VILLA's roller coaster excursion into the new season took another sudden dip at Upton Park last night, just when they appeared to have applied the break.

After the dizzy heights of Saturday's victory over champions Arsenal, Ron Atkinson's men were sent hurtling back to ground level by a West Ham side who had previously collected only two points and scored just once.

And the breathtaking plunge, in keeping with a fairground ride came totally unexpectedly.

For more than an hour Villa had looked safe and secure. They created better openings than their East Londoners, and deservedly led on 50 minutes when Gary Penrice flicked on Cyrille Regis' pass for Tony Daley to steer a 15-yard shot beyond the reach of Czech goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko.

But the Hammers blew Villa apart in the space of three whirlwind minutes.

Birmingham-born Mike Small drilled home a blistering left-foot equaliser after 65 minutes and the visitors' discipline simply disintegrated.

Atkinson's side had barely recovered from the blow when Tim Breacker's freekick was helped across goal by Small - with his hand, Villa claim - for Leroy Rosenior to run in West Ham's second.

Where there had previously been poise and polish, there was suddenly chaos and confusion, with Rosenior quickly having another effort disallowed for offside before on-loan full-back Kenny Brown's stunning 25-yard angled drive settled the issue three minutes from time.

It was a worrying collapse which will give manager Atkinson plenty to ponder as he continues his quest to mould his expensive individuals into a team capable of challenging for honours.

On the strength of last night's brittle showing, he has a long way to go, although the one quality he has clearly instilled into Villa may yet see them through these early days of uncertainty.

Last season, they would have given up the ghost after surrendering the lead in such dramatic fashion.

Now, at least, there is a willingness to repair the damage, and Kevin Richardson might easily have had a hat-trick before Brown delivered his late killer blow.

The former Everton and Arsenal midfielder saw one shot deflected wide and another cannon off the acrobatic Mikiosko, although he will be unhappy at not converting a 40-yard Gordon Cowans pass which left him clear of the West Ham defence.

He was even helped by Miklosko's stumble, but still managed only to shoot straight at the keeper's legs.

On the plus side, the back four were solid apart from that nightmare three-minute spell, while Tony Daley pressed his claim for an England call-up.