Coventry could not plummet any faster if they drove the team bus off Beachy Head. They have lost five of their last six games and their 10 away matches have produced just three goals and a solitary victory. And they play Manchester United tomorrow.

In the opening minutes of this match, in which they appeared nervous and off balance, it seemed that West Ham would have little difficulty in improving upon a home record which, with the exception of Manchester United, is superior to anything else in the Premiership.

West Ham had an off day, however, and Coventry, down to 10 men for the last 35 minutes, might have pinched a point, although they didn't deserve to.

The goal that should have opened the east London floodgates came after 17 minutes. Eyal Berkovic, who received the ball from Frank Lampard, held off two Coventry defenders to thread the ball through to Paul Kitson who slipped it under Magnus Hedman.

To be fair to West Ham, Berkovic, so influential in midfield, sustained a knee injury in the movement and his performance fell away before he was substituted in the 42nd minute. He is unlikely to be fit for tomorrow's game at Wimbledon.

West Ham, who have now won 11 of their 12 home games in all competitions, did not have too many clear-cut chances after that, although Kitson should have done better in the 74th minute when Lampard's first-time pass sent him scampering clear of the Coventry defence.

He lost the ball as he tried to round the 'keeper, when he might have passed to the unmarked Lampard. Coventry were reduced to 10 men in the 55th minute when George Boateng, their £250,000 buy from Feyenoord, brought down Lampard from behind. It was his second bookable offence and his manager Gordon Strachan was not critical of referee Graham Poll, who has something of a reputation as a disciplinarian.