Forget Johnny Wilkinson, Villa had their own kicking hero to claim three hard fought points.

Craig Gardner, who opened his account for the season at Spurs on Monday, settled an entertaining clash with an expertly drilled first-half free-kick.

And Villa were value for the three points, even if the second-half was a nervy affair at times.

Young flashed a right-foot ball across the edge of the six-yard box on six, but Moore just failed to make real contact.

Agbonlahor then raced into the box, but was crowded out by West Ham defenders as he waited for support.

Camara found the net for West Ham on nine, but was rewarded with a booking as he punched the ball home.

Moore forced Green into a two-handed save low to his right on 12 after good work in midfield from Reo-Coker.

Young was hauled to the ground by Neill as he broke down the left a minute later, but Villa penalty appeals went ignored.

Agbonlahor met Young's left-wing centre with a deft header on 17, but Green was again in the right place.

Ashton headed wide of the target on 19 as he rose to meet Etherington's cross from the left. Mullins then dragged a low 25-yard effort wide.

Gardner opened the scoring on 24, rifling home a low free-kick from the edge of the box after Agbonlahor had been upended.

Ljungberg headed straight at Carson a minute later as West Ham broke from the restart.

Agbonlahor again sent a dangerous low centre across the edge of the six-yard box on 27.

Moore produced a surging run in from the left on 31, but West Ham somehow scrambled his low cross away to safety.

Gardner then saw a goalbound header deflected wide for a corner.

McCartney headed straight at Carson from a Ljungberg centre on 37.

With both sets of fans cheering England's Rugby Union success against Australia, Ashton saw a rising shot on the turn deflected into the Holte End on 44.

Moore and Agbonlahor clashed heads as they both rose to meet Bouma's left-wing centre on 51.

Carson did well to deny Cole on 56 as the former Villa striker turned a Ljungberg cross towards goal.

Knight slid in to block a low angled drive from Etherington two minutes later.

Cole fired wide from 30 yards out just after the hour mark. Bowyer then headed past the post.

Cole headed wide from Ljungberg's free-kick on 69 as Villa struggled for rhythm in the second-half.

Villa were denied a surefire penalty on 72 as Agbonlahor was felled with Re-Coker motoring into the box.

The penalty appeal appeared to lift Villa and Young went close with an angled effort from the left on 75.

Cole prodded over the bar from Ljungberg's rightwing centre a minute later.

Agbonlahor might have made sure of the points on 85, but his low right-foot drive was deaflected wide by Green.

Knight headed straight at the West Ham keeper from Barry's subsequent corner.

VILLA: Carson, Bouma, Mellberg (booked 68), Laursen, Knight (booked 36), Gardner, Young, Reo-Coker (booked 55), Barry, Moore, Agbonlahor. Subs: Taylor, Davies, Petrov (for Gardner 78), Osbourne, Maloney (for Moore 67).

West Ham: Green, Neill, McCartney (booked 73), Gabbidon, Upson, Ljungberg, Ashton, Etherington, Mullins, Bowyer, Camara (booked 9). Subs: Wright, Cole (for Camara 36), Noble (for Mullins 81), Collins, Boa Morte (for Etherington 81).