MICHAIL ANTONIO felt on top of the pile as he celebrated his goal with this bizarre carpet-stroke.
But his mat finish to mark the unveiling of West Ham’s new £250,000 claret-and-blue stadium floor was spoilt by Harvey Barnes’ late equaliser.
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Antonio said: “I’m very pleased every time I score but it’s disappointing the goal didn’t come with three points, especially as we managed to take the lead twice.”
Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini was delighted with the carpet despite Leicester’s rugged comeback ruining his best-laid plans.
He said: “It is a beautiful colour. Yes, I think it helps. It is a good idea.”
Pellegrini had the rug pulled from under his feet by a dodgy offside ruling and a late equaliser.
Even so, Hammers fans are celebrating the arrival of a cult hero that is claret and blue through and through — and cost just £250,000.
A massive pitch surround in club colours was given its debut to try to make the London Stadium feel a bit more homely.
And striker Antonio joined in the fun by lying full length on the new matting and giving it a gentle stroke to celebrate his 26th-minute opener.
We’ve got carpet, brand new carpet, I just don’t think you understand. We got it from a man in a transit van, we’ve got a brand new carpet.
West Ham fans’ new chant
West Ham fans joined in by composing a song in its honour: ‘We’ve got carpet, claret carpet’ to the tune of Achy Breaky Heart.
They also taunted Leicester’s fans with ‘You’re only here for the carpet’.
But as first Jamie Vardy and then livewire rookie Harvey Barnes denied the Hammers three points, they felt floored.
And when they see that sub Lucas Perez was wrongly given offside for what would have been West Ham’s third, it will only make them feel more hard done by.
Manager Pellegrini said: “I am happy with the carpet, because it is the colour of our club. We are trying to improve the stadium and every area of the club.”
But Pellegrini has been less impressed with the performance of the officials in his last two games.
The Hammers conceded a soft penalty and had a legitimate goal ruled out at Manchester United last week.
He added: “Unfortunately for us, we have lost five points.
“Maybe if we had those points we deserved from our last game against United and then this one, we would be fighting for the seventh position in the table.
“When you have two games in a row with such big mistakes, then of course it is difficult to accept, but you must do it.”
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