Dion Dublin went from hero to villain as Trevor Sinclair's last-gasp equaliser kept last night Aston Villa off the top of the Premiership.

Dublin, whose two goals looked to have sent his side heading for pole position, lost possession three minutes into stoppage time, and West Ham took advantage to equalise at Villa Park.

Paulo Wanchope fed Frank Lampard, and the Costa Rican, who had continued his run, helped the ball on to the unmarked Sinclair. His nerve held, and he was able to slip his shot beyond David James and inside the far post to end Villa's perfect start to the season.

Victory would have put John Gregory's men above Manchester United, but Sinclair's goal means the champions remain on top with the midlanders second.

Dublin's two goals had looked set to spare Gareth Southgate's blushes and give Villa their third win out of three.

The striker scored in the early stages of each half. But after James had twice denied Wanchope the former Liverpool goalkeeper could do nothing about Sinclair's shot - and the points were shared.

Dublin, who also scored last Wednesday, now has three goals to his name as he and Julian Joachim continue to cause opposing defences all sorts of problems.

Joachim's cross set up his strike partner's first, while it was his run that won the corner which ultimately led to Dublin completing his evening's scoring.

The 30-year-old's second goal appeared to take a deflection off a defender's outstretched leg as it flew into the roof of Shaka Hislop's net, but Villa will feel they deserved that slice of luck after the fortunate nature of West Ham's strike.

Foe's 25-yard shot looked to be flying harmlessly wide of James' goal before Southgate stuck out a boot and jabbed the ball inside his helpless goalkeeper's left-hand post.

It was the first goal James had conceded since moving to Villa from Liverpool in the summer and it levelled matters after Dublin had given the hosts the lead inside five minutes.

The striker did well to beat Rio Ferdinand to Joachim's left-wing cross and, although the angle was tight, he fired the ball inside Hislop's near post.

Southgate's own-goal seemed to temporarily knock the stuffing out of Villa, and West Ham dominated possession during the first half.

Lampard had a shot blocked after getting on the end of Wanchope's pass, while Paolo Di Canio's 20-yard volley flashed just wide.

Villa also had their chances but they looked much brighter after halftime when Lee Hendrie, a sub in all three of their wins so far this season, replaced George Boateng.

It was Hendrie's corner that West Ham failed to clear, and Dublin drilled home on 52 minutes to put his side back in front.

Hislop did well to palm Alan Wright's long-range drive wide, and he also had to deny Dublin and then Wright after Sinclair's back pass had fallen short.

But two late Alan Thompson shots aside, that was all Villa had to offer going forward as they strove to survive a frantic final 15 minutes.

As well as Wanchope's chances, Foe headed over from close range after leaping highest to connect with Di Canio's corner six yards out.

But Sinclair then intervened to snatch a second equaliser and ruin the Premiership's last remaining 100 per cent record.

"We battled away to the end and got the goal I think we deserved," said Sinclair, who had been asked to play a more defensive role than his usual attacking duties on the wing.

"I could see the gaffer Harry Redknapp saying stay up, so I did that and luckily it broke to me.

"It was a great back-heel from Paulo, and luckily I got there before (goalkeeper David) James and slipped it away.

"For parts of the game we outplayed Villa, which shows how well we've improved over the summer. Hopefully we can carry that on."

West Ham boss Redknapp added: "In the second half I thought we lost it for a while and had a ragged spell, but we came back well and deserved a point.

"We're still a little bit short - we still need to get one or two bodies in. We need a few defenders. But we're on the verge of being a very good team.

ASTON VILLA: James, Wright, Southgate, Ehiogu, Boateng (Hendrie 45), Taylor, Dublin, Thompson (Stone 89), Joachim, Delaney, Calderwood. Subs not used: Merson, Ghrayib, Oakes. Booked: Wright. Goals: Dublin 5, 52.

WEST HAM UNITED: Hislop, Pearce, Potts, Sinclair, Di Canio, Wanchope, Foe, Ferdinand, Moncur (Kitson 83), Lampard, Minto (Keller 45). Subs not used: Carrick, Cole, Forrest. Booked: Lampard, Pearce, Moncur. Goals: Southgate 7 og, Sinclair 90.

Referee: M Riley (Leeds).