Cottee comes good at last

Aston Villa 1 West Ham United 1

Aston Villa 1 West Ham United 1

Tony Cottee squandered two fine chances but finally found the target five minutes from time, equalising Paul McGrath's first-half goal from a Dani cross only 30 seconds after the Portuguese striker had entered the fray as a substitute.

In a game of no consequence to the Premiership's promotion or relegation issues, the rare strike from Villa's Republic of Ireland central defender had seemed set to take the home side to within a point of third-placed Liverpool.

The visitors posed little threat in the first hour of a contest which faded after a bright start, but they were rewarded for their persistence in the closing stages.

In a lively opening both sides went close to taking the lead in the first five minutes. John Moncur, returning to the West Ham starting line up after an injury-plagued four months, sent a 20-yard shot just over the bar.

And when the home side pushed forward Ludek Miklosko had to turn a Tommy Johnson header over the top from Dwight Yorke's hanging cross.

As Villa began to win the territorial battle midfielder Mark Draper, finding space 25 yards from goal, struck a ferocious half-volley against the crossbar.

A breakthrough looked on the cards but when it arrived it was from McGrath, who volleyed Andy Townsend's 26th- minute corner into the net for only his second goal of the season.

Villa's buoyant mood was broken on the half hour, when full-back Gary Charles had to be taken off on a stretcher with what appeared a serious injury sustained in a challenge with Iain Dowie.

Substitute Riccardo Scimeca was immediately sent on but Villa found it difficult to regain their momentum in the closing stages of the first half.

They were quickly back into their stride after the interval with Johnson driving a low 25-yard shot just wide after 49 minutes, The visitors should have equalised when Cottee, racing on to Tim Breacker's lobbed pass, had a clear view of goal but shot over from 10 yards.

Cottee wasted another fine chance in the 76th minute, shooting straight at the advancing Mark Bosnich. But five minutes from time Cottee neatly controlled substitute Dani's cross to squeeze a shot just inside the Villa post from eight yards.

Aston Villa (3-5-2): Bosnich; Ehiogu, McGrath, Taylor; Charles (Scimeca, 30), Draper, Johnson, Townsend, Wright; Yorke (Joachim, 60), Milosevic. Substitute not used: Oakes (gk), .

West Ham United (3-5-2): Miklosko; Rieper, Bilic, Dicks; Breacker, Williamson, Potts (Dani, 84), Moncur, Rowland; Dowie, Cottee. Substitutes not used: Sealey (gk), Martin.

Referee: S W Dunn (Bristol).