Joe Cole marked his record-breaking night with a goal for West Ham - but Coventry grabbed a deserved point when Christian Dailly headed into his own net in the final minute.

Cole, 19, became the youngest player to make 50 appearances for the Hammers - beating the record held by Paul Allen - and he popped up at the far post with just eight minutes remaining to finish off a Nigel Winterburn cross and shatter Coventry's brave resistance.

Then, though, a David Thompson free-kick into a crowded Hammers box was headed in by Dailly.

There was yet more drama in injury-time when John Hartson was bundled over in the box, but his solid-looking claims for a penalty were waved away.

Coventry might have had all three points, had a spectacular volleyed strike by Hartson not been ruled out for offside.

The much-travelled Welsh forward thought he had made a dream start to his Coventry career against his old club when he fired the ball into the back of the West Ham net after 12 minutes.

West Ham goalkeeper Craig Forrest lost the ball on the edge of the box, and when it was chipped across to Hartson he volleyed home expertly.

But the referee and his assistant apparently decided Hartson's fellow forward Craig Bellamy was 'interfering with play' from a position that was deemed offside because there was only one player between him and the goal.

For West Ham, Paolo di Canio had already been in the thick of things.

He played a magical ball over the defence after just 90 seconds to set up Frederic Kanoute. But Magnus Hedman was smartly off his line and blocked the Frenchman's shot with his legs.

Coventry captain Mustapha Hadji created a chance out of nothing after four minutes when he found space on the left and delivered a fierce drive which Forrest did well to push round his far post.

Back at the other end di Canio cut in from the left after nine minutes but disappointed be sending his low shot wide of the near post.

Then when Forrest spilled the ball on the six-yard line, Hannu Tihinen had to make a saving tackle. The same defender made another good interception after 21 minutes as Hartson slid in to meet a right-wing cross.

In between, Cole had a shot just wide - and then Barry Quinn was booked for a foul on Winterburn.

Coventry carved open the home defence after 23 minutes, and Thompson should have done better with his shot from 18 yards which flew over the bar.

There was a good physical battle taking place between Hartson and Stuart Pearce, with Coventry's new recruit edging it on points.

City's other Welsh international striker Bellamy had a shooting chance following a 30th-minute free-kick on the edge of the box, but the ball flew at least 10 yards wide.

West Ham should have scored two minutes before the break when Frank Lampard pounced on a mistake by Richard Shaw but slotted his shot wide from eight yards.

Di Canio produced another magical moment three minutes into the second half when he went on a mazy run which took him inside the box. His skill deserved some reward, but he saw his shot crash against the bar.

Hartson's over-enthusiasm cost him a booking after 53 minutes thanks to a rash tackle from behind on Sebastien Schemmel.

But he was enjoying his debut, and when he made a good turn in the box after 62 minutes he was denied a shooting chance only by Dailly's saving tackle.

West Ham struggled to clear two Coventry corners but then managed an attack of their own. Gary Breen hooked away Schemmel's cross, and from the corner Tihinen's header was cleared off the line by Carsley.

Tihinen stayed up for another Schemmel cross and this time sent a header just over the bar after 66 minutes.

Cole was tripped on the edge of the box two minutes later. Pearce drove the free-kick over the bar, although the wall did not look 10 yards away.

West Ham applied the pressure in the closing stages - but when shooting chances fell to Schemmel, di Canio and Lampard Coventry managed to get bodies in the way.

Di Canio blotted his copy book after 79 minutes with a booking for dissent. When a Kanoute shot resulted in a goal-kick the fiery Italian told the referee's assistant what he thought of the decision. He fell to his knees to plead for mercy from the referee, but to no avail.

It was rough justice on Coventry when West Ham scored what looked a killer goal after 82 minutes - but justice was close at hand in the shape of the unfortunate Dailly's own goal.

West Ham: Forrest, Schemmel, Dailly, Tihinen, Stuart Pearce, Winterburn, Carrick, Cole, Lampard, Di Canio, Kanoute.

Subs Not Used: Bywater, Soma, Song, Ian Pearce, Camara.

Booked: Cole, Di Canio.

Goals: Cole 83.

Coventry: Hedman, Shaw, Breen, Quinn (Bothroyd 88), Hadji, Thompson, Carsley (Chippo 77), Eustace, Hall, Bellamy (Edworthy 90), Hartson.

Subs Not Used: Kirkland, Telfer.

Booked: Breen, Quinn, Hartson, Thompson, Eustace.

Goals: Dailly 90 og.

Att: 22,586

Ref: D Gallagher (Banbury).