Hammers in heaven as Spurs star Defoe pays the penalty

There was a time when the Upton Park penalty area was Jermain Defoe's playground.

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Spot on: Green guesses right to deny Defoe from the spot

The fox in the box got a free hit from 12 yards out in the final minute of a blood-and-thunder London derby.

Bury the ball and banish the bitterness of 30,000 West Ham supporters screaming at him every time he touched the ball.

A 90th-minute penalty should have been nirvana for Defoe and the travelling Tottenham supporters but West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green read his run-up and parried his effort away to safety.

Devastation for Defoe, who scored from the spot in Tottenham's dramatic 4-3 victory at Upton Park last season, and more ammunition for West Ham's delirious fans.

Defoe will never be forgiven for his infamous transfer request in May 2003.

He can be sure this miss will never be forgotten, either.

The Tottenham striker, sent on by Juande Ramos in the 77th minute, won the spot kick when he went down under the faintest challenge from full back Lucas Neill.

Hammer blow: Carlton Cole breaks the deadlock after Kaboul's error

Hammers manager Alan Curbishley said: "I can see why he gave it, but Green redeemed himself after his mistake for their goal."

Justice perhaps prevailed when Green, partially at fault for Tottenham's 66th-minute equaliser, saved from the spot for the third time this season.

"I was surprised the referee gave it because I thought he dived," said a clearly aggrieved Green.

"It was a dramatic finale, but that is just the way we like it."

Upton Park was dripping with blood and thunder, shirt-sleeves had long since been rolled up to their shoulders and both teams had hold of the battering ram.

No quarter was given, especially in the centre of the park.

Hayden Mullins and Mark Noble slugged it out with Jermaine Jenas and Didier Zokora.

They clattered into each other throughout, dusting themselves down and acknowledging their part in a fiery derby.

West Ham drew first blood, taking advantage of yet another mistake by Younes Kaboul.

Luis Boa Morte, revelling in a role behind Carlton Cole, charged down Kaboul's clearance and briskly made his way towards the penalty area.

Kaboul recovered but Boa Morte's reverse pass made its way to Nolberto Solano racing in from the right and Cole clipped his sideways pass into an empty net.

Settling the score: Michael Dawson celebrates his equaliser

"I thought we were in control and I couldn't see Spurs scoring," admitted Curbishley.

Neither could anyone else. West Ham shuddered when Keane latched on to a long ball from Kaboul five minutes before the break and rounded Green.

Down went Keane just as the ball bounced agonisingly wide, but the Hammers survived the penalty appeals.

Cue complaints from a small army of Spurs players.

Ramos reorganised his team after the break, sacrificing Kaboul in the 54th minute and instructing his team to play 3-4-3.

Alien to most English players, but there was method in the madness.

"I didn't know what Tottenham were doing," admitted Curbishley.

Neither, at first, did Tottenham's players.

Fox in the box: the vulpine creature escaped from West Ham's Chicken Run

Aaron Lennon appeared at right back, Zokora was shunted into the centre of defence and a three-pronged strike force laid siege to the West Ham goal.

It took them the best part of 10 minutes to work it out but they created an equaliser when the penny finally dropped.

Jenas sent in a free-kick from the touchline, Green came racing off his line and Michael Dawson beat Matthew Upson to the header.

Tough on West Ham and tough on Green, but the West Ham goalkeeper made amends in the final minute.

Defoe sent his penalty the same way when he scored at Upton Park last season.

It seems West Ham's supporters are not the only ones with a long memory.

LION CUBS Carlton Cole is enjoying a renaissance at Upton Park. The knees may not allow him to play twice a week but he is always a threat up front. Physical and capable of scoring goals, Cole is becoming an important cog at West Ham. Fine display, but not England class.