By Dominic Toner

James Tomkins scored on his first league start for Crystal Palace against Stoke and the West Ham supporters revealed on Twitter their regret after selling the defender.

The 27-year-old completed a £10million switch to Palace in the summer and was named in Alan Pardew’s starting line up against Stoke on Sunday.

Palace recorded a comfortable 4-1 victory in the Premier League fixture and Tomkins opened the scoring on nine minutes, after getting on the end of a Andros Townsend free-kick.

The Hammers have struggled this season in defence and conceded 13 goals in their opening five matches.

Tomkins spent eight years with West Ham after graduating from the youth set up and was allowed to leave by Slaven Bilic in the summer.

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The club’s supporters have taken to Twitter to explain their disbelief that Tomkins was sold by the club.

https://twitter.com/HammersFan84/status/777500521921908736

https://twitter.com/HarryTopsfield1/status/777499919657689088

Bilic has alternated between Winston Reid, Angelo Ogbonna and James Collins at centre-back this season but they have conceded eight goals in their last two games, after suffering consecutive 4-2 defeats to West Brom and Watford.

Tomkins made 245 appearances for the Hammers, scoring 12 goals as he proved an attacking threat from set-pieces.

Youngster Reece Oxford may be given the opportunity to impress in the mid-week EFL Cup game against Accrington and will hope to be in contention for the next league encounter against Southampton.

In other West Ham news, Dimitri Payet has responded to Troy Deeley’s comments about his arrogance.

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