Cole clinches quarter-final berth for West Ham

The striker pounced on a moment of indecision to cap a second-half comeback that looked unlikely when Jay Tabb deservedly put Coventry boss Iain Dowie within sight of another Premier League scalp.

But an own goal and a slip in the dying seconds did for Hammers fan Dowie, who was forced to endure defeat in the most gut-wrenching circumstances.

Cole out-muscled centre half Ben Turner to slot the ball beyond Andy Marshall as the visitors sneaked through, referee Rob Styles waving aside justifiable home claims of a handball by Jonathan Spector in the build-up.

It was the second time this season West Ham had progressed thanks to a lastgasp goal. Dean Ashton's late effort defeated Plymouth Argyle in the previous round.

It was fortunate for West Ham that they had even levelled.

Three minutes after Tabb's header, Luis Boa Morte's leftfooted volley carried neither the strength nor direction to beat Marshall until it was deflected past him by Marcus Hall.

Curbishley said: "Sometimes you look for too many reasons why you don't play well. Often, it's simple. One team was at it. One team was playing at a tempo — and that was Coventry. I'm a bit down about it, but I will take the result because you suffer enough kicks in the teeth as a manager.

"It was our worst performance of the season. It's hard to understand why, as we played ever so well against Portsmouth."

Dowie sprang one of the biggest surprises of the competition when Coventry defeated Manchester United at Old Trafford in the previous round.

With his beleaguered board of directors mulling over competing offers to take over the debt-riddled club yesterday afternoon, the long-awaited green shoots of recovery may just be around the corner.

Not that it was any consolation after the final whistle.

Dowie said: "It's galling to lose in such a manner. Sometimes you don't get what you deserve and we didn't tonight. I could point to the handball. But I'm not here to bemoan that.

"We more than coped with them. We were in the ascendancy throughout, we just lacked the final ball."

Despite Coventry's bite, West Ham could point to a crucial 35th-minute decision that was given in favour of the hosts when Turner, the last man, appeared to pull Boa Morte to the ground.

Referee Styles was not convinced. The benefit was seen when Tabb ghosted in to nod home Isaac Osbourne's cross.

But the swiftness with which they conceded pushed the game back into the balance and, just as it appeared to be heading for extra-time, Cole struck his second goal in three games.

Curbishley was counting the walking wounded at the whistle.

"We have attacked the Carling Cup," he said. "We fielded a strong side at Bristol Rovers and lost Kieron Dyer and Bobby Zamora to long-term injuries. We were without nine going into this game and now I've got problems because Anton Ferdinand has a hamstring problem. Hayden Mullins was brought off because of his knee and Mark Noble felt his groin."

COVENTRY CITY (4-4-2): Marshall 6; McNamee 6, De Zeeuw 7, Turner 5, Hall 6; Tabb 8, Doyle 6, Osbourne 6, Gray 5 (Simpson 46min, 6); Mifsud 6, Best 6 (Kyle 70, 5). Booked: Osbourne.

WEST HAM UNITED (4-4-2): Wright 6; Neill 5, Ferdinand 6 (Gabbidon 85), Upson 6, McCartney 5; Bowyer 5, Noble 7 (Pantsil 61, 6), Mullins 5 (Spector 46, 5), Etherington 5; Boa Morte 5, Cole 6. Booked: McCartney, Neill, Spector.

Man of the match: Jay Tabb.

Referee: Rob Styles.