There were three minutes of a four minute period of stoppage time on the clock when young Zavon Hines swivelled and hit home a precious goal to give West Ham a 2-1 win against Aston Villa. The crowd erupted and I, for one, can't remember the last time I've been hugged by so many fat, bald blokes (?). It was late - very late - but I didn't think it was anything less than West Ham deserved for a battling display that was full of conviction, tenacity and good football. In fact, this was a cracking match with both sides showing good form.

It was Villa who made the early running though, after the Hammers injury jinx had seen Ilunga limp off after six minutes, to be replaced by Jonathan Spector. West Ham had forced Villa back in the opening minutes and Parker has tested Friedel with a 25 yard shot, but Villa mounted a succession of corners that Young found he could test the Hammers defence with and the crowd were getting quiet. However, that all changed when Robert Green made a superb fingertip save from Petrov in the 20th minute and another impressive stop from Agbonlahor just after, the crowd rising to applaud the England stopper.

Then the Hammers cruel luck seemed to strike again when Cole limped off after half an hour and, though Zavon Hines came on to loud cheers, there was a feeling that it left the Hammers forward line a little lightweight. However, the young player's mazy runs started to cause Villa's big centre-back pairing problems and former Hammer James Collins, who was given a loud cheer before the game, had to be at his best to control the dimunitive Hammer.

Green again saved well from Carew after good work by Heskey and the announcement of three minutes of injury time seemed to do little to dispel the feeling that the half would remain goalless. Nobody told Hines this though and the forward burst into the area and was judged to have been brought down by Beye. Villa protested and I was told later the decision was poor, but I genuinely couldn't see from the other end of the pitch - just call me Arsene! - but the ref was adamant, booking Beye and recording Noble's name in the book when the Hammers midfielder dispatched the penalty into the roof of the net.

The second half started as the first ended with controversy as referee Steve Bennett awarded Villa a penalty for ...well, frankly i'm not sure. I can't help but wonder if my theory - see Saturday's match review - doesn't hold to penalty's too. Whatever; justice was done when Rob Green threw himself to his left to parry Young's penalty and keep his side's lead intact. Unfortunately, the back slapping ended too soon after though, when Young made amends by hitting a powerful shot from the left-wing that flew over Green's head into the net. Young celebrated what looked a superb goal but, though it may have been the angle I was at, it did seem as if Green judged it to be a cross that swerved in the air.

It was now though that West Ham were at their most impressive. Beset by negative thoughts of relegation struggle and bad luck, they could have let their heads drop but they came back strongly with Hines causing all sorts of problems chasing and harrying the Villa defence. Villa's threat seemed to fade and the Hammers, spurred on by the crowd, looked for the winner.When Beye was red-carded for a second bookable offence for a foul on Spector, some fans might be forgiven for wondering if this was a benefit or not in view of Saturday's result.

Even so, it seemed the game would end in a draw until the start of four minutes of injury time when, first, Green again saved well from Young turning a shot round the post and then, in ninety third minute when Hines netted with a pass from the excellent Scott Parker to send Upton Park wild. There was barely time to restart and the Hammers had their first home win of the season, three points from the game-in-hand and a position outside the bottom three.

Don't say I didn't tell you!