Everton boss David Moyes pointed to Ayegbeni Yakubu's disallowed 'goal' as the reason the Toffees' Champions League hopes took a dive in the 1-1 home draw with West Ham.
Everton were ahead with Yakubu's 19th goal of the season when the big Nigerian guided what looked like a second past Robert Green.
TV replays showed that Yakubu was onside when the ball was played through to him, and that the final touch came from West Ham midfielder Scott Parker.
The dropped points could now seriously damage Everton's hopes of claiming fourth place from Liverpool.
Moyes said: "We would have been 2-0 ahead if that one had been allowed. It was not offside, that is clear, but it just wasn't to be.
"It was a goal and should have counted. That would have made things slightly different.
"But in many ways this could be a point gained. The results have gone with us with the teams fighting for fifth spot losing.
"Yes, they could have won it when the youngster came on. But that's what happens when you don't take your own chances.
"But West Ham are playing with a lot less pressure than we are at the moment, and that showed in the end with the way they came forward."
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley accepted that his side rode their luck, but he said: "The way the game went after the break, we feel a little disappointed that we didn't win it.
"Certainly we grew into the game. James Tomkins made an error early on and allowed Yakubu to 'roll' him for their goal. But he hit the bar and got better and better on his debut.
"And so did we. And when we brought on Freddie Sears in the second-half, it gave us all a lift again just like last week when he scored the winner on his debut.
"He gives us something different, and he easily have scored again with that late effort against the post.
"Everton were desperate for the three points and we were hitting them on the break. We just couldn't finish it off."
Man-of-the-match Green told Setanta Sports 1: "After eight minutes it seemed like a good result.
"We carved out the better chances and played the better football - now we are walking off deeply disappointed with a point.
"It (Sears' shot) was just half the width of the post (from going in). Just unlucky for the lad.
"Freddie is sharp and is going to create havoc when legs are tiring and that is what he has done today."
TV replays showed that Yakubu was onside when the ball was played through to him, and that the final touch came from West Ham midfielder Scott Parker.
The dropped points could now seriously damage Everton's hopes of claiming fourth place from Liverpool.
Moyes said: "We would have been 2-0 ahead if that one had been allowed. It was not offside, that is clear, but it just wasn't to be.
"It was a goal and should have counted. That would have made things slightly different.
"But in many ways this could be a point gained. The results have gone with us with the teams fighting for fifth spot losing.
"Yes, they could have won it when the youngster came on. But that's what happens when you don't take your own chances.
"But West Ham are playing with a lot less pressure than we are at the moment, and that showed in the end with the way they came forward."
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley accepted that his side rode their luck, but he said: "The way the game went after the break, we feel a little disappointed that we didn't win it.
"Certainly we grew into the game. James Tomkins made an error early on and allowed Yakubu to 'roll' him for their goal. But he hit the bar and got better and better on his debut.
"And so did we. And when we brought on Freddie Sears in the second-half, it gave us all a lift again just like last week when he scored the winner on his debut.
"He gives us something different, and he easily have scored again with that late effort against the post.
"Everton were desperate for the three points and we were hitting them on the break. We just couldn't finish it off."
Man-of-the-match Green told Setanta Sports 1: "After eight minutes it seemed like a good result.
"We carved out the better chances and played the better football - now we are walking off deeply disappointed with a point.
"It (Sears' shot) was just half the width of the post (from going in). Just unlucky for the lad.
"Freddie is sharp and is going to create havoc when legs are tiring and that is what he has done today."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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