Sam Allardyce felt Everton could have been reduced to ten men as he reflected on West Ham’s 1-0 defeat yesterday.

Romelu Lukaku came off the bench to send the Hammers to defeat but the main talking point was Gareth Barry's challenge on Kevin Nolan in the first half, when the Hammers captain looked like he would have a clear run into the penalty area which match official Jon Moss saw as fair.

"There's no doubt about that in my mind," said the West Ham manager.

"Gareth Barry was at the time, from my position which was behind the referee, there was no obscured view of Gareth Barry pulling Kevin Nolan down. That was a key moment.

"Kevin would have been perhaps scoring another goal because of the goalscoring form he is in; he's scored four in the last five.

"It looks like he (Barry) is stopping a goalscoring opportunity and a red card. I am really disappointed in that but I can't control that."

Allardyce withdrew Carlton Cole on the half hour as he did not think he was getting enough from the striker and replacement Andy Carroll, who dislocated a finger at one point in the game, made a difference.

"We couldn't get out of our half and Andy had to come on to get us out of our half more because Carlton's hold-up play wasn't as good as it normally is. Andy held it up more," said the Hammers boss.

Of Carroll's dislocated finger, Allardyce said: "Andy didn't seem to have much trouble with the physio popping it back in for him.

"It made me wince but it didn't make Andy."