Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan produced a string of fine saves as his side held in-form West Ham United to a 0-0 draw at Upton Park on Saturday.

The point was sufficient to take West Ham back into the Premier League's top four at the expense of Arsenal, who visit Swansea City on Sunday, but one would have been three had it not been for the reflexes of Guzan.

Andy Carroll made his first West Ham appearance of the campaign as a late substitute after tearing ankle ligaments in pre-season, but even he could not beat Guzan, who foiled the burly striker in injury time.

The draw ended a run of six consecutive defeats for Paul Lambert's Villa -- the club's worst run since 1964 -- and left them two points above the relegation zone.

West Ham had won three games in a row prior to last weekend's 2-2 draw at Stoke City and they began the game in purposeful fashion, with Mark Noble heading over from a corner.

Gabriel Agbonlahor shot over at the other end after drifting past James Collins, but the home side were quickly back on the attack and there was a flurry of activity around the visitors' goal mid-way through the first half.

Guzan thwarted Collins and Noble and produced a one-handed save to deny the in-form Stewart Downing, while fit-again top scorer Diafra Sakho headed wide after the American international came to punch a cross and missed.

Guzan's opposite number, Adrian, was obliged to touch an effort from Andreas Weimann over the bar, but West Ham ended the half on top, with Downing slicing off-target.

Tom Cleverley shot narrowly over for Villa early in the second period, and although West Ham continued to rack up corners at the other end, they could not find a way through.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce introduced Carlton Cole for the final 15 minutes and he teed up Sakho shortly after coming on, only for the Senegalese striker to head wide.

West Ham upped the pressure, but still Villa resisted, with Downing crossing for Sakho to head over and then setting up Carl Jenkinson for a point-blank header that the right-back could only direct straight at Guzan.

Carroll's emergence from the bench drew a roar from the home supporters, but he was denied a dream return when his close-range header drew yet another excellent stop from Guzan.