WEST HAM 2, FULHAM 2

JUNIOR STANISLAS popped up with a late leveller to deny ten-man Fulham a fabulous victory at Upton Park.

West Ham started the London derby well as Carlton Cole enhanced his reputation with an early opener but the Cottagers improved despite seeing Kagisho Dikgacoi sent off 41 minutes into his first start for the club.

Just when victory seemed assured, after goals from Danny Murphy and Zoltan Gera, youth product Stanislas made it 2-2 in the dying seconds.

Powerhouse centre forward Cole proved a real handful for the Fulham defence as he continues to look an attractive option for Fabio Capello's World Cup plans.

With quarter of an hour gone, he headed the Hammers in front at the near post from an Alessandro Diamanti free-kick.

It was no more than the hosts deserved and Cole was at the forefront of most of their good work.

Mark Schwarzer earned his pay with a good stop to deny Scott Parker and his day was about to get busier when Dikgacoi was rightly sent off.

Roy Hodgson's recent recruit was involved in an off-the-ball incident with Parker and, after showing the Hammers midfielder a yellow card, referee Phil Dowd flashed red at the South African.

Hodgson raged at the decision but there is no doubt it was the right one as Dikgacoi raised his hands.

Zavon Hines almost doubled the East Londoners' lead when smashing a right-footed effort just off target.

But, with Andy Johnson making way for Chris Baird, Fulham reorganised and were quickly level at the start of the second half.

Hodgson resisted attempts to farm out Diomansy Kamara on loan recently and he worried Matthew Upson enough to earn a penalty when being sent crashing to ground by the England defender. Murphy kept his cool to shoot past Rob Green for his second goal of the week.

Incredibly, the 10 men went in front as ex-Hammer Paul Konchesky's free kick forced Green into conceding a corner. Gera was afforded too much space from the flag-kick and calmly snapped up the chance, side-footing into the net.

Valon Behrami's introduction as a substitute boosted Gianfranco Zola's side but rookie Premier League operators Diamanti and substitute Stanislas snatched at chances.

Deep into injury time, Stanislas got it right with a shot that deflected off Aaron Hughes to beat Schwarzer and at least stop the rot for the Hammers.

Had West Ham been beaten for a fifth game in a row, and against a team playing with a man short for more than a half, there would have been serious questions being raised around Upton Park.

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