West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan has bemoaned the lack of spot-kicks his side have been awarded in recent seasons
A Press Association Sport study can reveal Sullivan's concerns are not without justification
The high-flying Hammers have been awarded just one penalty so far during the current campaign - and none away from home in the league since their top-flight return four years ago
In comparison, current league leaders Leicester have won 10 this season alone
But just how do those records compare to other sides in recent campaigns?
Our study reveals the club awarded the most penalties in the Premier League over the last five seasons are Manchester City
City have been awarded 34 spot-kicks since the start of the 2011/12 campaign, leaving them ahead of Liverpool (32), Chelsea (31) and Manchester United (31) at the top of the pile
Remarkably, 82 per cent of City's penalties (28) have come in front of their own fans at the Etihad Stadium, with only six on their travels
That statistic would back the claims of those who believe big clubs get more favourable penalty decisions in their own back yards
But while Chelsea (74 per cent) and Manchester United (61 per cent) have also had the majority of their penalties at home, it is a different story for fellow big guns Liverpool (47 per cent), Arsenal (45 per cent) and Tottenham (43 per cent)
All have all won more spot-kicks on the road
Completing the top five for penalties awarded in recent seasons are Stoke, who have had 24 given in their favour
That should go down well with Stoke chairman Peter Coates who, after seeing Liverpool awarded a penalty against his side two years ago, said: " It is well known that the big clubs, especially at home, but often away too, get the big shouts
"I am not questioning any referee's integrity, it's human nature
It's always been like that and it never changes."
At the other end of our list are Aston Villa who - of the 13 sides who have spent all of the last five seasons in Premier League - have been awarded only 13 penalties
That will compound the misery Villa fans will be feeling as their rock-bottom side fight to salvage their top-flight status.
West Ham, meanwhile, are down in 19th place overall having won nine penalties in total since winning promotion in 2012 - a ll of which have come at Upton Park
Sullivan, speaking after Chelsea snatched a 2-2 draw against West Ham on Saturday through Cesc Fabregas' 89th-minute penalty, said on Monday: "What hurts me is we get no such marginal calls our way
"The Dimitri Payet penalty at Manchester United could easily have been given and there are a dozen occasions this season where we could have got penalties and didn't
''We have not had an away penalty in the league in four seasons and we have had less penalties in four seasons than any team in the Premier League."
Penalties awarded in Premier League since start of 2011/12 season:
(* denotes clubs who have not been in the Premier League for all those seasons)
Man City 34 (28 home, six away)
Liverpool 32 (15/17)
Chelsea 31 (23/8)
Man Utd 31 (19/12)
Stoke 24 (10/14)
Everton 21 (13/8)
Tottenham 21 (9/12)
Arsenal 20 (9/11)
West Brom 19 (12/7)
Sunderland 17 (8/9)
Swansea 17 (11/6)
*Crystal Palace 16 - three seasons in Premier League - 6/10)
*Leicester 14 - two seasons - 7/7)
Newcastle 14 (8/6)
Aston Villa 13 (8/5)
*QPR 13 - three seasons - 9/4)
*Fulham 13 - three seasons - 8/5)
*Southampton 12 - four seasons - 5/7)
*West Ham 9 - four seasons - 9/0)
*Blackburn 8 - one season - 6/2)
*Wigan 8 - two seasons - 2/6)
*Norwich 7 - four seasons - 7/7)
*Bolton 6 - one season - 2/4)
*Watford 5 - one season - 2/3)
*Bournemouth 4 - one season - 2/2)
*Hull 4 - two seasons - 4/4)
*Wolves 4 - one season - 1/3)
*Reading 4 - one season - 3/1)
*Burnley 3 - one season - 2/1)
*Cardiff 1 - one season - 1/1)
Source : PA
Source: PA