WestHamFirm

Sam1 · Sat May 10, 2008 10:51 am West Ham V Aston Villa Match thread

PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Upton Park Date: Sun, 11 May Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live & highlights on Match of the Day

West Ham v Aston Villa

Defender Anton Ferdinand (hamstring) will return to training on Saturday but is unlikely to feature on Sunday.

Matthew Upson (calf) is likely to miss out so captain Lucas Neill could continue to partner England Under-19 international James Tomkins in defence.

Olof Mellberg will make his final appearance for Aston Villa before joining Juventus on a three-year deal.

Manager Martin O'Neill has no new injury worries, with Craig Gardner (thigh) a long-term absentee.

West Ham (from): Green, Pantsil, Tomkins, Neill, McCartney, Faubert, Parker, Noble, Boa Morte, Zamora, Ashton, Walker, Mullins, Cole, Solano, Sears, Collison.

Aston Villa (from): Carson, Taylor, Mellberg, Laursen, Knight, Bouma, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Osbourne, Salifou, Maloney, Routledge, Carew, Agonlahor, Harewood.

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Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill:
"It's intriguing in that we can still qualify automatically for Europe by finishing fifth, which would be phenomenal, or we could drop out altogether.

"It would have been fantastic to go into this game knowing almost everything was in our hands but it's not like that.

"If we win the game the worst we can do is finish sixth - that's Europe (through the Intertoto Cup), and that's a terrific achievement."

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West Ham boss Alan Curbishley:
"I know their fans see themselves as a top-six club and that's where they find themselves at the moment," Curbishley said ahead of the teams' meeting.

"If it goes for them on Sunday, they may find themselves in Europe again.

"As Kevin Keegan has said it's very difficult to break into the top four but it doesn't stop you trying and I think they've had a terrific season."

Make your Premier League predictions
BIG-MATCH FACTS

Victory over Aston Villa will guarantee West Ham a sixth top 10 placing in nine years, and a seventh top-half finish from their 13 seasons in this league. They would still end in 10th spot regardless of this result, if Tottenham failed to beat Liverpool at White Hart Lane.

Aston Villa are still harbouring hopes of pipping Everton to fifth spot and Uefa Cup qualification next season. Victory at Upton Park, coupled with defeat for the Toffees, home to Newcastle, would see the Villans and the Merseysiders swapping places.

Villa have not won in 23 Premier League visits to London, since a 1-2 triumph over Charlton at the Valley on 27 March 2004.

Six of West Ham's last seven home meetings with Aston Villa were drawn.

CLUB FORM

WEST HAM UNITED
Club stats
Fixtures

Highest achievable: 10th (Merit payment: £7.92 million)
Lowest could fall: 11th (£7.2m)

All statistics and sequences refer to the Premier League only, unless otherwise stated.

1. Won one of the last seven (2-1, home to Derby on 19 April), and won two of 11.

2. Victory would give them a total of 51 points; 10 more than were accrued last season.

3. Completed 27 matches without a goalless draw; since the visit to Portsmouth on 27 October.

4. Only two of their 40 goals have come direct from outside the penalty area.

5. Three goals short of conceding 700 all-time in the Premier League.

6. Aston Villa is the only Midlands' club they have lost to since their return to this league in 2005.

7. Lost the final fixture of the season just once in their last eight campaigns in this league; 2-1, away to Middlesbrough on 19 May 2001.

ASTON VILLA
Club stats
Fixtures

Highest achievable: 5th (Merit payment: £11.52 million)
Lowest could fall: 8th (£9.36 m)

All statistics and sequences refer to the Premier League only, unless otherwise stated.

1. Pursuing their highest finish since sixth in 2003-04, and fifth in 1996-97.

2. Maximum points would give them a total of 62, and would be their second best in a 38-game Premier League. They massed 63 points in 1995-96, when finishing fourth.

3. Completed 35 matches since a goalless draw; that being, away to Newcastle on 18 August.

4. This is their highest scoring top-flight season since 72 goals were netted from 42 matches in 1980-81.

5. Failed to score in four of the last eight, but netted a total of 17 goals in other four games.

6. Scored more headed goals than any other club (17), and a league high 38 from set pieces (corners, free kicks and penalties). Also no club has been awarded more penalties (seven - six converted), and they've gained from the highest number of own goals (five).

7. Yet to win in London this season; drawn three and lost one of their four previous visits to the capital.

8. The 0-6 victory at Derby on 12 April is their only win in five on the road.

9. Won their last-day fixture only once in the last five seasons; 2-1, home to Sunderland on 7 May 2006.

10. Hoping to add West Ham to Reading, Derby and Birmingham as clubs they've done the double over this season.

KEY PLAYER NOTES

WEST HAM UNITED

Dean ASHTON is West Ham's top scorer with 10 goals.

ASHTON is also the Hammers' top Premier League marksmen with nine.

The club's Premier League goal-scorers list is predominately comprised of English players (10 of 14).

Robert GREEN is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of West Ham's Premier League matches this season.

Lee BOWYER is a double shy of 50 career Premier League goals (Leeds, Newcastle and West Ham).

Nol SOLANO needs a double to total 50 Premier League goals (Newcastle, Aston Villa and West Ham).

Fredrik LJUNGBERG is two shy of 50 Premier League goals (Arsenal and West Ham).

If selected:-

Hayden MULLINS will be making his 100th career Premier League appearance - all for West Ham.

James COLLINS will be making his 100th career league appearance (Cardiff and West Ham).

Henri CAMARA will be playing the day after turning 31.

Nol SOLANO will be facing a former club. The 33 year old Peru international made 52 appearances (49 in the league) and scored nine goals (eight league) for Aston Villa between January 2004 and his £1.5m move back to Newcastle in August 2005.

Carlton COLE will be facing familiar faces. COLE spent the 2004-05 season on loan at Villa Park, when on Chelsea's books.

If on the field from the outset:-

Bobby ZAMORA will be making his 100th start in a West Ham shirt.

ASTON VILLA

John CAREW is Aston Villa's top scorer with 13 Premier League goals.

CAREW needs one goal to make this his most prolific in league football. The 28 year old Norway international striker has equalled his 13 goal tally for Besiktas in 2004-05.

Gabriel AGBONLAHOR has scored four in five.

Wilfred BOUMA and Martin LAURSEN have started every one of Villa's Premier League games this season.

If selected:-

Ashley YOUNG will be making 50th Premier League appearance for Villa.

Marlon HAREWOOD will be playing against his former club. The 28 year old forward made 170 appearances (142 in the league) and scored 56 goals (47 league) for West Ham between November 2003 and his move to Villa Park last July.

Nigel REO-COKER will also be facing former colleagues. The 23 year old midfielder made 142 appearances (120 in the league) and scored 11 league goals for the Hammers between January 2004 and his £8.5m move to Aston Villa last summer.

HEAD TO HEAD

Aston Villa are hoping to wrap-up a hat-trick of victories over West Ham, after two 1-0 home wins against them.

But the Midlanders have not won at Upton Park since prevailing 0-2 on 4 December 1996, with goals from Ugo Ehiogu and Dwight Yorke.

Villa would record their first Premier League double over West Ham with victory. They last achieved home and away victories over the Hammers in a single league season in 1983-84 (top-flight).

Home and away
League (inc PL): West Ham 31 wins, Villa 29, Draws 25
Prem: West Ham 5 wins, Villa 8, Draws 12

at West Ham only
League (inc PL): West Ham 20 wins, Villa 6, Draws 16
Prem: West Ham 3 wins, Villa 2, Draws 7

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME

West Ham United 1-1 Aston Villa
10 September 2006 - Ref: Steve Bennett
West Ham scorer: Zamora 52
Villa scorer: Ridgewell 4

THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE

Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham United
6 October 2007 - Ref: Steve Tanner
Villa scorer: Gardner 24

REFEREE

Mike Dean (Wirral)

BBC Sport

Final game of the season, let's hope for a good result.

Sam1 · Sat May 10, 2008 10:53 am

ALAN Curbishley has lavished praise on ex-West Ham skipper Nigel Reo-Coker.

The Aston Villa midfielder (pictured) was singled out by the Irons fans for the team's slump in form last season which ultimately led to the sacking of then-manager Alan Pardew.

He later fuelled that by slapping in a transfer request prior to a £7.5million move to Villa Park. He was soon followed to the Midlands by another ex-Hammer, Marlon Harewood.

As such, Reo-Coker is likely to get a tough reception when he returns to Upton Park for the first time on Sunday.

However, Irons boss Curbishley reckons that 23-year-old played a key role in helping the club escape relegation on the last day of last season.

"I walked into something when I joined. There was a lot of feeling around the club," said Curbishley.
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"We were third-from-bottom and there was a lot of flak flying around and he was getting singled out for some of it.

"We had a chat about it and I told him the only way he could deal with it was to get on with it.

"Obviously he wasn't happy about it but I told him to get through to the end of the season because the club is more important than anything else."

Curbishley even put Reo-Coker's influence up there with that of Robert Green, Carlos Tevez and Mark Noble, who supporters recognise as the catalysts behind the club beating the drop.

"I thought in the second half of the season, from the Manchester United game where he got the winner, his performances in the run-in were up there with the contributions the others made," explained Curbishley.

"Green had a fantastic run-in, Anton Ferdinand and James Collins did fantastically well, as did Mark Noble, Bobby Zamora and Tevez. He was part of that.

"I think in the run-in he got back to where he should have been. I was delighted with his performances."

Reo-Coker can still expect to be given a hard time by the home crowd on Sunday and Curbishley added: "I think that's part and parcel of football now.

"Some clubs react differently when old players go back. I'm sure him and Marlon Harewood will just get on with it."

Guardian series

Sam1 · Sat May 10, 2008 12:48 pm

Alan Curbishley is expecting his players to "show our appreciation" to the fans this Sunday with a good performance against high-flying Aston Villa that will set the summer up in style.

The manager said: "We want to finish in the top ten and we will be doing everything we can at the weekend to do that." Three points would guarantee the club a finish in the top half of the table - some achievement after the previous season's last-day survival battle. Heart can also be taken from this weekend's visitors, who finished 16th two seasons ago, then followed that up with eleventh place in 2006/07 - in Martin O'Neill's first full campaign - and are now heading into the final day of 2007/08 with the chance to finish fifth and secure UEFA Cup football.

Whatever the result, the players will take to the field after the game to thank supporters for their backing. Curbishley said: "Their support has been fantastic - the numbers, we sell out wherever we go away from home - so I think that it's only right that we show our appreciation. We have had our ups and downs in the last couple of weeks but that has got to be forgotten. The main thing is we are all in this together. Let's get a result, send everyone home a bit happier, look forward to the break and recharge everyone's batteries."

Trying to spoil proceedings will be Villa, who have enjoyed a settled squad this season and the chance to blood summer signings with their established stars. Among them is former West Ham United captain Nigel Reo-Coker and Curbishley offered praise for the young midfielder's part in the 'great escape'. "His performances in the run-in were up there with a lot of the contributions the others made," he said. "There was a lot of talk about Carlos Tevez, we all know that [Robert] Green had a fantastic run-in. Ferdinand and [James] Collins did exceptionally well [along with] Noble and Bobby Zamora. He was part of that ... I was delighted with his performances."

Marlon Harewood - who scored a hat-trick against his current employers back in September 2006 - should get a good reception from the home faithful and has also done well in the midlands. "They've gone off to Villa and they've had a decent season. They need to win to give themselves a chance of nicking that last spot so I expect a decent game ... I think Villa have had a terrific season, since Martin has gone there they have been on the up." Key to West Ham United's chances of following suit, along with form and fitness, will be the supporters and Curbishley acknowleged: "They do play a big part and we are all in this together."

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Sam1 · Sat May 10, 2008 6:17 pm

Alan Curbishley has admitted he does not have the influence to stop West Ham fans booing former captain Nigel Reo-Coker on his return to Upton Park tomorrow.

The ex-England U21 captain was targetted by unhappy fans during the relegation fight last season and was sold to Aston Villa last summer.

And at the end of the troubled campaign where his own team have been loudly criticised by home supporters, Curbs said he is powerless to prevent Reo-Coker and Marlon Harewood receiving a similar East End welcome to Chelsea's Frank Lampard.

"West Ham fans have not been shy over the years to let you know if they think you are not doing it," he said.
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"If he gets a bad reception, he'll take it on the chin. He's that sort of character. It happens - you have got to get on with it."

[b]Mirror.co.uk[/]

I doubt Harewood will get booed.

Gioseppe · Sun May 11, 2008 11:17 am

A couple of years ago we didn't get Championship games on TV over here so the Aston Villa game in 2005 was the first West Ham game I've watched in years and it was unforgettable. I remember Harewood's hat trick very good and it will be interesting to see what will happen today.

Sam1 · Sun May 11, 2008 12:02 pm

Gioseppe wrote: A couple of years ago we didn't get Championship games on TV over here so the Aston Villa game in 2005 was the first West Ham game I've watched in years and it was unforgettable. I remember Harewood's hat trick very good and it will be interesting to see what will happen today.

I remember that day very well also because my sister was born. :D

Sam1 · Sun May 11, 2008 12:05 pm

Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker has moved on from the worst days of his career, but he expects to find today that many West Ham supporters have not. This time last year, Reo-Coker was helping the Hammers escape relegation by the skin of their teeth after a rancorous season in which he had suffered racist hate mail and jeers from his own club's supporters.

This afternoon at Upton Park, the former England Under-21 captain will draw on messages of support from fans at his former club to block out the boos and bad memories as he tries to drive Villa to the victory that would bring qualification for the UEFA Cup if Everton lose at home to Newcastle.

Nigel Reo-Coker

Critical: Nigel Reo-Coker claims he was hounded while at West Ham

And even if all he comes away with is a place in the InterToto Cup and more abuse ringing in his ears, he insists he will bear no grudges and treat it as another valuable lesson.

Reo-Coker said: "I don't think I'll get a good reception. At the end of the day, they don't care how I feel and I'm an enemy. I don't blame them. If I was a football fan, I'd have the same way of thinking.

"But since coming to Villa I've received a lot of letters from West Ham fans writing to congratulate me on my move and thank me for my efforts and everything I did there. That has warmed my heart. I'll take those letters on to the pitch in my mind to block out all the negativity."

The lowest point of Reo-Coker's time at West Ham came in December 2006.

"The week when Alan Curbishley took over, in the build-up to the Manchester United game, I checked my mail for the first time in ages,' he said.

"I opened the top letter, which said something like: 'You n****r, get out of my club, we don't want you here'. I couldn't believe what I was reading.

"When my name was read out before the game, there were boos. It all escalated from there and I was labelled as a bad apple.

"How would you feel, at the age of 22, captain of a Premier League club if you got a letter like that and were booed by your own fans? People blatantly didn't want me to be there."

Reo-Coker accepts the paying customer's right to have an opinion but what rankles is the lack of support he says he received from inside the club. And although he refuses to criticise West Ham manager Curbishley directly, it is clear that he finds the man-management of Villa boss Martin O'Neill much more to his taste.

Reo-Coker said: "There are situations when players are getting a bit of a hard time from fans, you see managers instantly coming to squash that or senior pros coming to say: 'Lay off him, he's doing his best', and I just don't feel anyone came to support me at West Ham.

"You look at the best managers in the league and in the world, and they know how to look after their players and get the best out of their players."

For Reo-Coker, the enigmatic O'Neill falls into that category. "Psychologically, he's very cute," said Reo-Coker.

"He knows how to treat players, how to get the best out of them. He likes to remain mysterious. Sometimes he'll come to watch training and he won't say a word to anyone.

"That's one of his main secrets, you never know what he's thinking. It keeps players on their toes.

"You can't really get close to him, but all the players respect him. He's a winner. He doesn't like to lose, nor do any of his backroom staff, and he breeds that into the players."

Qualifying for the UEFA Cup would confirm the effectiveness of O'Neill's methods, but whatever happens today, Reo-Coker will reflect on a season of progress on and off the pitch.

"It would be very disappointing to miss out on European football because that was the goal we set for ourselves," he said.

"I'm happy with how my season has gone. You're judged on where you finish in the league: last year, we were 16th, this year we're pushing for Europe. This is only Martin O'Neill's second year and we have chance of finishing fifth.

"Obviously I didn't enjoy the bad period at West Ham but it was a priceless experience. Going through that at such a young age has made me a stronger and more determined person.

"I've moved on in my life. The new goal is to play European football."

Daily mail

And we've got Scott Parker

Peter Parka · Sun May 11, 2008 3:57 pm

2-2 now, Ashton! Looks like we're finishing above Tottscum what with them 2-0 down to Liverpool! :D

Sam1 · Sun May 11, 2008 4:00 pm

this always happens to ashton he scores a few goals, gets a good run of games then can't play anymore but hopefully next season we can get a fully fit squad and start playing to our potential.

Good result today though boys and despite a relatively quiet season afte rspending months in 10th it's good to finish aboce the filth and reach 50 points.

Sam1 · Sun May 11, 2008 4:14 pm

Aston Villa were left to settle for an Intertoto Cup place after drawing a very entertaining game at West Ham, as Everton won to claim fifth place.

Ex-Villa winger Nolberto Solano put the Hammers ahead against his old club with a free kick from the edge of the box.

The visitors soon hit back when Nigel Reo-Coker fed Ashley Young, who slotted past Robert Green to equalise.

Gareth Barry then put Villa ahead after Reo-Coker's shot was parried, but Dean Ashton ensured honours finished even.

Only an Everton defeat, coupled with a Villa victory, would have lifted Martin O'Neill's side above the Toffees - but both sides here contributed to a game packed with chances.

It was also a swansong for Juventus-bound defender Olof Mellberg, whose parting gift was to buy a Villa shirt for each of the 3,200 travelling fans, emblazoned "Mellberg - Thanks 4 Your Support" - while some away fans donned Swedish colours in his honour, and others basked, shirtless, in the heat.

After the kick-off was delayed as a number of balloons on the pitch needed to be burst, the Hammers soon won the first corner - but Villa broke quickly and Gabriel Agbonlahor crossed for Young to rattle the post as the visitors served early notice of their intentions.

West Ham won a free-kick just outside the box in the sixth minute and as Solano lined up the shot, keeper Scott Carson took a while to arrange his defensive wall.

606: DEBATE
What a legend Mellberg is - we shall miss him

Jwright60
However, the little Peruvian's effort curled over and around the seven-man wall, and although Carson got a hand to it, he could not prevent the first Premier League goal of the afternoon.

But Villa hit back within minutes as ex-Hammers midfielder Reo-Coker - roundly booed by his old club's fans since his name was read out before kick-off - slid a good ball through for Young to delicately pass the ball into the net beyond Green's reach.

With both sets of fans in good voice, it had the atmosphere of a fiercely-contested cup tie, with West Ham playing a full part and refusing to behave like a mid-table side with little to play for - although Bobby Zamora and Mark Noble both failed to hit the target when well placed.

The news of Everton taking the lead at Goodison Park may have dampened the Villa fans' spirits, although they were nearly gifted a second goal when Green slipped attempting a clearance with Young lurking dangerously.

And the outstanding Young, named on Friday as the top flight's player of the month for April, looked the most likely player on either side to create something special, especially when he cut in from the left flank.

Nolberto Solano scored West Ham's opening goal against his old club
Solano gave West Ham an early lead against his former club

By contrast, West Ham's left-winger Luis Boa Morte, without a goal all season, volleyed well wide for the hosts as half-time approached.

He did better after the interval as Villa backed off and allowed him to run and shoot from distance, only for Carson to block.

Villa looked certain to score when Agbonlahor found space and fed Carew inside the box, but his shot was parried by Green, but as the Hammers keeper chased the rebound towards the feet of Stiliyan Petrov, the Bulgarian took a tumble and was shown a yellow card for diving.

Villa kept pressing and it needed a goal-line clearance by Mark Noble to keep out Carew's shot from a tantalising Young corner.

And it was no more than the Midlanders deserved when captain Barry, the subject of a very public transfer bid from Liverpool, burst through the middle and carved open the defence to play Reo-Coker through.

Although Reo-Coker's shot was parried by Green, Barry was perfectly placed to steer home the rebound in front of the travelling fans.

With Everton having only just conceded an equaliser, it gave Villa brief hope of a late shot at fifth place - although the Toffees were soon ahead again.

But back at Upton Park, West Ham refused to lie down - and at the other end, Mellberg did well to block an Ashton effort, while Zamora then crashed a header against the Villa bar with Carson beaten.

Mellberg almost enjoyed a fairytale finale to his Villa career when he stormed forward from right-back, only to fire into the side netting.

James Tomkins had to make two vital blocks as Villa pushed for a third, while Green also needed treatment after colliding with giant striker Carew.

However, news of a third Everton goal appeared to have filtered through to the Villa fans - and even the players, as both sides finally looked to have run out of steam in the dying minutes.

But with Villa's Uefa hopes gone, with two minutes left Ashton drilled in a shot from just outside the area to earn his side a share of the points.

Astonishingly, Villa nearly won it in stoppage time when substitute Carlton Cole, trying to clear, chested Young's shot towards his own goal-line before it was hacked clear - but it meant honours finshed even after a pulsating game on a baking afternoon.

BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Aston Villa's Ashley Young 8.70 (on 90 minutes).

BBC Sport

Roll on 08/09

Peter Parka · Sun May 11, 2008 4:21 pm

Yep, nice way to end the season, 10th and above Tottscum, hopefully next season will be more injury free and we can make a push for Europe.

Oh and got to say, what a top bloke Mellberg is, appreciation of the fans like that is sadly a rare thing these days.

Sam1 · Sun May 11, 2008 6:06 pm

West Ham United 2-2 Aston Villa

Dean Ashton's electrifying eleventh goal of the season gave West Ham United the point that guaranteed them a terrific top-half finish on an afternoon when Aston Villa saw their UEFA Cup dreams shattered.

The club's top-scorer bagged a late leveller to earn a share of the points after Nolberto Solano's brilliantly executed fourth goal of the campaign had been wiped out by Ashley Young and Gareth Barry. Kicking off in tenth place, Alan Curbishley made two changes to the side that had lost at this season's recrowned champions Manchester United last Saturday, as fit-again Anton Ferdinand and ex-Villa Park wide man Solano came in for John Pantsil and Hayden Mullins, who both took their places on the bench alongside Richard Wright, Freddie Sears and another former Villain, Carlton Cole.

Ironically, 12 months ago, Curbishley's men had travelled to Old Trafford with their Premier League lives hanging in the balance but, one year on from their dramatic Survival Sunday victory over the champions, they now came into Match 38 looking to cement that top-half finish. Without a league win at the Boleyn Ground on any of their previous eight visits, Martin O'Neill's side needed victory in the sun-drenched East End and an Everton defeat at home to Newcastle United, if they were to leapfrog the Merseysiders and claim a coveted UEFA Cup spot.

Following last weekend's shock home defeat by wobbling Wigan Athletic, the Midlanders named an unchanged side that included Nigel Reo-Coker in the starting line-up with Marlon Harewood on the bench. With just three minutes on the clock, the breaking former West Ham United skipper crafted out the first chance of the game, when he released Gabriel Agbonlahor, whose cut-back then eluded the supporting Reo-Coker on its way to the overlapping Ashley Young, who scooped a ten-yarder on to Hammer of the Year Robert Green's right-hand upright.

On seven minutes, however, Scott Carson was not so fortunate, when Ferdinand was tripped on the edge of the area and Solano brilliantly swept the consequent free-kick over the Villa wall and across the outstretched left glove of the diving keeper to send the home fans amongst the sell-out 34,969 crowd into raptures. After Scott Parker was cautioned for a foul on Stiliyan Petrov, it was the other set of claret and blue fans who were celebrating when Reo-Coker's 13th-minute pass picked out Young, who steered a low, angled 15-yard shot across the face of Green and just inside the keeper's right-hand post to equalise.

Midway through the half, Petrov's low cross into the six-yard box was slid wide by John Carew under pressure from the ever-reliable, ever-present George McCartney, with a challenge that showed just why he had been voted into second spot in that player of the year poll. After Agbonlahor lashed a shot into the Bobby Moore stand, Olof Mellberg - bidding arrivederci to Villa ahead of a summer mover to Juventus - then collected a leaving card from referee Mike Dean for a clumsy, high tackle on Luis Boa Morte. In reply, Solano saw another free-kick loop over the top off the Villa wall, before Mark Noble and Boa Morte tried their luck from range and, in the dying seconds of an end-to-end first half, Zamora's thunderous 18-yarder agonisingly flew just an inch or so wide.

Pantsil replaced McCartney for the restart and shortly afterwards the bulldozing Boa Morte forced Carson to save his low 20-yarder. With their hopes of European qualification still alive, Villa pressed too, when the pacy Agbonlahor cut-back into the danger zone, where Green showed all his England credentials to smother Carew's point-blank shot before Petrov was booked for diving in the ensuing melee.

With the visiting pressure building, Carew was denied again when Noble hacked the Norwegian international's header off the line and then Barry drilled across the face of goal. On 57 minutes, Green pulled off another outstanding parry to thwart Reo-Coker but this time fortune fell Villa's way as the backing-up Barry seized on the loose ball and lashed a 12-yarder into the unguarded net.

Villa may have seized the initiative, but West Ham United were still not out of the contest and, as the hour mark passed, Solano's corner was met by Ashton, who saw his header nodded off the line by Petrov. Seconds later, Carson was a mere spectator again when Boa Morte crossed from the left and Zamora sent a powerful header crashing back off the beaten 'keeper's crossbar.

With a quarter-hour remaining, Cole replaced Zamora and, after Green bravely stopped Carew at the expense of an accidental boot in the face, Sears came on for Noble as Curbishley went for a three-pronged attack. It was a switch that paid dividends, for after Ashton ripped a shot into the side-netting, he made no mistake second time around, when he collected the ball on the 18-yard line and let fly with a simply unstoppable 18-yarder.

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