West Ham United 0 Aston Villa 0

Aston Villa halted to their six-game losing streak in the Premier League with a battling goalless draw at in-form West Ham United.

Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan produced a fine reflex save to deny substitute Andy Carroll a first goal since March, on his return to action.

That came in stoppage time and preserved a welcome point for Paul Lambert's side, who will be pleased just to have stopped their recent rot.

Villa had set themselves up to be hard to break down, while also offering a forward threat through Andreas Weimann and Charles N'Zogbia.

They were supported by Gabriel Agbonlahor, who came in for Christian Benteke, the Belgian starting a three-match ban after his red card against Spurs.

The former England man darted into the West Ham box past James Collins, but then lifted his shot over the crossbar.

At the other end, the Irons defender then sent a powerful header goalwards from a corner, which was straight at a grateful Guzan.

West Ham maintained the pressure as the quarter-hour mark approached, but then almost hit the self-destruct button on 18 minutes.

Winston Reid overhit a backpass, which goalkeeper Adrian mis-controlled and the ball almost rolled inside the far post.

It was then the turn of Guzan to enjoy a slice of fortune as he came out to punch a highball into the box from Aaron Cresswel.

He instead clattered into Aly Cissokho as he challenged with Diafra Sakho, the ball dropping wide.

The American, though, showed good hands moments later as he beat away a fierce, angled drive from Stewart Downing, the one-time Villa midfielder.

Villa remained dangerous on the break, and went close on 38 minutes.

N'Zogbia ghosted into the left side of the West Ham penalty area, and rolled the ball back to Andreas Weimann, who moved inside before drilling a 15-yard strike straight at Adrian.

In first-half stoppage time, West Ham worked the ball well from the right along the Villa penalty area out to Downing on the left, but he shot into the side netting.

Weimann threatened for Villa just after the restart, lifting a rising shot over following more positive approach play from Agbonlahor.

Allardyce sent on captain Kevin Nolan after 65 minutes, replacing Cheikhou Kouyate.

Tempers were rising, with Villa midfielder Tom Cleverley booked for clattering into Diafra Sakho, fit again following a shoulder injury, before Weimann was shown a yellow card for dissent.

Adrian was alert to kick the ball away after Nolan's clearance ricocheted back into the six-yard box.

West Ham broke away down the right on 78 minutes through substitute Carlton Cole, who chipped the ball across to Sakho waiting on the penalty spot, but the usually clinical Senegal forward dropped a header wide.

There was a stoppage when Villa defender Nathan Baker went down in his own penalty area after clattering into Cole.

Referee Jon Moss awarded a free-kick against the West Ham striker - much to the frustrations of home players and fans alike.

The injury, though, was serious enough for the Villa man to be carried off on a stretcher, replaced by Philippe Senderos.

West Ham looked for a winner, as full-back Carl Jenkinson headed straight at the keeper, with Guzan then denying Carroll.

It came at the start of four minutes added time, palming away a point-blank header from the England forward to earn Villa a well-deserved point.