Fulham (0) 0-1 (0)West HamZat Knight's crazy tackle gave West Ham the 88th-minute penalty which ended Fulham's eight-game Loftus Road unbeaten streak tonight.
The centre-back's two-footed lunge on Jermain Defoe earned him a deserved red card - and Paolo di Canio added to his misery by stroking home from the spot to clinch a 1-0 victory.
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Fulham defender Zat Knight red carded in the last moments of the game after being left to sort out defensive failings
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Fulham had earlier had a dubious offside flag and woeful West Ham finishing to thank for not falling behind.
Defoe had a goal ruled out for offside when he appeared level with the last defender.
And di Canio, Joe Cole and Trevor Sinclair spurned a succession of chances for the visitors.
Fulham improved after the break - but Knight's stupid tackle allowed di Canio to clinch the improving Hammers' second win on the spin.
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson may be on holiday in Rome, but his assistant Tord Grip was watching from the stands tonight, no doubt to report back on David James' performance as Eriksson considers dumping David Seaman.
The West Ham goalkeeper made the 500th club appearance of his 12-year career tonight.
But Hammers striker Frederic Kanoute lost his fitness battle with a groin problem.
For the Cottagers, who discovered today their hopes of building a new super-stadium just minutes from their Loftus Road home have been dashed, boss Jean Tigana made a raft of changes.
Midfielder Sean Davis is out for up to six weeks with a fractured toe, while forward Louis Saha faces another month out with his hamstring injury.
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Key moments
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5 mins
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Defoe has a goal ruled out for offside |
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90 mins
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Di Canio scores from the spot after Defoe is fouled |
But French defender Martin Djetou, on loan from Parma, made his debut in the second period after a three-month lay-off with a knee cartilage problem.
Defoe had the ball in the net in the fifth minute, but his 'goal' was ruled out by a questionable offside flag.
Cole fed his fellow England Under-21 star, who burst beyond Knight and fired past Edwin van der Sar - only for his celebration to be cut short by the assistant referee.
Glenn Roeder's men had two more great chances after an Andy Melville blooper.
He misjudged a long punt upfield and van der Sar saved Fulham with a great block from Defoe. Cole's follow-up effort was deflected wide.
Knight followed the lead of his centre-back colleague Melville and handed the Hammers another golden chance after 21 minutes.
The young defender completely misjudged a cross and headed it into the path of di Canio.
Luckily for the home side, the mercurial Italian was in one of his more wasteful moods and produced an embarrassing air-shot when it seemed easier to score.
Roeder's side were peppering the Fulham goal now, with di Canio's delightful flicked lob teeing up Sinclair, who brought a fine tip-over from van der Sar with a spectacular scissor-kick.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
West Ham |
| Goal attempts |
6 |
6 |
| On Target |
2 |
4 |
| Fouls |
18 |
11 |
| Corners |
7 |
6 |
| Yellows |
2 |
3 |
| Reds |
1 |
0 |
| source: www.sportinglife.com |
And Cole burst past four Cottagers players to bring another stop from van der Sar as the Hammers pressure mounted.
Tigana threw on Djetou for the ineffective Junichi Inamoto at the start of the second period.
The game burst into life just before the hour, with Christian Dailly's header from di Canio's corner forcing van der Sar into action again.
And 30 seconds later, at the other end, Ian Pearce made a vital block when Marlet connected with Boa Morte's pull-back.
With 71 minutes gone, James was grateful to see Steve Finnan's dangerous cross deflect off Tomas Repka and bounce invitingly into his grasp.
Di Canio produced a trademark moment of magic with six minutes left, but van der Sar back-pedalled to gather his spectacular 25-yard volley.
And there was drama in the 88th minute when a stupid Knight challenge on Defoe gave West Ham the penalty which won the game and earned himself a red card.
The Fulham centre-back up-ended Defoe in full flight with a wild two-footed tackle - and after referee Rob Styles sent Knight off, di Canio coolly beat van der Sar from the spot.
Fulham:
Van der Sar, Finnan, Knight, Melville, Wome, Legwinski, Malbranque, Inamoto (Djetou 45), Boa Morte (Stolcers 78), Marlet, Hayles.
Subs Not Used: Collins, Taylor, Ouaddou.
Sent Off: Knight (90,F).
Booked: Boa Morte(32,UB), Marlet(90,UB).
West Ham:
James, Dailly, Pearce, Repka, Minto, Sinclair, Cisse, Carrick, Cole, Di Canio, Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Winterburn, Breen, Van Der Gouw, Garcia, Camara.
Booked: Repka, Cisse, Dailly.
Goals: Di Canio 90 pen.
Att: 15,858
Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).