Aston Villa 0 West Ham 0:THE RACE for Champions League football and the coveted fourth place has turned into a grind. Having watched Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool all fail to win yesterday, Aston Villa were unable to capitalise on their rivals' shortcomings here against a belligerent West Ham United side.
Frustration was the overriding emotion for the Villa supporters at the final whistle after a jaded performance that suggested two games in four days was too much for Martin O’Neill’s players.
In truth, there had been signs that Villa were suffering from their exertions in the League Cup semi-final at Ewood Park on Thursday night long before the closing stages. The slick, incisive passing that cut Blackburn Rovers open was conspicuous by its absence as Villa struggled to play with any tempo for long periods.
It was not until the 27th minute that Villa threatened and then Ashley Young had been trying to cross rather than shoot when the ball looped towards the far corner before Robert Green clawed it to safety.
Moments later the home side created their best chance of the first half when Gabriel Agbonlahor took Stewart Downing’s cross on his chest and spun before hitting a powerful shot from about 10 yards that Green repelled.
West Ham, though, might have taken an early lead when Frank Nouble left James Collins trailing and rode Richard Dunne’s challenge before slicing over.
Villa improved after the break but there remained a lack of conviction about their play, with little evidence of a plan B when crosses into the penalty area failed to yield reward.
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