Leicester skipper Matt Elliott was sent off for violent conduct before Paolo di Canio scored the cheekiest of penalties to rescue a point for the Hammers.

Elliott reacted angrily 17 minutes time with Leicester clinging desperately to their lead after referee Eric Wolstenholme had adjudged he had brought down Joe Cole and awarded a penalty.

The Scotland defender appeared to headbutt and throw a punch at Trevor Sinclair and was instantly dismissed.

Then di Canio added to Leicester's misery by dinking the penalty past Walker who had dived to his left.

It was no more than the Hammers deserved for they had enjoyed the bulk of the possession, particularly in the second period when Cole was outstanding and his vision and trickery troubled the Foxes.

His early-season injury problems certainly seem to be behind him and on this form he will be pressing hard for a place in Sven-Goran Eriksson's World Cup squad.

Leicester were left to rue the dropping of another two home points they could ill afford and they still have chalked up just one win at Filbert Street.

They remain in the bottom three but at least they could take some consolation from the performance of midfielder Muzzy Izzet.

Izzet is looking to move away from the Foxes and had slapped in a transfer request but he was back to his best form.

Leicester's tactic from the start was to try and capitalise on the height of Brian Deane and he won several early headers although two efforts on target were comfortably saved by David James.

In contrast the Hammers were looking to try and exploit the pace of Jermain Defoe with di Canio the main creative force.

But there was precious little to cheer about in terms of goalmouth action in the first 45 minutes.

It was 35 minutes before either goal was seriously tested and then Hammers midfielder Don Hutchison got in a powerful header from a di Canio corner which was only inches too high.

But then two minutes the interval the Filbert Street crowd came to life as Izzet, an increasing influence, put the Foxes in front.

David James failed to hold onto a cross from Stefan Oakes and the ball was scrambled out for another corner.

This time Oakes played the ball into Scowcroft at the near post and he turned the ball back to Izzet 20 yards out. His low shot contained plenty of power but it appeared to take a slight deflection as it flew past James into the corner of the net.

The relief was evident all around the ground and it was only the fifth Premiership goal scored by City on their home ground this season.

West Ham looked more adventurous at the start of the second period with Cole showing plenty of trickery. But Leicester looked dangerous on the break and, as the West Ham defence backed off, Jordan Stewart was allowed a free run into the penalty area but then screwed his shot wide.

Defoe had been effectively policed but on the hour mark he wasted West Ham's best chance to date to put them back on level terms.

He seized onto a long pass from Christian Dailly and cut past Elliott but then sent his left-footed effort wide after breaking towards the six-yard box.

James had to come racing out of his area to head clear a cross from Oakes but the ball fell straight to Impey and the England keeper was relieved to see him fail to make full contact with his shot.

Then came the Elliott flare-up and the di Canio spot-kick to leave City in the bottom three.

Teams:

Leicester: Walker, Marshall, Sinclair, Elliott, Stewart, Impey (Rogers 74), Savage, Izzet, Oakes (Wise 83), Deane (Akinbiyi 81), Scowcroft.

Subs Not Used: Flowers, Jones.

Sent Off: Elliott (72). Booked: Elliott, Savage.

Goals: Izzet 43.

West Ham: James, Schemmel, Dailly, Repka, Winterburn, Hutchison, Cole, Carrick, Sinclair, Di Canio, Defoe (Kitson 88).

Subs Not Used: Hislop, Foxe, Minto, Moncur.

Booked: Sinclair, Cole.

Goals: Di Canio 74 pen.

Att: 20,131

Ref: E Wolstenholme (Blackburn).