Allardyce hails Hammers

West Ham went five points ahead of Southampton after the win despite losing captain Kevin Nolan to a straight red after just nine minutes for a two-footed tackle.

"This is by far one of the best wins I've ever had in my entire management career," Allardyce said.

"To play in a local derby and to go down to ten men after nine minutes and then to perform the way we performed was absolutely outstanding.

Fantastic

"The whole group of players did a fantastic job today and it wasn't anything other than they deserved.

"When Millwall got back into it I thought it'd be tough and a draw would be a good result under the circumstances but never say die, there's a lot of character and belief and that came through in the end."

Allardyce defended his captain Nolan's dismissal, saying: "The situation as I have looked at it is Kevin is not going through the man with two feet, he's only going with one foot, he's not off the floor or out of control.

"For me that's a poor decision, I think that's harsh.

Intent

"He's a Premier League referee and he's probably been told to do it but from my point of view there's no way there's any intent by Kevin to injure the opposing player."

Millwall keeper David Forde was booked for arguing with the referee after he appeared to be fouled by Julien Faubert to allow Winston Reid to hit the West Ham winner into an open net.

"I haven't had a look at that," added Allardyce. "Sometimes they're given and sometimes they're not.

"That one was a stroke of fortune but for me the taking of the chance when the foul isn't given is the ultimate quality we've been missing."