Analysis of West Ham 2 Villa 1

But, last night, his mood was altogether different.

"You haven't been drinking have you?" was the Villa manager's now infamous retort to the journalist who asked if his high-flying team were good enough to lift the championship following their 1-0 December triumph in the capital.

But after Zavon Hines' stunning 93rd-minute strike condemned 10-man Villa, who harshly lost Habib Beye late on, to the cruellest of defeats, it was a stony-faced O'Neill who looked in need of a glass of Gianfranco Zola's best claret.

Make no mistake, this was a huge chance missed for Villa – O'Neill's demeanour post-match made that plainly obvious.

A win would have put them fourth, above Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City, but instead they remain stuck in seventh. It's points, not places, that really matter right now, though.

After this defeat followed up draws at Everton and Wolves, much of the hard work of that stunning win over Chelsea has been undone.

Just as it eventually proved last season they were among the also-rans and, unless their current form improves drastically, they will be again.

Too many of their star players are under-performing and now O'Neill finally has a squad at his disposal the temptation must grow with each game to give others a chance. Certainly, this run of four away games in 10 days appeared to take its toll in the second half at Upton Park.

Having cancelled out the Hammers' dubiously-awarded penalty through a 52nd-minute Ashley Young scorcher, you would have expected Villa to kick-on against a team who had previously failed to win at home in the league this season.

But, just as was the case at Goodison Park, the charge never came. Should O'Neill have rotated his squad more? Possibly.

His selections paid dividends at Sunderland a week ago but last night they didn't. Some you win, some you lose. O'Neill opted for Beye ahead of Luke Young in place of the suspended Carlos Cuellar, while John Carew returned for the injured James Milner.

He was joined up front by Gabby Agbonlahor, with Emile Heskey down the left and Ashley Young switching to the right. The hosts had by far the better of the early proceedings with Scott Parker and Mark Noble both testing goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

But the Hammers soon had injury problems to contend with – Herita Ilunga and Carlton Cole were both forced off with hamstring problems – and Villa seized the initiative.

A stunning volley from Stiliyan Petrov which took a slight deflection looked certain to beat Rob Green only for the England stopper to save superbly. Two minutes later goalkeeper Green was called into action again to tip an Agbonlahor drive over the crossbar.

But Agbonlahor should have been celebrating in the 27th minute, when Young picked him out unmarked at the near post only for the Brummie striker to head disappointingly over. However, just as at Everton on Saturday, the Villans went behind in first-half injury-time.

Guillermo Franco released Hines, on as a substitute for Cole, through on goal but despite Beye appearing to make minimal contact Steve Bennett pointed to the spot. Noble made no mistake, lashing an unstoppable penalty into the top corner.

Not even Brad Guzan, never mind Friedel, would have got that one. The chorus of boos which greeted Villa's half-time substitution meant only one man could have entered the fray, Nigel Reo-Coker – on in place of Heskey.

But there was soon to be a new pantomime villain - referee Bennett. The Hammers' hero of the first half suddenly became the enemy with what looked another dubious penalty on 49 minutes.

Manuel Da Costa appeared to have headed the ball clear, but Bennett clearly thought his feet had come into contact with former Hammer James Collins. Young stepped up confidently but his finish was anything but – Green comfortably saving to his left.

Yet, to his credit, Young never shied away from the ball and within three minutes all was forgiven. It was as sweet a strike as you will see all season, the winger curling a 25-yard shot over Green and inside the top corner.

As Young raced to the travelling claret and blue faithful, you could almost see the weight lifted off his shoulders. Relief. Again there were echoes of Everton. A top-four team would kick-on from there and usually win. Not Villa.

Instead they rather tamely surrendered the initiative back to the Hammers and if anyone looked like going scoring it was Zola's side. Friedel was right behind a low drive from Jack Collison, while Parker was unable to keep a shot down from the edge of the area.

Hines looked a threat throughout and was twice foiled by Friedel with angled drives on 72 minutes and then again eight minutes later. Five minutes later Villa were reduced to 10 men and for the second game running it was their right-back, as Beye received a second caution for a challenge on Jonathan Spector.

O'Neill was unimpressed, but the Villa chief looked equally frustrated by the defender's slow trudge from the field. Luke Young was quickly ushered onto the field in place of Carew to plug the hole at right-back – his first taste of action in six months.

But even his fresh legs could do nothing to prevent a weary-looking Villa denying the Hammers a first league win since the opening day.

With the game into its third of four added minutes, the industrious Parker embarked on one final run towards goal, he found Hines and the youngster did brilliantly to move the ball from out of his feet and fire beyond Friedel and into the roof of the net.

By Brendan McLoughlin