AUSTRALIAN substitute Stan Lazaridis grabbed a vital Premiership survival point for West Ham with a last-gasp equaliser at Wimbledon after Vinnie Jones had missed a penalty for Joe Kinnear's side in an exciting London derby.

Veteran striker Mick Harford had nodded Wimbledon in front after 19 minutes with his first goal of the season in his first start.

Wimbledon looked to have revived their bid for a UEFA Cup spot when given the ideal opportunity to double the lead 15 minutes from time. But after West Ham's Tim Breacker was ruled by referee Jeff Winter to have held down Marcus Gayle, Jones blazed the penalty kick wildly over the crossbar.

West Ham, who had earlier hit the post through John Hartson, took full advantage of their let-off when two substitutes combined to earn a vital point.

Portuguese midfielder Hugo Porfirio, who had led Wimbledon's defenders a merry dance after coming on to replace Steve Potts early in the second hall, forced a corner in the dying seconds. Although it was headed away from the near post by Gayle, Lazaridis half-volleyed it back through a crowd of players and into the far corner for his first West Ham goal.

It was no more than the eastenders deserved for a fighting performance, even though Wimbledon were also unlucky when an Oyvind Leonhardsen header struck the bar.

Wimbledon had moved in front when a typical monster throw-in from the left by Jones was backheaded by Robbie Earle and 38-year-old Harford had the ideal opportunity to head home unchallenged.

Eight minutes after the break Wimbledon were close to taking command when Leonhardsen forced his way past Slaven Bilic to hit a shot which Ludo Miklosko could not hold and then followed up to head against the woodwork.

West Ham manager Harry Redknapp made a vital tactical move by sending on Porfirio in place of defender Potts and Wimbledon were suddenly running in circles trying to stop the Portuguese star's determined runs.

With time running out, Porfirio made a determined run which was halted by Kenny Cunningham's tackle at the expense of a corner. And when the flag-kick was only half cleared, Lazaridis hit home the opportunity to leave the London rivals all square.