Paolo Di Canio fired home a last-minute penalty to put daylight between West Ham and the relegation zone for the first time this season.

The ice-cool Italian kept his nerve and shot low to Fulham keeper Edwin van der Sar's left to earn Hammers another vital win -- their third straight success on the road.

The spot-kick was awarded after Fulham's Zat Knight had scythed down Jermain Defoe as the striker burst into the box on the end of Trevor Sinclair's through ball.

Knight was sent off for the professional foul on his England under-21 colleague, and Di Canio flawlessly extracted the ultimate price seconds later.

The Clarets were full of purpose from the kick off, and it could have been a more convincing win if Defoe had beaten the offside flag on six minutes.

Joe Cole released him with an intelligent ball following a great run into the heart of Fulham's reshuffled defence.

But as the 20-year-old flashed a close range shot beyond Dutch giant van der Sar he was halted by the linesman.

A Sinclair snapshot from 15 yards following good work from Di Canio which van der Sar did superbly to claw away -- showcased the effectiveness of Hammers' new directness.

The hosts, unbeaten in the previous eight games at their adopted Loftus Road home, only briefly flickered into life after the break.

But their two best chances were both spurned by £11million striker Steve Marlet.

On 59 minutes he sidefooted wide after Luis Boa Morte opened up a route to goal, then on 63 minutes he was well-placed to convert Malbranque's run but shot well off target.

Published Thursday October 24, 2002

Brought to you by the Evening Echo