Jermain Defoe rescued West Ham with an equaliser two minutes into stoppage time and spared the blushes of skipper Paolo di Canio, who was guilty of a shocking miss from the penalty spot.

Dion Dublin gave Villa a flying start when he headed home after just 51 seconds.

West Ham should have equalised from a 65th-minute spot kick after Defoe was tripped by Steve Staunton. But di Canio hit a weak penalty which was easily saved by Peter Enckelman.

It looked like being one of those nights as the home side wasted several good chances in the second half. But England Under-21 striker Defoe had the last word as he fired past Enckelman from 15 yards.

West Ham had got off to the worst possible start when they fell behind inside the first minute as Dion Dublin got goalside of Tomas Repka to head home from five yards.

It meant the first act by David James against his former club, following his £3.5million summer move, was to pick the ball out of the net.

This was only his third appearance in a West Ham shirt following a long lay-off with a knee injury, and the previous two had resulted in 1-0 defeats.

In truth, they looked a bundle of nerves at the back and after five minutes Steve Staunton almost scored direct from a right-wing corner, but the ball hit James on the chest at his near post and went out for another corner.

Dublin's aerial dominance was proving a key factor. After 34 minutes he nodded down a throw-in, but Lee Hendrie screwed his shot wide.

It came as no surprise when West Ham were booed off at half-time. They looked brighter after the break _ they could hardly have been much worse _ and went close after 61 minutes when Trevor Sinclair crossed from the right, di Canio brought the ball down at the far post, and his shot was blocked for a corner.

Di Canio should have scored after 64 minutes, but was denied by Enckelman. Hutchison played him in, but with just the goalkeeper to beat from 12 yards he struck the ball against his outstretched leg.

It got worse for the Italian who was then guilty of that shocking miss from the spot.

WEST HAM: James, Schemmel, Repka, Dailly, Winterburn, Sinclair, Hutchison, Carrick, Cole, Di Canio, Defoe. Subs Not Used: Hislop, Minto, Courtois, Todorov, Potts. Booked: Winterburn, Di Canio. Goals: Defoe 90.

ASTON VILLA: Enckelman, Delaney (Samuel 52), Wright, Mellberg, Staunton, Barry, Boateng, Hendrie, Stone, Dublin, Merson (Vassell 68). Subs Not Used: Myhill, Angel, Ginola. Booked: Stone. Goals: Dublin 1. Attendance: 28,377.

Referee: M Dean (The Wirral).