If only all London derbies were like this. Pulsating and passionate.
At half-time Crystal Palace were clinging on, by full time it was West Ham who praying for the whistle.
In the end, the spoils were shared. On reflection that was probably the right result after a wholly entertaining 90 minutes that had a little bit of everything.
Having taken the lead through Mark Noble's spot-kick, the Hammers looked to be striding to the three points.
But Palace hung in there, clawing their way back into the game.
Wilfried Zaha's leveller was the least they deserved. An extra 10 minutes, then surely Palace would have taken all three points such was their dominance in the closing stages.
But Roy Hodgson, knowing the uncertainties of Premier League football, will be satisfied with his point.
Indeed, Hodgson's men would have been happy to hear the half-time whistle. Yes, they were behind - courtesy of Noble's penalty.
But it could have been far worse for the hosts. The sight of Zaha back in the starting XI following suspension raised hope of a second consecutive London derby win following last weekend's triumph over Fulham.
By the time Craig Pawson blew for the break, Palace were on the ropes.
Vicente Guaita made two important saves in as many minutes as West Ham - who has Marko Arnautovic back on the bench after injury - came flying out of the traps.
First he denied Ryan Fredericks, who caught Zaha napping at the back post before the Palace keeper mustered another stop to keep Robert Snodgrass' effort out.
That's not to say Palace were without chances. Lukasz Fabianski made two excellent first half stops to deny James McArthur and Christian Benteke.
But the opening period unquestionably belonged to visitor's. Mamadou Sakho produced a brave block to deny Javier Hernandez's goal bound drive before West Ham made the vital breakthrough.
Having been Palace's hero, Guaita can have no complaints.
Declan Rice's delicate flicked pass into the box oozed finesse and precision; the sight of Guaita careering into Michail Antonio rather less sophisticated.
The Eagles keeper wasn't helped by defender Patrick van Aanholt, who let Antonio run off him - but once the Hammers forward got his head to the ball Guaita, having committed himself, knew he was in trouble.
Pawson, without any hesitation, pointed to the spot. Noble, equally as convincing, sent Guaita the wrong way.
It was no more than West Ham deserved. Rice and Noble were controlling matters in midfield - and in Felipe Anderson the east London side have a forward who is looking more accomplished with every passing week.
Had Pawson got up one the wrong side of bed, Palace could have ended the first half with 10 men - Pawson brandishing Aaron Wan-Bissaka a yellow card for a reckless lunge on Aaron Cresswell.
But how Palace weren't on level terms in the 52nd minute will remain one of the mysteries of the season.
McArthur had the freedom of Selhurst Park to pick his spot after Van Aanholt unlocked West Ham's rearguard with a clever flick.
The scot had two options, stroke past Fabianski or square to Benteke who was waiting to tap into an empty net.
McArthur waited. And waited. He waited some more before flicking over Fabianski.
But with the entire goal to aim at McArthur, somehow, sent his effort wide from five yards.
Selhurst Park was in disbelief. The cameras panned to McArthur - he had an embarrassed smirk on his face.
He'd have been the only person connected with Crystal Palace who was smiling. What. A. Miss.
Hodgson sent on Michy Batshuayi for the largely ineffective Benteke in hope of triggering a change in luck.
And the Belgian's first contribution was to squander yet another guild-edged opportunity.
Batshuayi's miss wasn't as miserable as McArthur's. But unmarked and 10 yards out, the striker swept his effort wide.
The forward, on loan from Chelsea, should really have done better. The look on his face suggested Batshuayi knew that as well.
Palace should have been level. They deserved to be level. Yet Hodgson knows more than most that you don't always get what you warrant in football.
But in the 76th minute Palace finally notched the equaliser their second half display justified.
Inevitably it was Zaha who dragged his tam level - his effort from a tight angle taking a decisive defection off Issa Diop before looping over the helpless Fabianski.
It was almost ironic that Palace had to rely on a slice of good fortune to equalise after squandering two of the easiest chances you're likely see.
Hodgson, though, wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.Had Fabianski not been alert to another Zaha shot inside the final 10 minutes then Palace would have completed a stunning turnaround as the game ended in a draw.