Scott Parker saw his West Ham side recover from three goals down to draw 3-3 at Cardiff in a thrilling first game in charge.
Jack Moylan's first hat trick in English football had Cardiff in cruise control at halftime and Hammers fans venting their anger.
But the Hammers -- inspired by captain Jarrod Bowen -- fought back in incredible fashion as Divine Mukasa, Arne Engels and Max Kilman netted to secure a point.
Parker was confirmed as Hammers boss on Wednesday morning -- just 24 hours after Nuno Espirito Santo's departure -- but it was a tough watch for the former England midfielder initially as Moylan had Cardiff 3-0 ahead inside 39 minutes.
Moylan scored a hat trick on his Republic of Ireland debut against Grenada in May, but this was his first club treble since scoring three for Shelbourne in May 2023.
Parker admitted he had to conduct a "very difficult" half-time team-talk before West Ham battled back to earn a point.
"I came in here at nine o'clock this morning and met the players for the first time, so I didn't have a lot of input as such," he said.
"As you can imagine, it was a difficult half-time talk. I just helped them tactically and told them, 'OK, this is the way it needs to be now.'
"Certainly out of possession, we needed to be more aggressive.
"There were tactical changes and substitutions, and we became more front-footed. We took a few more risks."
The draw extends Cardiff's unbeaten home league run to 10 games over the last two seasons, while West Ham occupy the final playoff place in eighth.
Nuno's 13-month tenure had ended after the Hammers had won just twice in six matches and lost successive home games to Southampton and West Brom.
Taty Castellanos had hinted at better times ahead, forcing Nathan Trott in to early action after Bowen's effort had deflected to him.
But the Hammers were behind after Alex Robertson found Moylan in the 11th minute.
Moylan advanced to find the top corner of Mads Hermansen's net with a ferocious strike from 20 yards.
Hermansen tipped aside Calum Scanlon's cross and Will Fish headed over as Cardiff probed.
There was no reprieve for West Ham when Perry Ng curled a ball over a static defence after 36 minutes.
Moylan cleverly slowed down for Morato to bundle him over, a clear penalty.
Cardiff had missed their last two spot kicks, but this time Moylan was entrusted with the responsibility and sent Hermansen the wrong way.
Angry Hammers fans responded with cries of "you're not fit to wear the shirt," and many of them appeared to be making a swift departure three minutes later.
Joel Bagan's corner cleared Fish at the near post, but Moylan came in behind him to head home his sixth goal in five games, and his 10th of the season.
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Parker sent on Mohamadou Kante and Joël Piroe for Soungoutou Magassa and Castellanos at halftime and there was instantly more conviction from the Hammers.
Bowen floated a delicious pass through after 58 minutes, and Mukasa lifted the ball over Trott and in off a post.
The deficit was reduced further seven minutes later when Piroe flicked on Bowen's pass and Engels slid home his first Hammers goal.
Kante nearly toe poked the ball past Trott before Kilman touched home Bowen's brilliant cross, and West Ham almost won it through substitutes Ezra Mayers and Tomás Soucek.
"The first half was poor in many aspects," Parker said. "We were very passive and slow with the ball.
"The biggest positive is the team we saw in the second half. That's what the biggest learning was.
"These boys have come off two defeats. You come to Cardiff away and you're three-nil down at half-time. I can only imagine what they were feeling.
"They showed a lot of character and that pleased me the most."