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BLACKWELL: WE DESERVED POINT
Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell was satisfied three wrongs had made one right after David Healy's controversial injury-time penalty rescued a Coca-Cola Championship point for struggling Leeds in a 1-1 draw at West Ham.

Defeat was on the cards for the visitors until Healy tumbled under the challenge of his Northern Ireland international colleague Steve Lomas, and referee Mike Pike pointed to the spot after earlier turning down what had appeared stronger claims.

Healy kept his cool to fire past Stephen Bywater for the equaliser which left Blackwell delighted.

He said: "I'm just pleased to get a very good point against a very good side.

"West Ham aren't happy with the penalty. But Danny Pugh should have had a penalty in the first half, and Darren Powell's was a definite handball.

"I don't condone diving. If the video shows that David has dived I will have a word with him.

"People call for TV replays - and if we had them tonight we would have won 2-1 with two penalties."

Whatever the means, Blackwell judged the outcome to be fair.

"I'm not going to say anything about the ref - it would cost me two weeks' wages," he said.

"My lads deserve great credit for battling away and getting a great point."



Pike seemed to make up for his earlier decisions by awarding the late spot-kick to leave Hammers boss Alan Pardew furious.

He said: "We are incensed with the penalty decision. There were two claims earlier - but that shouldn't affect the referee's next decision.

"It was a desperate dive, an obvious dive, but the referee has given it. We are very disappointed with the point.

"In the first half we only played as well as Leeds let us - because they came to do a job and did it well. But once we got the goal, I was impressed with the lads' performance. We played some terrific stuff, and injury time was a cruel blow for the lads."

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