Source: Team_Talk
Parker: Pen was turning point
Having just gone ahead through Valon Behrami's effort, West Ham were awarded a spot-kick for Michael Nelson's handball by referee Lee Mason, although it looked as though the defender was outside the area.[LNB]Parker, the man of the match, acknowledged the League One side had their fair share of pressure but could not overcome the two-goal deficit.[LNB]"I don't think it was as comfortable as it seemed," he told ITV Sport.[LNB]"We were under a lot of pressure at times. Once we scored we needed the second one and luckily we got it quickly. It took the sting out of them a bit and from there we went on to win it comfortably.[LNB]"We'll be looking onwards and upwards from here."[LNB]Hartlepool manager Chris Turner was delighted with his team's effort but was left to rue the penalty decision which gave the Hammers their second goal.[LNB]"There were a number of key issues in the game which didn't really go our way," said Turner.[LNB]"To get to 43 minutes at 0-0, I was delighted with the way we were playing. But they had one half-chance in the box which they finished and that's what you expect from a Premier League team.[LNB]"But then the second ball came in a minute later was handball but quite clearly outside the penalty box. It gave us a mountain to climb, especially against such opposition.[LNB]"Those players have done fantastically well. We could have been beaten by four or five but we came back out and took the game to them.[LNB]"But for a fantastic save from (Robert) Green it could have been different."[LNB]Turner added: "I'll give credit where credit is due. West Ham have come here and done a very, very professional job. But our boys have put on a great show."[LNB][LNB]
