Aston Villa 0, West Ham 0: Andy Walker's match stats and player ratings
FRIEDEL 6
A very quiet return to the Villa team following his Carling Cup break, was rarely tested.
MAN OF THE MATCH: CUELLAR 7
The Spaniard was the stand-out performer of Villa’s back four made some vital interceptions.
DUNNE 6
Not his best afternoon in a claret and blue shirt. Struggled to get to grips with Frank Nouble.
COLLINS 7
Despite a slightly shaky start, the Welshman put in a decent shift to help keep the visitors at bay.
WARNOCK 7
A tidy performance, did his job in defence and offered support when going forward.
A YOUNG 7
Faded slightly in the second half but he was a lively performer before the break.
PETROV 6
Nothing outstanding from skipper but he kept things ticking over in the middle.
MILNER 7
A typical workmanlike performance, came close to breaking the deadlock.
DOWNING 7
Kept himself busy and continuously bombarded West Ham box with deliveries.
HESKEY 6
Kept in check by the Hammers defence in first half, replaced by John Carew after the interval.
AGBONLAHOR 6
Should have scored the winner in injury time but his touch let him down, frustrating afternoon.
SUBSTITUTES:
Carew (for Heskey, 57) added an extra threat up front for Villa but failed to make the desired impact 6
Not used: Guzan, L Young, Sidwell, Delfouneso, Delph, Beye.
WEST HAM (4-5-1): Green; Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Spector; Behrami, Parker (Diamanti, 57), Kovac (Stanislas, 62), Noble, Collison; Nouble (Da Costa, 90+5). Not used: Kurucz, Jiminez, Sears, Daprela.
BOOKINGS: Petrov (violent conduct, 89) – Villa. Kovac (foul, 18), Stanislas (violent conduct, 89) – West Ham.
CROWD WATCH 5
Villa all sung out from Thursday’s trip to Ewood Park, a very subdued afternoon. Attendance: 35,646.
REF WATCH 6
M Jones (Cheshire): The man in the middle’s only moment of controversy was when he halted play with Villa on the attack to treat a minor injury to Valon Behrami.
THE MANAGER 6
In hindsight, Martin O’Neill should have made more changes to the side that secured victory in the Carling Cup semi-final first leg.
GAME RATING 5
Not a classic. The Hammers are a poor, out-of-form side at the moment yet Villa struggled to find a breakthrough.
INJURY WATCH
Nothing to report.
WHO’S NEXT UP FOR VILLA?
Blackburn (h) Carling Cup semi-final second leg, Wednesday, 7.45pm.
