Curbishley happy with Green

West Ham manager Alan Curbishley hailed Robert Green for his injury-time penalty save that earned his side a 1-1 draw against Tottenham at Upton Park.

Green dived to his left to keep out Jermain Defoe's spot-kick after the former Hammer had been felled by Lucas Neill.

"It would have been harsh if we had been done in the last minute like that," Curbishley said.

West Ham had taken the lead in the first half through Carlton Cole after a dreadful blunder by Younes Kaboul allowed the home side to create a simple chance for the striker.

But Michael Dawson spared Kaboul's blushes with a 66th-minute header and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson kept Spurs in the game before Defoe squandered the chance to get one over on his former club.

"Green redeemed himself for their goal. I am delighted for him because he has been fantastic all season. He's come out the game a lot happier. He's been playing well all season and that's all he can do," said Curbishley.

Spurs remain unbeaten under new coach Juande Ramos but he was left with much to reflect on after Kaboul's blunder and Defoe's penalty miss.

But he refused to criticise either player and was also reticent to vent his true feelings about Riley's performance, even though it was clear that he felt the foul on Keane should have been punished with a penalty and a red card for Green.

Ramos said: "We had the possibility to score a second goal which we didn't do and we have to be happy with the draw. But we have lost vital points we think we deserved.

"Logically, Jermain is a little bit upset but these things happen in football and you just have to accept it as part of the job."