West Ham 2 Fulham 2

It could, and should, have been so much better for the home side after Fulham were reduced to 10 men after midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi was sent off for an off the ball clash with Scott Parker on 39 minutes.

Referee Phil Dowd missed part of the incident and booked Parker for retaliation, only for the fourth official, Anthony Taylor, to call him over to speak to assistant referee Darren Cann.

Cann explained that Dikgacoi had put his hand to Parker's face and then apparently moved his head towards him, leaing Dowd with no option but to show the South African a straight red.

By that point West Ham were already 1-0 up, thanks to Carlton Cole's well taken 16th minute header, but despite the numerical advantage they could not extend their lead.

Indeed West Ham were the better side in the first period, frequently producing some flowing attacking football but again their inability to convert possession into goals cost them.

James Tomkins, with a free header from a corner, Cole and Parker all had opportunities but the Irons reached the break with only a one goal advantage.

Roy Hodgson made a tactical switch at half-time, taking off the ineffectual Andy Johnson and bolstering his defence with Chris Baird.

It made Fulham hard to break down, playing two banks of four with one up front, although West Ham made life difficult for themselves as they began to grow frustrated.

They paid the price in the first minute of the second half when Matthew Upson, somewhat ponderous on his return to first team action after missing the last two matches, pulled down Diomansy Kamara in the penalty area.

Danny Murphy duly converted the penalty to put Fulham on terms and it became even worse for the Hammers 10 minutes later when Rob Green, slightly impeded by the giant Brede Hangeland, flapped at a corner and Zoltan Gera slotted home a volley at the far post.

It was scarcely more than the visitors deserved as they made light of being a man down to consistently threaten on the counter attack throughout the second half.

With defeat looming, the home side were thrown a lifeline with four minutes added at the end of the game. They took advantage when Stanislas, on as a replacement for Zavon Hines, hit a 20 yard shot that cruelly deflected off Aaron Hughes to wrong foot Mark Schwarzer and into the net.

Tough on Fulham, although West Ham almost contrived to hand them all three points when Green, miles out of his box, made a hash of a clearance to allow Eddie Johnson a clear shot on goal from 20 yards, only for the American to drag his effort wide with the goal gaping.

The final whistle was met with relief by the home support, clearly worried by their team's inability to covert possession into goals and points.

Zola admitted he was disappointed by his team's second half display.

He said: "To be honest, I wasn't very happy, because at the end of the first half I expected us to be at least another goal up with the chances we created.

"I didn't like something in the game, I smelt something wrong, because it looked too easy. We were passing the ball well fantastically well, getting chances and not scoring and that is not good.

"In the second half, not for the first time, we started a little bit sloppy, they got back into the game and after that it is difficult because Fulham are very, very good when they have to defend and it has been very difficult for us to get the draw.

Although I think at the end of the day it was a fair result."

With two weeks until their next game, a tough trip to Stoke, Zola will hope he can rally his players to kick start their season.

West Ham: Green, Faubert, Ilunga, Tomkins, Upson, Noble, Parker (Behrmai, 71), Jiminez, Diamanti, Cole, Hines (Stansilas, 71). Unused subs: Kurucz, Spector, Da Costa, Nouble, Payne.

Booked: Faubert, Parker, Jiminez.

Goals: Cole 16, Stanislas 90+2

Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Konchesky, Hangeland, Hughes, Gera, Murphy, Dikgacoi, A Johnson (Baird, 46), Kamara (E Johnson, 82), Dempsey (Riise, 83). Unused subs: Zuberbuhler, Kelly, Nevland, Greening.

Booked: Hangeland, E Johnson.

Sent off: Dikgacoi.

Goals: Murphy 47 (pen), Gera 57

Attendance: 32,612

Referee: Phil Dowd