Slaven Bilic was sent to the stands late on as ten-man West Ham United blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home to FC Astra Giurgiu in the first leg of their Europa League third round qualifier.

Having handed competitive debuts to Dimitri Payet and Angelo Ogbonna, the Hammers were two goals to the good shortly after half time and appeared to have erased the memories of their penalty shoot-out win over Birkirkara in the previous round.

However, James Collins then became the third player sent off in as many rounds of the competition - ironic considering the Hammers reached the qualifying rounds by finishing top of the Premier League fair play standings - and the game turned on its head.

And after conceding twice their night was compounded by head coach Bilic being dismissed at the death. First-half injuries to Joey O'Brien and Enner Valencia will not have helped the Croatian's headache either.

Striker Valencia headed the hosts in front after 23 minutes after meeting Payet's cross before Mauro Zarate scored his first goal at Upton Park a year after moving to east London.

But the course of the hinged on the sending off of Collins with roughly half an hour remaining.

Astra got one back in the 71st minute via Fernando Boldrin before Ogbonna - signed this summer from Serie A winner Juventus - headed past Adrian with eight minutes remaining to give the Romanian side a lifeline ahead of next week's second leg.

And a disappointing night at Upton Park ended with boss Bilic given his marching orders, much to the discontent of the already frustrated home supporters.

West Ham United: Adrian; O'Brien (Burke 36), Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Noble, Oxford, Kouyate; Payet; Zarate (Jarvis 76), Valencia (Maiga 37).

Subs: Spiegel (GK), Nolan, Poyet, Samuelson.