Anger, frustration and disappointment have been West Ham bedfellows for most of this season but in this match those emotions reigned for another reason, as Everton's injury-time equaliser denied the Hammers three points they really should have had. That the Hammers can thank referee Peter Walton for the late, late goal seemed in little doubt, being at the visitors had to play the last few minutes with ten men when Piquionne was sent for over-zealous celebration of his 84th minute goal.

Following Avram Grant's post-match comments that 'perhaps we should treat a goal more like a funeral' I think we should fully expect, next time he scores, to see Piquionne lying prostrate on the floor as six of his teammates carry him back to the centre-spot. I look forward to seeing it at Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final at Birmingham.

After a traumatic week, it should have been the visitors who looked out-of-sorts but, in a complete contrast to last week, it was West Ham who did all the running. They were twice ahead and generally looked sharper and livelier and may well have taken full share of the spoils but for the bizarre sending off of Frederic Piquionne for 'over celebrating' what looked like the winner six minutes from the end.

But Piquionne's smartly taken header which saw the forward leaping the barrier to celebrate with the visiting fans turned out to be Hammer's downfall. The striker had been booked earlier and saw red when he returned to the field of play meaning the Hammers had to see off the remaining minutes with ten men. Everton rightly saw this as a golden opportunity and used the spare man to advantage enabling Fellaini to strike home in injury time.

It was a cruel blow for the Hammers who had led from Jonathan Spector's 26th minute goal right up to the 77th minute when substitute Bilyaletdinov, sent on for Victor Anichebe eight minutes earlier, beat Green with a fierce drive. Piquionne's goal seven minutes later was just what the striker and the Hammers deserved, the player - who missed last week's defeat to Arsenal with dental problems - having already seen an early shot fly just over and an excellent shot strike the post and roll along the line with Howard beaten just after West Ham's first goal.

Mark Noble came close with a dipping shot and Boa Morte was ruled - rightly but only just - offside when he netted just before half-time. Hines went close from a Spector cross in the second half and, although the introduction of Saha did seem to cause the Hammers more problems, the relegation-strugglers looked the better side for most of the game.

True, Saha was denied by another top-class Green save with Coleman striking the rebound over after the full-back had a good chance earlier when firing narrowly over but, with Wayne Bridge in the type of form that the Hammer's expected from the former England man following his nightmare against Arsenal last week, the men in white looked quite comfortable defensively.

This match then produced yet another concern in a season full of 'em, but this time it was because it was three points there for the taking and the Hammer's failure leaves them rooted to the bottom and perhaps asking 'will we get that many better opportunities?'