*Hammers held by Villa*

*West Ham manager Glenn Roeder’s gamble on Freddie Kanoute paid dividends as the Frenchman paid a pivotal role in a relegation scrap with Aston Villa.*

Kanoute, who was forced to deny reports he wanted to leave Upton Park, repaid his recall to the starting line-up by creating a goal and scoring Hammers’ point-saver.

But Jermain Defoe missed two late chances as the Hammers failed to capitalise on slips from their rivals.

West Ham’s bright start almost brought them a goal on eight minutes when Steve Lomas’s header from Joe Cole’s corner ricocheted off the bar and post before bouncing into relieved Peter Enckelman’s arms.

Lomas then headed a poor Villa clearance back over the defence for Jermain Defoe who screwed his shot wide with only the keeper to beat.

West Ham’s early pressure brought its reward on 15 minutes when Kanoute - restored at the expense of Les Ferdinand - whipped in a dangerous low cross from the right which came off a defender and fell invitingly for Trevor Sinclair to drill a shot under Enckelman.

West Ham’s failing in defence reared its head on 26 minutes when they failed to deal with Thomas Hitzlsperger’s free-kick and Mustapha Hadji planted a free header over.

Tomas Repka’s cynical body check on Vassell earned him a booking and the Czech handed Villa a route back into the game by needlessly shoving Marcus Allback in the penalty area, providing Vassell with the chance to convert the 36th minute spot-kick.

West Ham looked nervous as Villa asked a few questions at the start of the second half but the Hammers should have taken the lead six minutes into the second period.

Glen Johnson nodded a corner back across goal where Kanoute swung an expansive boot but only made thin contact, allowing Hadji to clear off the line.

Oyvind Leonhardsen replaced the limping Hadji, and within a minute the Norwegian dealt a hammer blow to West Ham’s survival hopes.

Gareth Barry clipped in a cross from the left and Leonhardsen was a lonely figure as he side-footed in from close range.

Leonhardsen wasted a chance to sew the game up two minutes later when West Ham’s defence went missing as Vassell’s cross found the Norwegian at the far post.

West Ham threatened to fall apart as first Allback and then JLoyd Samuel forced their way into shooting positions, only to fire wide.

Kanoute again shifted the momentum of the match on 65 minutes with a well-taken equaliser, controlling Joe Cole’s pass before finishing crisply past Enckelman.

Villa’s Finnish goalkeeper stood firm as West Ham pushed for a late winner, saving first from Johnson and then brilliantly from Kanoute’s header.

Substitute Les Ferdinand missed a great chance when he side-footed Johnson’s cross over from eight yards.