Manchester City 1 West Ham 1:Manchester City midfielder Dietmar Hamann admitted last night West Ham were unlucky not to have taken all three points at Eastlands yesterday.
Carlton Cole put West Ham ahead after just eight minutes with a spectacular overhead kick before Darius Vassell scored a controversial equaliser eight minutes later after appearing to be in an offside position.
The result sees City go fifth, but Hamann admitted they had been fortunate after the visitors dominated the second half and, but for a last-minute save by Joe Hart, the hosts would have ended up with nothing.
"We didn't play well in the second half and didn't really create anything," said Hamann. "With Cole up front they looked dangerous, so I don't think we can complain about a point and West Ham can think they are unlucky to not get three.
"We had four or five quite sloppy performances (recently) and got away with it so we can't complain because in the last few weeks we haven't played well enough to get three points today.
A chronic lack of firepower seriously undermined City's efforts and although a Uefa Cup spot remains a distinct possibility dreams of the Champions League are fading fast.
City won their first nine home league games this season, but have now taken just three points from their last three outings at the City of Manchester Stadium.
West Ham deserve credit for producing a spirited response after limping out of the FA Cup at Eastlands four days earlier.
That they did so without Dean Ashton and Matthew Etherington - ruled out due to back and knee injuries respectively - hinted at the depth and quality of their squad as the Londoners continue their own assault on Europe.
The Hammers were already shorn of the services of Nolberto Solano, Craig Bellamy, Scott Parker, Bobby Zamora and Kieron Dyer through injury.
But they were threatening throughout and Cole's strike was just reward for their early enterprise.
That it came from a defensive error from City captain Richard Dunne - whose standards have rarely dipped below exemplary this season - raised eyebrows.
The Ireland defender surrendered possession from inside his own 18-yard box with a dreadful pass straight to Noble and he swiftly fed Freddie Ljungberg on the right flank.
The Swede whipped in a dangerous cross into the six-yard box and Cole, in one sublime sequence, controlled the ball and displayed formidable strength to hold off Vedran Corluka before dispatching a brilliant overhead volley past Hart.
Manchester City drew level in the 16th minute when Vassell scored from three yards out despite looking suspiciously offside when Martin Petrov delivered the cross, but the goal stood and City were level.
