David Sullivan bemoans lack of West Ham penalties

By PA Sport

Image: Reuben Loftus-Cheek looked to have been clipped by Michail Antonio outside the box at Stamford Bridge on Saturday

West Ham joint-chairman David Sullivan claims his club have been getting a raw deal with penalty decisions for years.

The Hammers have been awarded just one spot-kick this term, and have not been given one away from home in the league in the last four seasons.

They were denied a victory at Chelsea on Saturday after the hosts snatched a 2-2 draw with a late Cesc Fabregas penalty.

Referee Robert Madley pointed to the spot after Ruben Loftus-Cheek went down under Michail Antonio's challenge, although any contact appeared to be outside the area.

Ref Watch

Dermot Gallagher analyses Chelsea's penalty on Saturday

By contrast, a week earlier Dimitri Payet's appeals for a penalty were waved away after he was clipped by Marcos Rojo in the 1-1 FA Cup draw at Manchester United.

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Sullivan told West Ham's official website: "It was really hard to see us concede a late goal two weeks in a row and for two weeks in a row to draw games we could and should have won.

"It clearly wasn't a penalty on television, but nobody can blame the referee for getting such a marginal decision wrong in real time rather than a slow motion TV replay.

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West Ham boss Slaven Bilic was adamant the penalty Chelsea were awarded should not have been given as the contact was outside the box

"What hurts me is we get no such marginal calls our way. The Dimitri Payet penalty at Manchester United could easily have been given and there are a dozen occasions this season where we could have got penalties and didn't.

"We have not had an away penalty in the league in four seasons and we have had less penalties in four seasons than any team in the Premier League."

Mark Noble scored West Ham's solitary spot-kick this term, at home to Bournemouth in August.

Image: Mark Noble missed with this penalty attempt for West Ham against Tottenham in 2014

They have been given nine penalties - all at home - in the last four seasons, while leaders Leicester have been awarded 10 this season alone.

The Hammers have not had a penalty away from Upton Park in the Premier League since they were promoted back to the top flight in 2012.

Their last came in a 1-1 draw at Wolves in October 2010, also scored by Noble.

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