West Ham United have edged Birkirkara FC 1-0 in the first leg of the second round of Europa League qualifying.

Slaven Bilic's Hammers required a 90th-minute winner from James Tomkins to narrowly defeat the Maltese minnows at Upton Park.

Defender Tomkins bundled home a later corner to spare West Ham's blushes against the Maltese FA Cup winners who will prepare to host the east Londoners in central Malta next week.

West Ham controlled the match in front of a crowd of more than 33,000 but had to wait until the dying moments to take a slender lead heading into the return bout.