The West Ham striker Andy Carroll has lambasted the referee Jon Moss for an unacceptable performance, even accusing the official of trying to even things up by awarding Leicester a stoppage-time penalty.

Much of the focus during a thrilling if fractious contest was on the officials, with several penalty appeals overlooked before the opening goalscorer, Jamie Vardy, was shown a second yellow card having been adjudged to dive in the 56th minute.

Anger grew when the referee decided to punish Wes Morgan’s pressure on Winston Reid from a corner, allowing the substitute Carroll to strike home a spot-kick followed up minutes later by a wonderful goal from Aaron Cresswell.

However, the match would end 2-2 thanks to a last-gasp Leonardo Ulloa penalty awarded after Jeffrey Schlupp went down under pressure from Carroll – something which infuriated the Hammers striker.

“It is the same week-in, week-out,” Carroll said. “The same decisions, bad decisions costing us games. It is eight points now that we’ve dropped. It is not acceptable, to be honest. I know that, the manager knows that, all the players know that and a lot of the people standing around, like yourself, know that.

“I mean, it is a bad decision – it is bad decisions he has given all game. It’s not the first time and probably won’t be the last.”

Leicester’s captain Morgan said he was not allowed to speak after the match, seemingly in a bid to stop him expressing his thoughts about the officials.

However, Carroll had no problem letting rip, especially when it came to the penalty which allowed Leicester to level.

“I think it was a poor decision,” he said. “I think he’s trying to even it up and I think a lot of people have said that. It’s not acceptable. Week-in, week-out we’ve had bad decisions.”

It was a display which will no doubt bring Moss’s position under scrutiny for the remainder of the campaign and underlined Carroll’s belief that officials “need help”.

“Whether they’ve got the camera, whatever you need – something needs to happen,” he said. “We could have been third in the league now if we had eight points. Third – and now we’re still fighting for fourth, fifth spot and we’re slipping down by losing these points. We could be third and flying, and probably could still be in the cup. It is just disappointing and there’s nothing we can do about it when others are making the decision.”

It is thought likely the Football Association will write to Carroll for his observations in the wake of his comments.