West Ham 1 Chelsea 1

West Ham picked up their first point this month thanks to a coolly taken penalty from Alessandro Diamanti in the last minute of the first half, although they will be annoyed to have been denied all three points after Chelsea were erroneously awarded a penalty of their own in the second half.

Matthew Upson cleanly won the ball as he challenged substitute Daniel Sturridge but the linesman indicate he had fouled the Chelsea player. Referee Mike Dean, who initially ignored appeals for a spot kick, gave the penalty.

Even then former Iron Frank Lampard had to take the kick three times, after Dean - who endured a poor afternoon - ordered it retaken twice for encroachment.

Lampard kept his head and beat Green every time, much to the disgust of the partisan crowd.

It was rough justice on a much improved West Ham side, who saw Danny Gabbidon limp off with a hamstring problem after just 19 minutes.

An unremarkable first half saw the home side hold their own against a Chelsea outfit who have been inconsistent in recent weeks. They also left out Nicolas Anelka, thus reducing their striking options against one of the division's most porous defences.

Chelsea had opportunities to score, notably Ivanovic's towering header from a corner which Scott Parker cleared off the line.

But it was the Hammers who struck first when Ashley Cole was adjudged to have brought down Jack Collison and were awarded a penalty, converted by new terrace favourite Diamanti.

Chelsea almost equalised a minute later when Kalou should have been brave as he chased Drogba's flick on, only to be clattererd by Green.

Chelsea looked more threatening in the second period, particularly with the lively Sturridge, and got their reward with the penalty.

The game then opened out with both sides showing their attacking intent, although it was Chelsea who one sensed might be more likely to nick the game.

Guillermo Franco wasted a golden chance when he headed straight at Cech from six yards, while Zhirkov forced a good save from Green at the other end.

But overall a draw was a fair result, and West Ham will be relieved not to face the curse of propping up the table on Christmas Day - something that inevitably spells relegation.

They just need to beat Portsmouth - who have that dubious distinction - on Boxing Day to build on this good result.

West Ham: Green, Faubert, Ilunga, Upson, Gabbidon (Tomkins, 19), Kovac, Parker, Noble, Collison, Diamanti, Franco. Unused subs: Stech, Jiminez, Spector, Da Costa, Nouble, Stanislas.

Booked: Parker, Franco, Noble, Upson

Goal: Diamanti (pen) 45

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cole, Carvalho, Terry, Ballack, Lampard, Cole (Zhirkov, 75), Malouda (Mikel, 46), Kalou (Sturridge, 46), Drogba. Unused subs: Hilario, Ferreira, Alex, Belletti.

Booked: Cole, Terry, Carvalho

Goal: Lampard (pen) 61

Attendance: 33,388

Referee: Mike Dean