Adam Nowland's misguided attempt to chip substitute keeper Tristan Peersman from the penalty spot ultimately handed Anderlecht victory in this pre-season curtain-raiser.

But West Ham can draw many positives from this absorbing game against the Belgian champions, even if some of their defending was far from convincing.

Both sides contrived to throw away two-goal leads in the course of the match, which also saw Anderlecht keeper Daniel Zitka sent off just before half-time for handling outside the box.

The early attention was on new arrival Sergei Rebrov, who became the latest player to try filling that problem right-sided position while Marlon Harewood and Teddy Sheringham continued their partnership up front.

Unfortunately the visitors had not read the script, racing into a 2-0 lead inside the first 15 minutes.

Mbo Mpenza opened the scoring with a solo run and thumping 20-yard drive on nine minutes, and then intercepted Nigel Reo-Coker's pass to set up Aruna Dindane for the second.

But Hammers were looking effective going forward, and intelligent play between Harewood and Sheringham produced an immediate riposte.

The pair combined on the edge of the box and fed Chris Cohen in the left channel before the teenager -- in for the injured Mattie Etherington -- crashed home a powerful drive off the underside of the bar.

Rebrov began to show his skills: a deep cross tempted Zitka out of bounds as Sheringham looped a header wide, then a deflected free kick brought the best from the Belgian shotstopper.

Zitka's game came to an end on 45 minutes, though, as he raced out of the box to clear a long ball under pressure from Harewood and was forced to use his hands to beat the striker. Referee Richard Beeby produced a red card.

The second half saw Hammers race into a 4-2 lead: Andy Melville equalised within seconds of the restart after Sheringham's header was parried clear by Peersman.

And on 49 minutes Sheringham got his first goal for the club, diving to head home Tomas Repka's cross from the right to cap another intelligent display of attacking football.

At the other end, Dindane slid home Mpenza's cross, but was denied by an offside flag, before Par Zetterberg shot just wide from a free kick.

But it was the home side who seemed to have secured the match on 68 minutes when Jobi McAnuff picked up a short pass from Michael Carrick and hit a low deflected shot across Peersman and in at the far post.

Sadly, amid a string of substitutions from both sides, West Ham lost their way.

Possession was cheaply yielded too often, and Mpenza headed home a Zetterberg cross on 71 minutes before levelling in a goalmouth scramble with two minutes left.

Published Monday August 2, 2004

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