Late penalty drama at Loftus Road saw struggling West Ham earn a vital win over Fulham.
A hugely disappointing match was settled in the 88th minute when Jermaine Defoe raced clear into the box from Trevor Sinclair's throughball.
But before the 20-year-old striker could test Edwin Van der Saar in the Fulham goal, his England Under-21 colleague Zat Knight chopped him down and was immediately shown a red card.
Hammers skipper Paolo Di Canio drove home the spot kick to complete the victory that his side had just about deserved.
It could have been a very different match if Defoe had not been denied by the offside flag in the sixth minute after skilfully converting Joe Cole's intelligent throughball.
West Ham created the better opportunities of a poor first half but it was not until the 36th minute that Van Der Saar was really tested.
Di Canio broke swiftly down the left and found Sinclair bursting into the box but the wide man's first-time effort was brilliantly pushed over by the Dutch keeper.
Fulham had managed just one shot on target and it was no surprise when the ineffective Junichi Inamoto was withdrawn at half time for debutant Martin Djetou.
That roused the hosts, especially striker Steve Marlet.
After a blistering run by Luis Boa Morte the £11million Frenchman side-footed Fulham's best chance of the game narrowly wideThen Marlet was well placed to take Steed Malbranque's pass but saw his hurried effort flash past the post.
The Hammers defence always looked comfortable and with Cole and Di Canio creating the better opportunities their eventual success was well deserved