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

Derby had stunned the home crowd into silence within four minutes 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 who was completely unmarked and had time and space to side-foot 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 West Ham failed to find the winner despite creating a hatful of chances and they had to settle for a point for the second time in two days.

For Derby 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.

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. Goal: 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. Goal: Sturridge 4.

Referee: A Wiley (Walsall).