'No brainer' that Bowen would be the 'perfect captain'

Once the full-time whistle has blown, it is normally a bit of scramble to get down from the television gantry to the interview area. Each ground has its own nuances but Selhurst Park, like many others, presents the challenge of navigating narrow stairs, security gates, fans and diligent stewards.

Therefore, at times, it is no surprise to be informed upon arrival that the player you requested to speak to has already been through the interview area and is now back in the changing room.

It is not very often they come back and the club press officer normally suggests an alternative player to interview. After the win over Crystal Palace, the West Ham United player in question was Jarrod Bowen - and he did return.

I don't think there were many objections - if any - to the decision to award the 27-year-old West Ham captaincy this summer.

Off the back of a campaign where he equalled the club-record number of goals scored in a single Premier League season (16), becoming an established member of the England squad, plus signing a new seven-year contract back in November - it would be a no brainer, right?

Not that he needs any further vindication, but Bowen's actions on and off the pitch showed why he is the perfect captain for West Ham United.

In addition to the tireless work-rate, which we know the fans love, there was the quality of his finish for West Ham's second goal and the awareness both he and team-mate Tomas Soucek displayed to quickly move a Crystal Palace ball boy out from underneath a collapsed advertising board. He also sought out the youngster after the match to check he was OK and hand over his match shirt.

When exchanging messages about the game with a West Ham fan, he informed me that his 10-year-old daughter's favourite player is Jarrod Bowen. A footballing opinion I don't think anyone can take issue with.