WEST HAM took an early lead against Aston Villa thanks to Robbie Keane, but they were pegged back by a Darren Bent header late in the half.

Keane profited after Ashley Young failed to get out quick enough following a partially cleared corner. Thomas Hitzlsperger nodded the ball back in and the Irishman cushioned the ball with his chest before swivelling and thumping a left-footed shot into the roof of the net.

There was some controversy on 16 minutes when Carlton Cole appeared to be shoved in the back by Richard Dunne when bursting clear on goal, but referee Mark Halsey waved away the appeals for a free-kick and, ultimately, a red card.

On 24 minutes, Villa had a goal disallowed when Bent was adjudged to have pushed Lars Jacobsen when rising to meet a cross, his header finding the net but the whistle coming to West Ham's rescue.

With ten minutes of the half to play, the visitors drew level, but it owed much to the complacency of Mark Noble.

The midfielder tried to play his way out of trouble but was tackled by Emile Heskey, the ball finding its way to Young out on the left. He shifted possession to Luke Young, and his cross was glanced home by Bent, who had managed to get across Wayne Bridge.