Carlton Cole put the Hammers ahead after just eight minutes before Darius Vassell scored a controversial equaliser eight minutes later despite appearing to be in an offside position.

The result sees City go fifth but Hamann admitted they had been fortunate after the visitors dominated the second half and but for a last-minute save by Joe Hart the hosts would have ended up with nothing.

He told Sky Sports News: "We didn't play well in the second half and didn't really create anything.

"With Cole up front they looked dangerous so I don't think we can complain about a point and West Ham can think they are unlucky to not get three.

"We had four or five quite sloppy performances (recently) and got away with it so we can't complain because in the last few weeks we haven't played well enough to get three points today.

"The defence has kept us in the league so far this year, but we have to start improving going forward."

Hammers boss Alan Curbishley believed his side should have taken all three points and questioned the legality of Vassell's equaliser.

He told Sky Sports News: "We deserved to be the first team to win here and I think Sven (Goran Eriksson) agreed with us when we came off.

"We should have got more out of the two games (against City)."

Curbishley was in no doubt that Vassell had been offside, saying; "I thought it was, I'm at a loss sometimes.

"I think the linesman said he didn't interfere with the first phase of play but he is standing in the six-yard box.

"All of us are a bit bemused by 'is he interfering with play or is he not?' Sometimes you get the rub of the green, but today I don't think we did."

City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson called for the issue of offside and whether a player is interfering with play to be clarified following Vassell's leveller.

"I think they have to decide whether it is offside or it's not," Eriksson said.

"For me it is (offside) but I don't know.

"Some weeks ago it was the opposite (at Blackburn)....and the referee said it was a grey area and I agree.

"We try to make it white or black but not grey."

The former England manager also admitted he felt his team were far from impressive in a result which sees them climb up to fifth place in the table.

"We didn't play good football today," Eriksson added.

"The spirit is good and we are fighting, but we had to be lucky and we have to be happy to take one point."