Hammers hang on with a point (From Daily Echo)

Hammers hang on with a point

7:39pm Monday 9th April 2012 in Sport

Ricardo Vaz Te’s dramatic penalty leveller for West Ham tonight ensured Saints will have to wait a bit longer to celebrate promotion.

Vaz Te converted an 89th minute spot-kick to give the Hammers a 3-3 draw at home to Birmingham – after they had trailed 3-1 with 20 minutes left.

Had West Ham lost to the Blues, Saints would have moved 10 points ahead of them by beating Reading at St Mary’s on Friday night.

Nigel Adkins’ men would then be celebrating promotion had the Hammers then lost at home to Brighton the following day.

As it is, even if Saints beat Reading and West Ham lose to Brighton, Saints will be nine points ahead of the Hammers with three games left - and boasting a superior goal difference.

But mathematically, they would not be assured of promotion prior to next Tuesday’s visit to Peterborough.

The best Palace v Saints coverage is in tomorrow’s Daily Echo.