win over Crystal Palace.

Goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen handed the Hammers a first three points of the season in the Premier League.

He said: "It has been a very balanced match, in my opinion, above all the first half. But we achieved the three points, we are happy but above all because the players have fought very well to achieve the three points.

"We suffered in this pre-season a lot. We have had one very strange pre-season for lots of reasons.

"It's a good feeling that Edson (Alvarez) arrived (from injury), it's a good feeling that Alphonse (Areola) has made here and of the rest of the players to see all of them connected with the teamwork."

West Ham's strange schedule does not see them leave London until their November 2 trip to Nottingham Forest but Lopetegui insisted he treats every game in the capital the same.

He added: "We are not going to know another city! Always in London. This, for me, is the same. If we play against one London team, for me it's the same.

"I know sometimes for the fans but for me it's the same. We want three points, it's always very important."