Diego Tristan rolled back the clock with a to snatch a point for the Hammers at Villa Park this afternoon.
The veteran striker, who had been virtually anonymous up until that point showed all of his guile and experience to cleverly deflect a Kieron Dyer effort into the back of the Villa net with just five minutes of normal time remaining to earn a vital point for United in their push for Europe.The point - massive to the Hammers in the circumstances - ensures Gianfranco Zola's side remain in seventh spot in the Premier League for another week at least with just five games of the season left to play.
With Fulham only managing a goalless draw at Middlesbrough (and Tottenham and Wigan, both four points behind United, playing tomorrow) West Ham's push for Europe remains very much on course.
Given that Chelsea are next up for Zola's side it was imperative that they took something from today's game - and despite being under the cosh for long periods they duly delivered, albeit somewhat fortuitously.
Villa - who were somewhat unusually forced to wear their away kit after it was ruled that West Ham's sky blue away kit clashed with Villa's claret and blue, leading to a five-minute kick-off delay - had taken an early lead against the run of play when Emile Heskey pounced to convert a James Milner cross from the edge of the six-yard box after just 11 minutes.
The England striker could have put the game beyond the Hammers later in the half when he reacted first to a poor Mark Noble backpass but his effort rebounded off Rob Green's near post to safety; a costly miss for the former Wigan striker in retrospect.
At the other end Junior Stanislas and David Di Michele were both expertly denied by Brad Friedel when through one-on-one (third and fourteenth minute respectively) and the Hammers went into the break after an enjoyable yet ultimately frustrating opening 45 minutes a goal behind.
Villa, mindful perhaps that their last clean sheet came two months ago - and without a home win since January 10th - pushed on for a second goal immediately and their efforts almost proved dividends just 90 seconds after the restart when a clever lob from John Carew put Heskey through on goal. Fortunately for the Hammers Green was more alert than those in front of him and stood up to deny Heskey.
The home side continued to push on and seemed to have control of the game up until the final 15 minutes when United, boosted by the arrival of Savio and Freddie Sears (replacing Stanislas and Di Michele) began to hit back in search of a late equaliser.
A melee inside the Villa box on 80 minutes almost led to a United goal but Friedel was on hand again to deny Louis Boa Morte, to whom the ball fell last after the Hammers had tried to engineer a viable opening.
But that save was merely denying the inevitable and the Hammers earner their reward for their late push - and Villa their punishment for their failure to turn possession into goals - when Tristan, invisible until that point rose to deflect Dyer's effort home with just five minutes of normal time remaining.
Villa -shellshocked by the goal - were all at seas for the few minutes following Tristan's goal; Freidel was again on hand to divert a looping shot over the bar whilst Savio fired an effort inches wide of Villa's far post with the game about to enter injury time.
The game ended in slight controversy after Villa were denied a penalty shout when a long hopeful punt into United's penalty box rebounded off the arm of James Tomkins, chasing back alongside Villa's Carew.
TV replays confirmed that the ball had indeed struck the young defender's arm - however that was only after Carew himself had handled the ball, meaning Rob Styles' decision to wave play on was probably the correct one.
The point takes West Ham to 45 for the season with five games - Chelsea (h), Stoke (a), Liverpool (h), Everton (a) and Middlesbrough (h) - left to play.
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