Aston Villa have climbed out of the Premier League's relegation zone courtesy of a scrappy 2-1 victory over West Ham United at Villa Park.

Christian Benteke put the hosts ahead with a penalty kick on 74 minutes, before Charles N'Zogbia doubled Villa's lead with an expertly-placed free kick four minutes later.

A late Ashley Westwood own goal gave the visitors hope, but Paul Lambert's men clung on to claim their first league win of 2013.

Villa started brightly and Benteke forced a decent save out of Jussi Jaaskelainen with a long-range effort after just two minutes.

However, from then on both goalkeepers enjoyed a rather quiet afternoon, as the game became a scrappy midfield battle.

Neither stopper was called into action until the hour mark, when Brad Guzan denied Andy Carroll with a determined block.

Substitute Darren Bent then cleared another Carroll effort off the goal line moments later.

Benteke broke the deadlock from the penalty spot, after Mark Noble had rightly been adjudged to have fouled N'Zogbia.

The Belgian international coolly converted from 12 yards, sending Jaaskelainen the wrong way to net his 20th goal of the season for club and country.

N'Zogbia then scored his first league goal since March 2012 by finding the top right corner with a brilliant 25-yard free kick.

The Hammers pulled one back with three minutes remaining, as Joe Cole's hopeful cross into the box glanced off the head of Westwood, sending the ball flying past Guzan.

Kevin Nolan almost rescued a point for West Ham in the final minute of stoppage time, but Guzan's fourth save of the match denied the Hammers skipper from six yards.