Midfielder George Boateng became the fourth Coventry player to be sent off this season as the Sky Blues crashed to yet another away defeat at Upton Park against West Ham.

Hammers striker Paul Kitson had given the home side the lead as early as the 16th minute with his second goal since returning recently from a long injury lay-off.

But any hope that Coventry, with only one away win in the league all season, had of making a comeback were dashed as their ill-discipline came back to haunt them when Boateng was given his marching orders nine minutes into second half.

Boateng, making only his second start since arriving from Feyenoord for £250,000, was booked in the first half and then again when he made a rash challenge from behind on Frank Lampard.

Coventry manager Gordon Strachan, who also had three other players booked by referee Graham Poll, has also seen Dion Dublin sent off against Blackburn and both Gary Breen and Paul Williams dismissed against Aston Villa just 20 days ago.

Kitson, playing in only his third match after arriving back from three months out with a groin injury, gave Coventry further relegation worries as he ensured West Ham's 11th win out of 12 games at Upton park this season.

Lampard, who worked tirelessly in midfield, picked up the ball and threaded it into the stride of Eyal Berkovic, who shook off his marker on the edge of the area to find Kitson with a pin-point pass.

The striker controlled the ball neatly and slotted it past Coventry keeper Magnus Hedman with the outside of his right foot.

Dublin, again employed as an emergency centre-back, was outstanding in Coventry's defence but it was West Ham who should have extended their lead.

First, Stan Lazaridis - back from international duty with Australia to replace Keith Roland - raced to the byline and swung over a cross which went over Hedman's head but hit the inside of the far post and bounced out for Dublin to hook clear.

Then, a couple of minutes later, Lampard found John Hartson in space on the right and the Welsh international cut inside but saw his fierce shot blocked by Hedman's body.

Darren Huckerby threatened for Coventry but misfired a shot after racing at the West Ham defence - with the ball flying as wide of the target as an earlier effort by Noel Whelan.

Berkovic, who was injured in the build-up to the goal, went off just before half-time to be replaced by Steve Potts to give hope to Coventry, who had replaced Simon Haworth and Trond Egil Soltvedt with Sam Shilton and Michael O'Neill in their starting line-up.

West Ham keeper Craig Forrest, keeping his place with French lone signing Bernard lama on the bench, kept out Coventry's early attacks in the second period.

But the Sky Blues were soon reduced to 10 men and four minutes after, Hartson headed just wide when he rose unchallenged to meet a free-kick.

Kitson then missed a golden opportunity to double the home side's advantage when he raced clear onto a pass from Hartson with Coventry's defence appealing in vain for offside.

But with the nearest Coventry defender 15 yards away, Kitson failed to beat Hedman as the keeper raced from his line to block with his legs.

Coventry, with striker Kyle Lightbourne on for O'Neill, did not give up and with 10 minutes remaining, Dublin turned in the Hammers area but his effort was deflected over the bar, while Hartson had a drive blocked at the other end in the closing seconds.

Teams

West Ham: Forrest, Pearce, Unsworth, Ferdinand, Impey, Lazaridis, Lomas, Lampard, Berkovic (Potts 41), Kitson, Hartson.

Subs Not Used: Lama, Abou, Rowland, Alves.

Booked: Lampard.

Goals: Kitson 17.

Coventry: Hedman, Shaw, Huckerby, Whelan, Dublin, Telfer, Hall (Lightbourne 65), O'Neill, Boateng, Nilsson, Shilton.

Subs Not Used: Ogrizovic, Boland, Haworth, Soltvedt.

Sent Off: Boateng (55).

Booked: Hall, Boateng, Whelan, Dublin.

Att: 24,532

Ref: G Poll (Tring).