Villa stretch unbeaten run to six

Aston Villa 4 West Ham 1

Dion Dublin scored his 100th Premiership goal to help extend Villa’s unbeaten run to six matches and push the under pressure Glenn Roeder’s side further into the relegation mire.

Dublin’s top flight career looked as if it was coming to an end when he was loaned out to Millwall at the end of last season, and when he reported back in the summer he was fifth in line of Graham Taylor’s strikers.

But he has forced his way back into the starting line-up and was a key figure in Villa’s best performance of a season which had previously been starved of goal-power - just 10 in the previous 14 games.

Villa played with a flair that has seldom been evident in previous games and there were many plus points for the 33,000 crowd to enjoy.

Darius Vassell looked back to his best as his pace tormented the Hammers defence while the recalled Lee Hendrie sparkled in the centre of midfield.

Oyvind Leonhardsen had his best game since moving from Tottenham while Gareth Barry continued to push his claims for an England recall on the left flank.

But equally important were two saves made at the start of the second period by Peter Enckelman when the Hammers were threatening to get back on level terms.

West Ham began brightly with Jermain Defoe a threat but they were swept aside once Villa moved into top gear and Roeder must now fear for his job after a run of just one point from the last five matches.

West Ham made a bright start and Defoe squandered a golden chance to put them ahead after 10 minutes.

The England Under-21 striker turned past the challenge of the recalled Villa skipper Steve Staunton to find himself with only Enckelman to beat but he dragged his low shot across the face of goal.

Staunton, who admitted to being hurt at his omission against West Brom, was then yellow-carded for bringing down Edouard Cisse in full flight.

Villa started to make their presence felt and the impressive Hendrie was only just too high with a swerving 20 yard effort.

But it needed a goalline clearance from Jlloyd Samuel, switched to right-back to replace the injured Mark Delaney, to prevent the Hammers from taking a 25th minute lead.

Sebastian Schemmel’s right-wing cross was parried by Enckelman straight to Joe Cole who reacted instinctively to send a header goalwards but Samuel was on hand to hook the ball clear.

Defoe had an effort ruled out for offside but Villa were starting to look more menacing and they went ahead after 28 minutes.

Barry’s chipped free-kick was chested down by Dion Dublin to Hendrie and his sheer perseverance took him past the challenges of Ian Pearce and Christian Dailly before he drilled a low shot past David James.

James was booed every time he touched the ball on his return to Villa Park but he produced a superb reflex save five minutes before the interval to prevent the home side doubling their lead.

Barry’s left-wing cross found Dublin at the near post and he got plenty of power into his effort but James was able to block his effort.

Pearce was yellow carded for obstructing the former England striker and the woodwork came to West Ham’s rescue in first half injury-time.

Hendrie’s corner was inadvertently headed across his own goal by Trevor Sinclair and Darius Vassell’s volley rattled the crossbar.

The second half started in explosive fashion with Enckelman producing two superb saves to keep his side in front.

He denied both Cisse and Sinclair at point-blank range when the Hammers duo both looked odds on to score.

In between Pearce had come to West Ham’s rescue as he cleared a close range header from Oyvind Leonhardsen off the line after Hendrie had floated over an inviting cross from the left flank.

Then after 58 minutes Leonhardsen gave Villa some breathing space with his second goal in three games.

Vassell was the creator with some trickery on the edge of the penalty area before slipping the ball to Leonhardsen and he gave James no chance with a rising shot.

Dublin should have killed off the game when he shot wide with the goal at his mercy after James had parried an effort from Thomas Hitzlsperger.

But West Ham gave themselves a life-line after 70 minutes when Di Canio headed home a deep cross from Sinclair.

Their joy lasted just two minutes before Dublin reached the magical three figure mark after Cisse had brought down Vassell.

Hendrie floated over the free-kick and Dublin rose to send a header into the corner of the net before celebrating in front of the Holte End.

With 10 minutes left Vassell put the icing on an excellent performance as he beat James with a powerful effort from 15 yards out.