Micky Adams made just two changes going into today's game at Upton Park, resting Steve Staunton who was replaced by Richard Shaw at the heart of the defence, and bringing in Isaac Osbourne for skipper Stephen Hughes who was injured in Wednesday night's vital win against Nottingham Forest.

Although City have won their last two crunch encouters with fellow strugglers Brighton and Forest they knew another three points would go a long way to preserving their Championship status, but the Hammers were also desperate for points to keep alive their play-off hopes going into the final few games of the season.

It was the home team who started the brightest, getting forward right from the off. With just two minutes on the clock in-form Hammers striker Marlon Harewood looped an awkward effort towards Steele's goal, but the young keeper caught confidententally underneath the crossbar.

With City growing in confidence it was top-scorer Gary McSheffrey who had the first attempt on goal after 12 minutes, firing a speculative long-range shot over James Walker's bar earning City a corner courtesy of a deflection, but the Hammers defence cleared the danger.

The Sky Blues were starting to find more joy going forward and it was right-back Richard Duffy who was the next to test James Walker on 17 minutes, his teasing cross-cum-shot threatening to embarass the small keeper, but Walker managed to palm the ball behind for a corner.

City's defence was coming under increased pressure as the partnership of Sheringham and Harewood was starting to click up-front, and in the 21st minute the two combined well with Sheringham seeing his delicate chip from the edge of the area well judged by Luke Steele.

Harewood was again at the centre of the action for the Hammers on 27 minutes when he cut in from the left and unleashed a curling shot which was heading for Steele's far corner, but the keeper got a hand to it to turn it around the post.

Micky Adams was forced into a change after only 30 minutes when veteran Steve Staunton came on to replace young midfielder Isaac Osbourne who was unable to carry-on after picking up a knock earlier in the game.

With City still coming to terms with the enforced re-shuffle, Teddy Sheringham found space out on the right and whipped in a low ball which was met by Mark Noble barely three yards out, but his attempted back-heel flew wide of the far post with Steele left helpless.

Although finding themselves under increasing pressure City were still trying hard to forge an opening and in the 38th minute a great exchange of passes between Gaoater and Duffy saw the right-back burst into the box, but his low centre was smothered by Walker.

The Sky Blues waited until the stroke of half-time to create their best chance with emergency midfielder Steve Staunton putting top-scorer Gary McSheffrey through with a perfectly weighted ball but the striker saw his shot well saved by James Walker.

Half Time 0-0

City remained unchanged for the start of the second half but West Ham boss Alan Pardew opted to make a change, replacing Hayden Mullins with fellow midfielder Matthew Etherington in an attempt to inspire the Hammers.

However it was City who burst into action after the break with Marcus Hall venturing forward and getting his head to a Michael Doyle corner, forcing a good stop from impressive West Ham keeper James Walker.

It took six minutes of the second half for the Hammers to get in a meaningful attempt on goal with Marlon Harewood rising highest in the box to meet a Nigel Reo-Coker cross from the right, but his header failed to trouble Steele, floating high over the bar.

West Ham seemed spurred on by this and Luke Steele was twice called into action in the 55th minute, saving impressively from an Anton Ferdinand header resulting from a Matthew Etherington corner before keeping out a rasping Nigel Reo-Coker effort from long range before Mark Noble shot over.

City were finding the going imcreasingly tough and just a minute later Marlon Harewood found time and space to turn and shoot from the edge of the area, but his effort cleared the City crossbar.

Harewood was again causing havoc at the heart of the City defence on the hour mark when he found himself completely unmarked on the penalty spot, but his header from a Tomas Repka cross drifted harmlessly wide of Steele's far post.

Marcus Hall went into the referee's book on 66 minutes following a mis-timed challenge on the edge of the City box, but the hosts were unable to take advantage of the reulting free-kick.

Micky Adams made City's second substitution of the game replacing the quiet Shaun Goater with Stern John after 68 minutes.

Alan Pardew suprised most of the crowd inside Upton Park when he hauled off the dangerous Marlon Harewood, sending on former Spurs striker Bobby Zamora in his place to partner Teddy Sheringham up-front, after 72 minutes.

Just when it looked like the Sky Blues were heading for a valuable point disaster struck when Richard Shaw put through his own net, finding the bottom corner with a spectacular diving header from a Matthew Etherington cross from the left after 74 minutes.

In an attempt to rescue a point Adams made his final substitution of the game, replacing Dele Adebola with the fresh legs of Andy Morrell.

City were to suffer further heartbreak three minutes from time when Richard Duffy brought down Mark Noble just inside the box to hand the Hammers a penalty which Teddy Sheringham dispatched at the second attempt, after the referee made him retake the spot kick.

There was still time for substitute Bobby Zamora to add a third for the Hammers in the 90th minute when he found himself un-marked to head in from close-range to wrap up all three points for West Ham.