Chelsea continued to dominate in the first period and should have wrapped up the game before the break, but West Ham fought back manfully and were rightfully rewarded by the Frenchman's seventh of the campaign six minutes from time.

But this epic FA Cup performance from the Hammers must have left manager Glenn Roeder wondering what a difference a week makes in the crazy world of football.

Six days ago he was conducting a dressing room inquest at Stamford Bridge into a meek surrender in the Premiership. But six days later he is slapping backs and eagerly awaiting another go on home soil in 10 days time - and he can be confident, too. 

His side matched their hosts in every department, with Kanoute's first goal for six games capping a day that saw sterling shows from every player in a claret and blue shirt. But it has to be said that they were lucky not to have been dead and buried before half-time.

Hasselbaink's 48th goal for Chelsea should have been the base upon which they built a winning lead. But they added more weight to their reputation as the Premiership's most inconsistent side as they finished the week with a win, a draw and a defeat from three games.

For that manager Claudio Ranieri has to take his fair share of the blame. He disposed of in-form striker Eidur Gudjohnsen with Michael Forsell given the task of filling his boots. It was a challenge that he flunked as his lack of composure in front of goal saw him spurn a host of chances.

The opening exchanges set the tone for this traditionally fiery fixture. Sebastien Schemmel and John Terry traded insults and intimidating gestures after a fierce challenge between the pair in the corner, while at the other end there was more controversy.

In the fourth minute Graeme Le Saux narrowly avoided being hit by a coin thrown from the West Ham contingent in the Matthew Harding Stand. The angry Chelsea defender picked up the silver piece and took it to referee David Elleray before venting his frustration.

Elleray, to his credit, had a quiet word in Le Saux's ear and encouraged him to nip another disappointing episode of missile throwing in the bud. It was a wise move, as the contest restarted with a minimum of fuss and minds returned to the football.

The game was a good one as well. West Ham, humiliated 5-1 in here the Sunday before, were full of fight and if Michael Carrick and Don Hutchison had kept their heads when presented with a sight of goal, the visitors could have been two-up within 20 minutes.

Chelsea, stung by their midweek capitulation in the Worthington Cup at Tottenham, retaliated with some punchy play of their own and in the ninth minute a crouching Hasselbaink conjured their first effort. He flicked Gianfranco Zola's free-kick at goal only to see David James make the first of a succession of fine saves.

But 12 minutes later the England international was well beaten. Hasselbaink, on the corner of the box going nowhere, was allowed a yard of space that he exploited with an exquisite bending shot. There seems to be no stopping the prolific hit-man at the moment - not even the red card of referee Mark Halsey!

West Ham were locked in the stadium for 80 minutes after their spineless showing in the league, but it was their own box they were penned in to this time, as claret and blue shirts spent long periods on the toes of their own goalkeeper.

But they went into the break still in the game. Forsell dallied when presented with a clear sight of goal in the 32nd minute and saw his shot stunned by Tomas Repka's sliding challenge, and Le Saux, Hasselbaink and Emmanuelle Petit all had stinging left-foot strikes stopped by James.

Le Saux's sorties down the left flank were a feature of a fine first half, but his disregard of defensive duties often gave the visitors a natural attacking outlet, though their final ball caused an irked Kanoute to complain on more than one occasion.

Nevertheless, Joe Cole and Hutchison both made moves to break the Blues stranglehold with speculative efforts from long range, while Paolo di Canio worked goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini on the stroke of half-time with a towering header above a flat-footed Marcel Desailly.

And in the early part of the second half they started to make their mark. Cole, Hutchison, di Canio and Kanoute beavered feaverishly ahead of the Chelsea back line, but just couldn't find a way to break down the blanket of blue ahead of them at this stage.

A rejected penalty appeal from Frank Lampard at the other end caused him to lock horns with Repka, only for referee Elleray to untangle the pair and caution the Croat. By this time Jermaine Defoe had been introduced by Roeder, and his appearance perked up the 5,000 Hammers fans.

Carrick's cute pass almost sent Kanoute free through the centre in the 69th minute, while Cole's 25-yard blast seconds later knocked Cudicini off his feet. It was all West Ham, apart from Lampard's skewed effort that trickled apologetically wide.