Jamie Carragher has vehemently defended under-fire referee Jon Moss, claiming the official had a 'fantastic' game during Leicester's hot-tempered draw with West Ham at the King Power Stadium.

Moss has come in for criticism from players, supporters and large sections of the media after awarding two controversial penalties and deciding to send off Jamie Vardy for diving under a challenge from Angelo Ogbonna.

But Sportsmail's Carragher feels the criticism of the referee is unwarranted, claiming that Moss got 'almost every decision right', despite accusations that he lost control of the occasion.

Sportsmail's Jamie Carragher has defended referee Jon Moss following Leicester's draw with West Ham

Moss brandished a second yellow card to Jamie Vardy after the England striker dived in the second-half

'I think the criticism he's taken has been a joke,' Carragher told Sky Sports' Monday Night Football. 'He's been called weak, and he's been called a poor referee by former referees. He has some big calls in this game and got the majority of them right.

'Do I think [Vardy's first caution] is a yellow card? No. But can I understand why he's given it? Yes, because there's been two or three fouls where he's let things go, and it sends out a message to the players. Maybe it's harsh, but I can totally understand him getting that yellow card.

'The problem with the second yellow isn't the referee, it's Jamie Vardy. He's only got himself to blame. Stop looking at the referee and start looking at the players involved in this game and the problems they gave the referee.

'As soon as I saw the incident I thought "dive" and my opinion's not changed. This is something Jamie Vardy has done over the last few years. We saw it last season against Manchester United and Swansea.

Sky Sports' Monday Night Football discussed Moss' performance during the hot-tempered draw on Sunday

Carragher said he could understand the reasons why Moss decided to award the two controversial penalties

Moss was convinced Vardy had looked to gain an advantage by tumbling into the legs of Angelo Ogbonna

'I thought the referee was absolutely fantastic on this decision. He reads the game brilliantly well, he can see something is going to happen. The position he is in is fantastic.

'He’s got it 100% right. This is a man who has been called weak today, but it was a brave decision. It’s a second yellow card. Off you go.'

Carragher admitted that Moss placed himself in a difficult position by failing to address grappling inside the box earlier in the game, with Robert Huth seemingly hauled back on one occasion by Ogbonna.

The referee eventually lost patience with the players in awarding West Ham a penalty with six minutes remaining, but Carragher explained why he could understand why Wes Morgan was penalised for holding back Winston Reid.

‘This is where the referee has given himself a problem,' he said. 'I think if you’re going to make a decision like this, you have to make it early in the game and stamp it out.

The Leicester players were incensed further when the official awarded West Ham a penalty for shirt-pulling

Leicester supporters accused Moss of being a 'cheat' following two decisions which went against their side

But Leicester were handed a lifeline by Moss when Andy Carroll was penalised for a foul on Jeff Schlupp

Cesc Fabregas initially felt the awarding of a penalty was harsh but Carragher convinced him otherwise

'There was one from Huth, and then there was even an incident before the penalty was given. But I have no sympathy for the players, as he’s spoken to them. Wes Morgan should know better. The hands are around the waist… you can’t do that.

'I think Reid’s dived. He’s made more of it. But look at the referee’s angle. All he can see is the arms around the waist. We can look at different angles. The referee can only give what he sees. That’s a penalty.'

Cesc Fabregas, who was a special guest on the show as Tottenham travelled to face Stoke at the Britannia Stadium, initially thought Moss' decision to award Leicester a last-gasp penalty for a foul from Andy Carroll on Jeff Schlupp was harsh, but Carragher soon convinced the Chelsea midfielder to change his mind.

'The referee is 100% right to call this,' the former Liverpool defender added. 'He can only give what he sees. How can he not give a penalty for that [from the angle he is at] and at that pace?