It was one of those days when east London believed that fortune was hiding from West Ham. Controversies abounded for the Match of the Day analysts to dwell on, the home crowd, manager and staff convinced that they had much the worst of them.

They were irate enough by half-time for assistant manager Nikola Jurcevic to be sent to the stand and after substitute Jonny Evans headed a late equaliser Slaven Bilic followed him, convinced that his goalkeeper had been fouled.

Sofiane Feghouli's disallowed goal in the first 20 minutes was the most hotly debated. He compensated by knocking in the equaliser later on and then setting up Manuel Lanzini to score, but a seventh win in ten games was denied in added time.

“I’m proud of my team but also very very angry at the decisions,” Bilic said. “There were four or five decisions and they all went totally against us. It builds up your frustration. The disallowed goal wasn't offside and there were a couple of penalties.

Nacer Chadli celebrates after handing his side the lead (Getty)

“The throw in before the last goal was our throw and taken ten yards further forward. Then at the corner I expected to get a foul. It's way too much for one game.”

There are, of course, two sides to every argument and to most refereeing decisions. Tony Pulis countered that for the disallowed goal “He came from an offside position and pushes Ben.” He preferred to dwell on the “great character and tenacity” shown by the players who have lifted Albion into a commendable eighth place this season.

They remain five points ahead of West Ham, whose second-half dominance meant they would have deserved another victory. But can either side burst through the glass ceiling above them?

The home side had to do without Andy Carroll, justified winner of Goal of the Month for his spectacular effort against Crystal Palace, who had hoped to be performing in front of Gareth Southgate. Instead the England manager found himself watching Michail Antonio at centre forward; a player who for all his virtues, recognised with an international call-up last September, is best deployed running at opponents down the flank. His natural tendency to drift out there often meant there was a hole in the middle that remained unfilled.

Matt Phillips of West Brom clears the ball from his line at the London Stadium (Getty)

More encouraging was the contribution of Robert Snodgrass, signed from Hull City with some of the Dmitri Payet receipts. His set-pieces were a threat even if some landed where the home side (and Southgate) would have wanted Carroll to be.

The controversies began early. In the sixth minute Bilic thought Feghouli had been fouled by Chris Brunt's challenge, but James Morrison was allowed to feed Nacer Chadli, who slipped the ball through the legs of first Cheikhou Kouyate and then goalkeeper Darren Randolph.

Within ten more minutes Snodgrass's free-kick, untouched by human head, was curling inside the left -and post before Ben Foster turned it for a corner; and Matt Phillips headed down for Salomon Rondon to flash a shot against the bar.

Much debate and London fury then followed the disallowed goal. Feghouli diverted in Lanzini's shot with injured McAuley lying on the floor, but it appeared to be Antonio, standing in close proximity to the goalkeeper, who was ruled to be offside, interfering with play.

Sofiane Feghouli equalised for the home side (Getty)

Add the frustration of seeing Antonio's jab blocked on the line by Phillips, and then penalty appeals rejected when Snodgrass went down as Jake Livermore laid a hand on him, and it was understandable that half-time arrived with referee Michael Oliver booed off and Bilic waiting to have a word or three with him at he tunnel entrance.

Having reached the dressing-room, huffing or not, Bilic changed personnel and formation by bringing on Jonathan Calleri for Aaron Cresswell and changing to three at the back.

The additional pressure further forward was rewarded in the 62nd minute. Lanzini made sufficent room for a fierce rising drive that Foster diverted onto the bar only to see Feghouli react faster than any Albion player and knock in the rebound.

The little Argentine, taking on Payet's mantle, appeared to have won the game by taking Feghouli's pass and beating Foster from 20 yards, only for Evans to deny him and the home side right at the finish.

Bilic was so furious that he was sent on the long walk to the stand for assaulting a television microphone. “It's a solid microphone, don't worry,” he said later.

A touchline ban may nevertheless follow.

West Ham (4-2-3-1): Randolph; Kouyate, Fonte, Reid, Cresswell (Calleri, 46); Noble, Obiang; Feghouli (Collins, 89), Snodgrass (Fernandes, 86), Lanzini; Antonio.

Subs not used: Adrian, Nordtveit, Byram, Fletcher.

West Brom (4-2-3-1): Foster; Nyom, Dawson, McAuley, Brun;, Fletcher, Livermore; Phillips (Robson-Kanu, 67), Morrison (Yacob, 78), Chadli (Evans, 52); Rondon.

Subs not used: Myhill, Olsson, Wilson, McClean.

Referee: M Oliver (Northumberland)