Andy Carroll's header 11 minutes from time has seen West Ham United beat 10-man Chelsea 2-1 in this afternoon's London derby at Upton Park.

The game started with an intensity befitting a match between local rivals and after a combative opening few minutes the visitors wasted a clear chance to open the scoring when Diego Costa blazed over the bar with just Adrian to beat after Cesc Fabregas's dinked ball over the top.

The Spanish forward headed wide moments later as Jose Mourinho's side pressed, but they were made to rue those misses when the hosts took the lead after 17 minutes.

Aaron Cresswell of West Ham United and Diego Costa of Chelsea compete for the ball during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Chelsea at Boleyn Ground on October 24, 2015 © Getty Images

After Asmir Begovic had tipped Payet's free kick over, the Frenchman's resulting corner found its way through the box to Mauro Zarate and the Argentine made no mistake, smashing home to break the deadlock.

Willian saw a free kick from a good position pushed away by Adrian as Chelsea looked to respond, before both sides had good headed chances to go in front in the space of 60 seconds.

Mauro Zarate (2nd L) of West Ham United celebrates scoring his team's first goal with his team mates during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Chelsea at Boleyn Ground on October 24, 2015 © Getty Images

Manuel Lanzini scrambled Kurt Zouma's header clear from on the goalline and after Nemanja Matic was booked for fouling Cheikhou Kouyate on the break, James Collins's header was held by Begovic.

Having kept his side ahead at one end, Lanzini then had a big chance to double the lead but the Argentine's composure let him down when he lofted the ball over the crossbar after he had been put through by Payet's fine flick six minutes before the break.

Fabregas thought that he had equalised as the half drew towards a close but saw his drilled effort ruled out for offside, before things got even worse for the away side in the final minute of action.

Chelsea's players (L) celebrate the goal of Chelsea's English defender Gary Cahill during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Chelsea at The Boleyn Ground in Upton Park, east London on October 24, 2015 © Getty Images

Matic was shown a second yellow card for hauling down Diafra Sakho to reduce Chelsea to 10 men and leave them with a mountain to climb, and Mourinho was sent to the stands for the second half for his reaction to the decision at half time as the Blues lost their discipline.

However, 11 minutes after the restart the beleaguered visitors restored parity when a loose ball from a corner dropped to Gary Cahill in the box, and the centre-back smashed past Adrian to level the scores.

The Hammers could have restored their advantage almost immediately when Zarate's half-volley was saved by Begovic, before Payet created a chance when he flicked the ball over Willian and volleyed wide.

West Ham United's English striker Andy Carroll (2nd L) scores his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Chelsea at The Boleyn Ground in Upton Park, east London on October 24, 2015 © Getty Images

Moments after Ramires somehow failed to put Chelsea in front for the first time from close range, the hosts restored their lead when substitute Carroll rose highest to meet Aaron Cresswell's cross and thump a header past Begovic with 11 minutes remaining.

Willian fired over the bar straight from the kickoff as the rattled champions went in desperate search of a second equaliser but West Ham clung on to secure a sixth win of the season and move third in the table.