JUST over a third of the season gone, and Aston Villa are having to work hard to prevent their challenge for the Premiership subsiding. Last night's hard earned victory against the draw specialists West Ham, who had shared the honours with their previous four opponents, lifted Villa to fifth in the table ahead of Manchester United who visit Upton Park on Sunday.

After a diffident start, when they looked low on confidence, Villa eventually prevailed with two goals from set pieces, Ehiogu putting them in front with a header from a corner and Yorke making the game safe in the 74th minute by repeating the trick.

West Ham, though, posted a warning in the 13th minute when they should really have scored, but the indifferent marksmanship that had seen them manage just 13 goals in the League this season before last night let them down again. Raducioiu, partnering Dowie in the absence of the injured Porfirio, played in a sweet ball from the left that left the Northern Ireland striker clear on goal, but Dowie could only shoot straight at Oakes's legs.

Slowly Villa were beginning to stir. Draper dropped in a corner from the left and Ehiogu rose above the crowd to head firmly into the top corner in the 38th minute.

West Ham slipped back in to their shell, and ultimately allowed Villa to seal the issue through Yorke from Townsend's corner 16 minutes from the end.