*Sinclair denies Villa top spot*

Dion Dublin’s ability to rescue lost causes redeemed a patchy performance by Aston Villa last night after West Ham had threatened Villa Park with an early home defeat and the London club earned a draw when Trevor Sinclair equalised deep into injury-time after a backheel flick by Paulo Wanchope.

Dublin saw the early advantage his goal had given Villa disappear almost immediately when Gareth Southgate diverted the ball into his own net. West Ham dominated the rest of the first half but the introduction of Lee Hendrie into their midfield helped Villa regain the initiative and, when Dublin scored again, the lead.

So Villa were prevented from returning to the top and again the question arises as as their ability to sustain a serious challenge for more than half a season.

At least John Gregory would appear to have more options this time. Last night the presence of Hendrie, Paul Merson, and Steve Stone on the Villa bench bore witness to the greater depth of their squad.

Both of last season’s matches between these sides having finished scoreless, an under-populated Villa Park did not exactly brace itself for a glut of goals. Such are football’s perverse ways, however, that two arrived before six minutes had passed.

Each asked a question about the efficiency of the respective defence. After four minutes of desultory football Julian Joachim gathered a pass from Alan Wright on the Villa left, turned sharply past Steve Potts and crossed the ball low to the feet of Dublin. Rio Ferdinand’s sweeper’s instincts found him trying to close the striker down but he, too, was beaten by a sharp turn before Dublin drove a shot into the right-hand corner.

Redemption for West Ham was a mere 90 seconds away. Alan Thompson’s vague ball inside was intercepted by Marc-Vivien Foe who, with the Villa defenders standing off him, produced a speculative shot which took a generous deflection off Gareth Southgate and stranded David James.

The mobility of Wanchope and Paolo Di Canio, allied to Sinclair’s ability to find space on the right wing did little to ease Villa’s peace of mind. Midway through the first half Frank Lampard’s through pass found Wanchope loping through a gap and, while Ugo Ehiogu’s sliding tackle denied the Costa Rican a shot, it was another example of Villa’s uncertainty. Shortly before this George Boateng, controlling the ball at a touch near West Ham’s 18-yard line, produced a shot which Shaka Hislop fumbled. This moment apart, the flow of the game was still with West Ham, who were starting to dominate the game in midfield.

Nevertheless Villa should have regained the lead shortly before the half-hour. Dublin outwitted the West Ham defence before rising to meet Thompson’s inswinging corner but did not make proper contact. Even so West Ham were grateful to Potts for clearing the ball off the line at the far post.

For West Ham, Lampard and John Moncur were frequently linking with Di Canio, who in turn sought out the long stride and close control of Wanchope. Yet West Ham’s lack of a consistent presence in front of goal meant James had relatively little to do.

For the second half West Ham added Marc Keller’s extra thrust to their left flank,taking off Scott Minto, while Villa replaced George Boateng in midfield with the extra subtlety and greater variety of Hendrie. Still West Ham drove forward and still Villa’s greatest hope of victory lay in Dublin.

By now he was missing the target spectacularly but, as it soon turned out, temporarily. Three minutes after half-time Ian Taylor allowed Joachim’s low centre to sail on, leaving Dublin to produce a diving header which flew over.

Yet with Dublin in such a hungry mood Villa remained optimistic about turning the game back in their favour. Sure enough, they went ahead once more after 52 minutes when Wanchope, back to defend Hendrie’s corner, mishit an intended clearance straight to Dublin, who thumped the ball into the roof of the net.

Another minute and Villa might have had a third. Wright shot from the left and, though the ball took a deflection off Ferdinand’s instep, Hislop was still able to push it wide.

Now the pattern became a reverse image of the first half. Hendrie’s ability to take on opponents with the ball gave Villa’s midfield an added dimension and in consequence re-established the links with their front runners.