The Serve

Lucas Neill almost loses it for West Ham

In a scene frighteningly similar to the 2006 World Cup, Lucas Neill gave away a dubious penalty in time added on. This time the penalty was missed, and his team, West Ham, walked away with a 1-1 home draw to Tottenham.

Neill brought down Jermain Defoe in the 91st minute. The England representative aimed his penalty right, only for Robert Green to palm it away and save the result for the Hammers.

A far more obvious foul in the box came before half time, when Robbie Keane was brought down after lifting the ball over the Hammers keeper and seemingly set to score.

Hammers manager Alan Curbishley was at odds with the referee’s decision to award the late penalty.

“I don’t reckon it was a penalty. I’ve seen both incidents, the one of Robbie Keane and the one of Defoe. And certainly the Defoe one is not a penalty,” Curbishley said.

Spurs manager Juande Ramos was less forgiving of the match offical.

“We have lost vital points we think we deserved,” Ramos said.

“The decisions are ones that the referee has to make very quickly. I have got my opinion but the referee has to make a decision and we have to accept his ruling.”