Robert Green admitted memories of last season's 4-3 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur helped him to make the penalty save that earned a precious point on Sunday.
The England goalkeeper kept his nerve in added time to save Jermain Defoe's spot-kick, ample revenge for the penalty he conceded when the sides last met at the Boleyn Ground back in March. As last time, Defoe struck the ball low to Green's left but on this occasion the goalkeeper got the better of the situation - pushing it on to the post and away to safety to confirm a 1-1 draw.
"I remembered [where Defoe put it last season]. I am not going to forget a game like that," he said. "I imagined he was going to put it there again and I managed to do enough to save it." It was the goalkeeper's third such save from the spot this season, with the 27-year-old admitting it was hard to explain his penalty prowess - given that he had been on a "terrible run" before the current campaign. "It might be another 250 games before I save another one," he joked.
Tottenham believed they should have had another spot-kick just before the interval when Robbie Keane went over after knocking the ball wide and then appearing to collide with Green. Despite the visitors' protests, the referee waved away all the appeals and the West Ham United No1 admitted he was not sure what happened. "Honestly I don't know," he said. "I have gone for the ball. I don't really know if I made contact or not. He seemed fairly adamant but then again if it had gone in I don't think he would have been complaining."
He added that he was disappointed with the goal Tottenham scored to cancel out Carlton Cole's first-half opener, coming off his line but not getting the ball as Michael Dawson headed in from free-kick. Green said he was determined after that to claim the next cross, save the next shot and then "when the penalty came along I was glad I could do my bit," he said. With his manager Alan Curbishley describing his contribution as "fantastic" and the fans singing his praises again at the final whistle, Green reigned supreme again.