Derby claimed a vital point in their battle for FA Carling Premiership survival to leave Harry Redknapp tearing his hair out in frustration at Upton Park.

Jim Smith's side took the lead with less than four minutes gone, Dean Sturridge left completely unmarked to sidefoot past Shaka Hislop.

Paolo Di Canio brought the home side level with a breathtaking goal on 21 minutes, beating two defenders before curling a shot past Mart Poom and the West Ham faithful sat back anticipating the floodgates would open.

But the Hammers failed to find the winner despite creating a hatful of chances, especially in the first half, and they had to settle for a point for the second time in two days.

For the Rams it was a battling display that gives them heart for the rest of the season as they attempt to drag themselves clear of the relegation zone.

Derby had stunned the home crowd into silence with less than four minutes on the clock as they took advantage of some terrible defending to open the scoring.

Captain Darryl Powell's surging run into the box was halted by Rio Ferdinand but the ball broke to Dean Sturridge on the left of the area who was completely unmarked and had time and space to sidefoot past Shaka Hislop.

That sparked the home side into life and they launched a number of attacks in a frenetic opening period, Lampard getting a shot on target on the turn but it lacked enough power to test Mart Poom in the Derby goal.

The Hammers still looked vulnerable at the back however, perhaps as a result of the reshuffle forced by the injury to Neil Ruddock which has ruled him out for several weeks.

Steve Potts was drafted in as a third centre-half as Hammers boss Harry Redknapp decided not to risk Igor Stimac as the Croatian is one booking away from a suspension that would rule him out of the Worthington Cup replay against Aston Villa.

And Derby almost took advantage of that confusion on seven minutes as Sturridge was again left unmarked at the far post but this time Hislop was able to steer his header away to safety.

At the other end Foe headed over from Di Canio's corner before the Italian decided to do it all himself with a magical equaliser.

Faced with two defenders on the left hand side of the area Di Canio turned them both inside out to create a yard of space before curling a brilliant shot into the far corner past the despairing dive of Poom.

If that was the best of the Italian the worst was not far behind as he over-elaborated on the edge of his own area with an attempted back heel that almost let in Sturridge again, Hislop having to race from his line to save.

From then on however it was all West Ham and they were unlucky not to take the lead before the interval.

Lampard's thunderous left-foot drive was spectacular tipped over by Poom, Paulo Wanchope fired over and Lampard then saw his drive skim agonisingly inches wide of the upright.

Di Canio then forced another breathtaking save from Poom three minutes before the break hitting a thunderous volley from Wanchope's flick that the Estonian was at full stretch to tip over.

It looked as though the second half would follow the same pattern as the first as the home side began brightly, Cole firing a left foot drive so close that some Hammers fans thought it had gone in instead of hitting the side netting.

But the game then descended into a more scrappy affair for the next 10 minutes before the next chance, Burley hitting a drive wide of Hislop's far post.

Sinclair then almost released Di Canio with a delightful chip through but for once the Italian's control let him down and Prior was able to come across to clear.

On 57 minutes the home fans were in uproar when Wanchope appeared to be brought down by Carbonari as he attempted to race on to Cole's through ball.

The Argentinian was Derby's last defender and would have been in serious danger of seeing red but referee Alan Wiley waved play on much to the dismay of the home fans and players.

Ferdinand and Wanchope quickly followed each other into the referee's notebook, Wanchope guilty of a particularly needless booking for kicking the ball away in frustration.

The crowd were also making their frustration known as the home side struggled to break down the visitors' defence despite enjoying the vast majority of possession.

Di Canio just failed to connect properly with Marc Keller's pull back from the byline, Lampard fired over and then Poom pulled off another superb stop from Lampard's close range effort to ensure the travelling fans had something to celebrate on the way home.

Teams:

West Ham: Hislop, Potts, Ferdinand, Margas, Foe, Lampard, Cole, Sinclair, Minto (Keller 59), Wanchope, Di Canio.

Subs Not Used: Forrest, Carrick, Coyne, Newton.

Booked: Ferdinand, Wanchope, Sinclair.

Goals: Di Canio 21.

Derby: Poom, Carbonari, Powell, Johnson, Sturridge, Bohinen, Laursen, Prior, Elliott, Robinson (Beck 82), Burley. Subs Not Used: Hoult, Burton, Nimni, Jackson.

Booked: Burley, Prior, Sturridge, Laursen.

Goals: Sturridge 4.

Att: 24,998

Ref: A Wiley (Walsall).