Aston Villa snatches 2-1 win at West Ham

Posted Sunday, April 17, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

LONDON (AP)—Gabriel Agbonlahor headed an injury-time winner against West Ham to move Aston Villa up to ninth in the Premier League with a 2-1 win and leave the opposition stuck in the relegation zone.

Agbonlahor met Ashley Young’s cross from six yards in the first minute of added time for only his third Premier League goal of the season, denying West Ham a valuable point in its attempt to avoid the drop.

Robbie Keane had given West Ham the perfect start with a goal after two minutes, but Darren Bent headed in a Luke Young cross to make it 1-1 in the 36th and Villa had a host of chances in the second half before Agbonlahor eventually found the net.

Villa moved seven points clear of the relegation zone up to ninth place, while West Ham is two points from safety in 19th.

Gary O’Neil’s blocked shot from an early West Ham corner fell to Thomas Hitzlsperger, who headed toward Keane on the edge of the six-yard box. The striker turned and shot past goalkeeper Brad Friedel for his second goal since joining on loan from Tottenham in January.

Carlton Cole forced a smart near-post save from Friedel after a long pass from O’Neil but Bent had a headed equalizer ruled out in the 23rd minute for a push and Villa soon scored for real.

Emile Heskey robbed midfielder Mark Noble of possession inside the West Ham area and Luke Young curled in a cross to Bent, who got in front of Wayne Bridge and headed past goalkeeper Robert Green.

Villa started to dominate and, in injury time, Ashley Young found space down the right to pick out substitute Agbonlahor, who headed in the winner.