Hartson denied dream debut

John Hartson struggled to make a point last night, but a late equaliser from Coventry grabbed one at the end of an uninspired game.

It appeared the stalemate had been broken seven minutes from time when Joe Cole latched on to Nigel Winterburn's leftwing cross and steered the ball home at the far post to give West Ham a deserved lead.

But with seconds left, Christain Dailly managed to head a David Thompson freekick into his own net to give Coventry's fight against relegation a small but much-needed boost.

It was a mixed match for Hartson, who had a first-half strike disallowed and a late penalty appeal turned down. It is not the first time that a signing's first game for his new club happens to be against an old one. And the Upton Park crowd treated him to a generous round of applause as he was introduced to them before kick-off.

The script looked to have turned out perfectly as, in the 13th minute, Hartson confidently volleyed the ball into the net only to wheel away in delight to find the linesman's flag raised for offside. It looked a poor decision.

Not for the first time this season, it took a typical piece of Paolo di Canio magic to lift the home crowd's spirits when, four minutes after half-time, he jinked into the left of the area and from an acute angle aimed for the gap between Magnus Hedman and the near post but hit the bar.

Slowly West Ham took a firmer grip of the game and a flurry of bookings for City players and a string of chances to the home team testified to the visitors' growing struggle in an already anxious season.

WEST HAM: Forrest, Schemmel, Dailly, Tihinen, Stuart Pearce, Winterburn, Carrick, Cole, Lampard, Di Canio, Kanoute. Subs Not Used: Bywater, Soma, Song, Ian Pearce, Camara. Booked: Cole, Di Canio. Goals: Cole 83.

COVENTRY: Hedman, Shaw, Breen, Quinn (Bothroyd 88), Hadji, Thompson, Carsley (Chippo 77), Eustace, Hall, Bellamy (Edworthy 90), Hartson. Subs Not Used: Kirkland, Telfer. Booked: Breen, Quinn, Hartson, Thompson, Eustace. Goals: Dailly 90 og.

Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury).