West Ham beats Villa 2-1 to exit relegation zone

Nov 4, 2009 - 10:26 PM LONDON(AP) -- West Ham substitute Zavon Hines scored in injury time Wednesday to give his team a 2-1 win over Aston Villa that lifted it out of the Premier League relegation zone.

Ashley Young had equalized for a Villa side seeking to take fourth place but Hines, a 20-year-old striker, scored with a rising shot following a run and pass by Scott Parker.

The victory moved West Ham up four places to 15th place. The Hammers have 10 points and lead Birmingham, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Blackburn on goal difference.

While Blackburn replaces West Ham in the relegation zone, Villa remained in seventh place on 18 points.

West Ham midfielder Mark Noble put the home side in front with a penalty in first-half injury time following Habib Beye's foul on Hines.

Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green then saved a 49th-minute penalty by Young, although the England winger equalized with a curling 25-meter (yard) shot two minutes later.