Bruno Labbadia has accused referee Dr Jochen Drees of bowing under pressure from the Hannover supporters during Hamburg's 2-2 draw.

Hannover welcomed their biggest crowd of the season to the Niedersachsen Stadion, with a crowd of 49,000 in place to watch the northern Germany clash.

A late penalty awarded by referee Drees earned the hosts a share of the points, but the decision infuriated Labbadia and saw him sent to the stands for his protests.

"I told the referee that his decision to give the penalty was born out of fear," Labbadia said.

"To make matters even more infuriating, we were unfairly treated."

Labbadia conceded the referee's 88th-minute decision was made all the more annoying by the fact his side had wasted numerous chances earlier in the game.

"Of course we have got to blame ourselves too because, despite some good chances, we didn't finish the game off," he added.

The draw saw Hamburg lose ground on league leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who now hold a three-point advantage at the top of the table.

But for Hannover, it was a third successive game without defeat and their coach Andreas Bergmann recognised luck had been with his side.

"It was a fortunate point for us," he said. "We were unable to break down HSV's game, but at least we did show morale.

"And I would probably not have given the penalty either."