Having overtaken Arsenal last weekend, Martin O'Neill's side took advantage of Manchester United's absence from Premier League action to climb above the Red Devils with a hard-earned win over the Hammers, who have now managed only one win in their last 12 Premier League games.

An entertaining encounter was settled with 12 minutes remaining when James Milner's cross was deflected over Robert Green and into his own net by the unlucky Neill.

The hosts started strongest with Neill miscuing a volley before Craig Bellamy was denied by the left hand of Brad Fridel after the Hammers striker had cut in from the left in the 13th minute.

Villa found their feet and missed two guilt-edged chances within four minutes of each other, with Steve Sidwell sidefooting wide from Gabriel Agbonlahor's cut-back midway through the opening period, before Ashley Young struck the post from an acute angle after rounding Green.

Young was inches off-target with a free-kick on the half-hour mark while at the other end, Friedel had to flick the ball over his crossbar to spare the blushes of Curtis Davies after the Villans defender had directed Bellamy's low cross towards his own goal.

Friedel was again called into action to beat away Valon Behrami's drive from distance in the 43rd minute, but there was still time before the break for Green to deny both Agbonlahor and Gareth Barry after a swift Villa counter-attack.

Carlton Cole wasted three opportunities in quick succession around the hour mark to grab the lead for the Hammers, first failing to climb high enough to nod home Neill's cross before being denied twice from close range by Friedel, and the former Chelsea striker was made to regret his profligacy when the visitors grabbed a fortuitous lead in the 78th minute.

Young fed Milner on the Villa left, who looked to curl a cross around Neill but the ball came of the legs of the Australian full-back before looping over Green into the far corner of the Hammers net.

Callum Davenport was denied from close range by Friedel's parry with five minutes remaining as the hosts searched desperately for an equaliser, but Villa hung on, meaning the Hammers could finish the weekend in the Premier League's relegation zone if Manchester City avoid defeat at West Brom on Sunday.