Hardworking Hammers battled and scrapped for a rare away point to help their survival fight. And the East Enders might well have been celebrating their first Premiership win on their travels in six months if new £5.5m strikeforce John Hanson and Paul Kitson had taken the chances they had either side of interval.

Hartson looked as if he had to score when Kitson and recalled Aussie Stan Lazaridis combined to open up the Villa defence, only for Mark Bosnich to make a brilliant reaction save.

Bosnich was also the hero for Europe-chasing Villa in the 56th minute when he just beat the goal-bound Kitson to the ball after a Hanson pass.

And while they could not add to their meagre tally of seven goals away from Upton Park, the draw represented only the Hammers fourth away point of the last 30. a vital lifeline intheir bid to stay in the top flight

It had looked as if it would be that tight from the start. Both teams needed the points, albeit for very different reasons, and both were nervous.

Far too many passes were being misplaced, although Julian Joachim. replacing the injured Savo Milosevic, was busy for the home side, while at life other end Hartson, back after suspension and Kitson were willing workers.

Hartson’s strength almost opened the way for Kitson in the 10th minute, Gareth South making an excellent tackle, before Joachim shot over on the turn at the other end.

Lazaridis, for dissent, and fellow returnee Frank Lampard, for a foul, were booked for the Hammers, whose cause was not helped when Lampard was stretchered off in agony after his studs caught in the ground in the 31st minute.

The impressive Rio Ferdinand came on, and watched as Hartson then spurned the best chance of the half.

A one-two with Kitson put Lazaridis in on the Villa right and Hartson's near-post run was spotted. But white the £3.2m man made good sidefooted contact at point-blank range Bosnich blocked with his knees.

Villa responded through skipper Andy Townsend with a shot which slipped past the post, although there was nothing between the sides at the break.

The Hammers picked up the pace afterwards. Hartson causing real problems with his sheer size and power, and when he linked with Kitson in the 56th minute it looked as if the crucial goal would come.

But Kitson's first touch having got behind the back line was just a fraction too far ahead of him. Bosnich rushing off his line to make the save.

Still Redknapp must have believed that elusive away triumph would come as his side continued to hold sway without getting the tangible reward for their dominance.

The only danger was of them getting caught by the pace of Joachim and Dwight Yorke, although Ferdinand's outstanding job in midfield was breaking up most fleeting Villa counters.

In fact. the nearest Villa came was when substitute Lee Hendrie, on for Mark Draper, miskicked in front of goal from a Yorke cross.

Tommy Johnson perhaps making his final Villa appearance came on for Joachim although it was West Ham who still looked the more dangerous. But the Hammers settled for a point with 10 minutes left, and Villa's late flurry produced little real threat.