LONDON West Ham striker Paolo di Canio is not expecting any praise for his act of sportsmanship in their English Premier League clash with Everton.

The 32-year-old Italian was well-placed to score a late winner on Saturday when he caught the ball to stop the game and allow Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard to receive attention to a knee injury. The match finished 1-1.

"I am not a saint, just like I wasn't a killer two years ago with the referee when I did something wrong," he told the Sun newspaper on Monday.

Di Canio was banned for 11 games in September 1998 after he pushed referee Paul Alcock to the ground while playing for his former club Sheffield Wednesday against Arsenal.

"I saw the goalkeeper was on the ground and in pain. During the game, the opposition is my enemy. But when they are injured, they are my colleagues and I must help them.

"Only stupid people would say I was wrong and that we could be in sixth place if it wasn't for me."

West Ham skipper Steve Lomas admitted to being puzzled at first by Di Canio's act.

"I did go up to him at the time and ask what he thought he was doing. But until you are in that situation you do not know how you will react," he said.

"It has to be a unique moment of sportsmanship and he did the game a great service."

Gerrard was not badly hurt, suffering only a twisted knee.

(Reuter)