The South African international was given his marching order three minutes before half-time in his full league debut after an off-the-ball clash with Scott Parker.

Hodgson was furious that Dikgacoi was sent off when Parker only received a yellow card for the incident.

"I come from a generation where violent conduct is violent," he said.

"I have a problem getting my head around two players nose to nose and one of them sent off for violent conduct. I have a problem with that."

Fulham responded much the better to Dikgacoi's departure and hit back from Carlton Cole's 15th-minute header to lead 2-1 as West Ham imploded after the break.

Junior Stanislas snatched a point for Gianfranco Zola's men with a deflected injury-time equaliser - but Hodgson felt Fulham had deserved the victory.

"I would like to think no-one would begrudge us the victory there today because we were worth it for our second-half performance," Hodgson added.

"We know that games last 94-95 minutes and shots do get deflected. Sunderland were denied a famous victory at Old Trafford yesterday and we have been denied a famous victory here in exactly the same way." mfl

West Ham were cruising to victory in the first half and Cole headed them into a deserved lead after 15 minutes.

But Gianfranco Zola was furious with his side's attitude after Murphy hauled Fulham level from the penalty spot just after half-time.

The excellent Diomansy Kamara was asked to play the lone striker's role after the break and he won the penalty for Murphy after bustling his way past West Ham's England defender Matthew Upson.

Gera then ghosted in unmarked at the far post to slot the second and Fulham could have had a third after Robert Green's clearance was charged down but Kamara slid his shot just wide of the unguarded goal.

West Ham have still not won since the opening day of the season and a record of just five points from seven matches represents their worst start to a campaign since they were relegated in 2003.

Zola said: "We should have been more than 1-0 up at half-time and I had warned the players the game was not over.

"What was poor was that, when we conceded a goal, the whole team lost faith and lost belief, and that's what I really hate.

"Arsenal were losing twice and in the end they beat Blackburn 6-2, so that's the sort of belief we have to keep.

"I don't like that kind of attitude. We have to react and we have to be stronger. We can't let this happen after one goal again. I made those points in the dressing room."