David James made three vital saves in the final 15 minutes to deny Albion in a storming finish to this clash of relegation strugglers.

Albion were left raging after referee Eddie Wolstenholme disallowed two of their strikes for offside and waved away two second-half penalty claims.

But despite a huge second-half assault they only had themselves to blame for their inability to hang onto at least a point.

Sinclair had put the Hammers ahead from a tight angle in first-half injury-time but a super start to the second half from the home team gave Daniele Dichio the chance to head home a 50th-minute equaliser.

But Albion lapsed during their spell of total dominance, an unnecessary back-pass beginning the 67th-minute move which ended in Les Ferdinand striking the crossbar and Sinclair sweeping up from close range to seal the three points.

Sinclair had already been guilty of a potentially costly miss when he scooped a 39th-minute shot against the crossbar.

But his goal gave the Hammers a half-time boost after a predictably nervy first period which Albion probably shaded.

Darren Moore almost put the home side ahead in the eighth minute when he leapt highest to meet Jason Koumas’ fine free-kick from the left but clattered the ball against the bottom of James’ left-hand post.

Then Ifeanyi Udeze thought he had given Albion a 23rd-minute lead when he burst down the left and played a neat one-two with Dichio before knocking the ball past James.

Television replays suggested Hughes was flagged for offside despite not interfering with play.

Then Bowyer missed two chances which threatened to cost his side dear. First he headed a Paolo di Canio free-kick past Hoult’s left-hand post, then he tried a close-range shot in a crowded box which was deflected out by Phil Gilchrist.

Sinclair held his head after his astonishing 39th-minute miss. Hoult spilled Michael Carrick’s long-range effort only for Sinclair to drive his close-range right-foot shot down and see it bounce up and over Hoult’s bar.

But he made amends before the tumultuous start to the second half which was made worse for Hammers boss Glenn Roeder by a display of petulance from di Canio after his 47th-minute replacement by Jermain Defoe.

Dichio thought he had put Albion ahead in the 52nd minute after firing home from a Hughes pass – but Wolstenholme immediately ruled out a second Albion goal for offside.

And with the Hammers reeling Rufus Brevett gave away a dangerous free-kick on the edge of his own box and Koumas’ set-piece was hacked clear by Tomas Repka.

But Albion blundered again to hand the Hammers the lead for the second time, Defoe’s far-post header flapped by Hoult into the path of Ferdinand, whose shot rattled the bar before dropping to Sinclair who knocked home his second of the game.

Albion continued to stretch the Hammers rearguard but poor finishing and an inspired spell by James allowed the visitors to cling on to their lead.

First James got his fingertips to a Hughes lob to deflect the ball over for a corner.

Then he got down to save Scott Dobie’s shot after the young striker – with his first touch after replacing Derek McInnes – had raced clear of the Hammers defenceAnd to compound Hughes’ misery he got down again to foil Hughes 10 minutes from time as Albion’s relentless late assault came to nothing.