Leicester made a bright start in searing heat when Lilian Nalis crashed a shot against the bar after Steve Bywater had come to the edge of his box to parry a cross.
David Connolly, making his Leicester debut after leaving Upton Park in the summer, followed up only to blaze over from close range.
At the other end, Hayden Mullins shot just over Ian Walker's bar.
Then, on the 20 minute mark, there was a moment of high controversy; after what seemed an innocuous challenge Dion Dublin went, to put it politely, head to head with Rufus Brevett, having just kicked out at him.
With several players gathering round, and after a long delay, referee Mike Ryan showed Dublin a red card.
He then spoke at length to Rufus Brevett before giving him a yellow card - to the boos of the home supporters which were repeated every time he touched the ball.
Lilian Nalis soon followed into the referee's notebook after a sturdy challenge on Tomas Repka.
With West Ham trying to take advantage of their numerical superiority, Matthew Etherington hit the side netting after Marlon Harewood's shot was parried.
Connolly was a constant threat and struck a shot into the side netting.
After the break, Marlon Harewood showed he had recovered from an injury which had left him prostrate in the Leicester box when he broke through to test Walker, who beat Teddy Sheringham to the rebound from his parry.
Connolly forced a superb save from Steve Bywater with a stinging shot on the turn.
With the minutes ticking away, Alan Pardew brought on Jobi McAnuff for Sergei Rebrov on the right and Bobby Zamora for Marlon Harewood up front.
Bobby wasn't able to control at a tight angle from four yards out and the ball rolled out of play. Rufus Brevett then received a second yellow card for his challenge on James Scowcroft, prompting Alan Pardew to bring on Chris Cohen to replace Teddy Sheringham.
David Connolly once more kept Steve Bywater on his toes with a left foot shot, while Bobby Zamora headed a Matt Etherington cross over.
Michael Carrick, the subject of much transfer interest, was left out of the squad.