A David James blunder gifted Paolo Di Canio the chance to exorcise his Worthington Cup horrors and nick a draw for West Ham at home to Aston Villa.

The Italian, who missed a penalty as the Hammers lost their replayed cup quarter-final in midweek, seized on the chance and fired home an equaliser 12 minutes from time.

West Ham, heartbroken by Villa on Tuesday night as John Gregory's men moved into the last four, had immediate chance of revenge but settled for a point after being behind for so long.

Di Canio had blamed himself for the defeat, missing a vital penalty at 2-1, and bad blood between him and goalkeeper James spilled from that game into this Premiership rematch.

James had accused the Italian of looking for the penalty on Tuesday and aimed some words in his direction after pulling off the save from the spot.

The two clashed again. Di Canio had plenty to say for himself after the final whistle and had to be separated by team-mates.

Villa are unbeaten since the now-void quarter-final defeat against the Hammers before Christmas, but Harry Redknapp's team have not won since November.

Kevin Keegan had this week hinted that Hammers' Joe Cole could be a young man who blossoms into an England star in time for Euro 2000.

The young Londoner showed glimpses of his undoubted raw talent, but it was Ian Taylor who continued to reinforce his own claims for international recognition with his sixth goal in six games.

The Villa midfielder can't stop scoring at the moment, and West Ham must feel they are taking the lion's share of his punishment.

Taylor's midweek double - a superb volley and a fearsome solo run and shot - helped break Hammers' hearts and he returned Upton Park to bag his ninth of the season.

This time his goal was less dramatic and in less controversial circumstances, but it kept the Villa bandwagon rolling.

Taylor beat a static Hammers defence to poke a Benito Carbone cross beyond Shaka Hislop in the 24th minute for his ninth of the season.

West Ham struggled to find their rhythm.

Di Canio looked dangerously close to unleashing his fiery temper throughout the first half - and never more so than when strike partner Paulo Wanchope somehow prevented him latching on to the end of one of West Ham's better moves.

The simmering Italian was to glower at his team-mate again in the 37th minute when the Costa Rican unveiled his contender for 'Miss of the Season'.

Cole's low cross left Wanchope with a simple tap into an empty net, but he managed to hoist the ball high into the crowd from beneath the crossbar.

Gareth Southgate denied Wanchope after the break, racing back to tackle after Cole had released the striker.

When the Costa Rican thought he had won a penalty in a goalmouth tussle he found referee Graham Poll had penalised him for handball.

The Hammers pressed forward in the second half. Cole lit up their approach play with imagination and sheer skill but could not for a long time find a way past James.

The Villa goalkeeper was in one of his erratic moods, though, and dropped a couple of crosses. But his defenders bailed him out until the 78th minute when his luck ran out.

James fumbled a Steve Lomas cross from the right, and it dropped neatly for Di Canio who hooked the bouncing ball into the net.

The Villa goalkeeper beat away a Marc Keller shot six minutes from time; Wanchope hit the bar with a close-range header, and Di Canio saw a shot deflected wide in the scramble which followed.

Taylor had a late chance to win it for the visitors. His header was saved by Hislop, and at the other end Keller crashed a fierce shot inches over.

Teams

West Ham: Hislop, Ferdinand, Stimac, Margas, Sinclair, Lomas, Lampard, Cole, Keller, Wanchope, Di Canio.

Subs Not Used: Forrest, Minto, Carrick, Charles, Ruddock.

Booked: Stimac.

Goals: Di Canio 78.

Aston Villa: James, Ehiogu, Southgate, Barry, Stone, Taylor, Merson, Boateng (Calderwood 79), Wright, Carbone (Vassell 79), Joachim.

Subs Not Used: Cutler, Thompson, Delaney.

Goals: Taylor 24.

Att: 24,237

Ref: G Poll (Tring).