West Ham 0 Aston Villa 1: Third place for Martin O'Neill's side
Dec 20 2008
just wide of Robert Green's upright, then went even closer midway through the opening half after Gabriel Agbonlahor raced down the left and beat Neill for pace.
The ball was pulled back for Sidwell, with Mark Noble chasing back and doing enough to make the former Chelsea midfielder slice his finish wide.
England winger Ashley Young then struck the post after being gifted possession by Scott Parker. The error allowed Young to take the ball around Green but he was forced slightly wide and the finish clipped the far post.
Young also went inches wide with a free-kick, while Gareth Barry felt he should have had a penalty when he tussled with Neill shortly afterwards, but referee Mark Halsey waved play on.
Bellamy's pace was West Ham's outlet. Neill sent him away on the right again and when the cross came over, Curtis Davies sliced towards his own goal and Friedel was required to tip over the crossbar.
Friedel also parried a long-range effort from Valon Behrami after Davies had given the ball away cheaply.
Villa broke at speed just before the half-time whistle, with Green forced into a double save - from Milner then Barry - to keep the scores level heading into the break.
Zola's response at half-time was to haul off Parker and bring on Hayden Mullins to protect the defence. Bellamy could not get power on the first chance of the second half, then Matthew Upson and Neill were off target with headers when they met set-pieces.
Zola made another change just before the hour mark when Behrami appeared to pick up a knock, with Lee Bowyer coming on.
Former Hammers midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, who predictably was greeted by a chorus of jeers, then replaced Carlos Cuellar after the defender also got injured.
Cole was presented with a clear-cut chance when Neill cut in from the right and floated a cross to the far post - but the striker got under the finish and headed over.
Cole had another chance in the 64th minute after Bowyer had released
Bellamy to cross from the left. Luke Young blocked Cole's first effort, then Friedel produced a reflex save to stop the second.
Milner picked up a booking for tripping Ilunga, but he then earned Villa the winner 12 minutes from the end.
Friedel saved a close-range effort from Calum Davenport to keep the visitors ahead.
