Craig Gardner's deflected free-kick wins the game and although West Ham improved in the second half, Villa deserve the points.
88
Maloney takes the ball into the corner and plays it off Neill to earn the home side a corner and waste some valuable time.
85
Barry swings in a cross and Knight is free, but his header is straight at Green and West Ham are still alive.
83
Agbonlahor is played in over the top by Barry and looks like he could wrap it up but Lucas Neill gets back to deny him.
81
Substitution
The final change for the Hammers, as Matthew Etherington is replaced by Luis Boa Morte.
80
Substitution
West Ham make another tactical changes, as Hayden Mullins is replaced by Mark Noble.
78
Substitution
Another change for the home side, as goalscorer Gardner is replaced by Stiliyan Petrov.
76
Etherington crosses for Cole again, but the striker misses the target with his 12-yard shot.
74
Young is played in down the left, but his low, driven cross goes past the face of goal and nobody can get a final touch.
72
Yellow Card
McCartney is the fifth player into the book, after bringing down Agbonlahor.
70
Great play from Barry, spreading play to Reo-Coker, the midfielder bursts into the box but doesn't know what to do and is crowded out.
68
A chance of an equaliser goes begging Ljunberg's excellent free kick picks out Cole again, but the substitute's header goes wide.
67
Yellow Card
Another Villa player is cautioned, as Mellberg's mis-timed tackle on Ashton sees him handed a booking.
65
Substitution
The first change for Villa, as Shaun Maloney comes on for Luke Moore.
63
This has been a really scrappy second half and neither side looks like adding to the scoreline.
61
Ljunberg gets a rare touch and his cross picks out Bowyer, but the midfielder's 14-yard header drifts wide.
59
Former Villa loanee Cole is having a bad day! The former Chelsea man recieves a pass from Ashton and then blasts his shot well wide.
57
Another break from the visitors, with Etherington getting into the area down the left but Knight gets accross well to block the cross.
55
West Ham's best chance so far falls to Cole. Mellberg's header is tame and the striker scuffs his shot goalwards, with Carson on hand to save.
52
Yellow Card
Reo-Coker has been niggling his former team-mates and goes into the book after a rash challenge on Bowyer.
51
It's been a quiet beginning to the second period and Villa will be happy with how things are panning out.
49
Bouma's early cross causes all sorts of problems for the West Ham defence, Young and Agbonlahor throw themselves at the ball but the collide and can't get a crucial touch.
47
The visitors are seeing plenty of the ball in these early stages of the half and Ashton looks to be their main threat,
Second half
Villa get us underway again and West Ham know they will have to improve to get anything out of this game.
Half time
Villa deserve their lead at the break and their attacking pace is causing the Hammers defence real problems. Plenty of work for Alan Curbishley to do at the break.
44
Ljunberg swings in the corner, Upson rises high but the former Birmingham man's header is well over the bar.
43
Good possession from West Ham, McCartney's cross causes confusion and Ashton's shot hits Laursen and goes behind for a corner.
41
Villa have lost some of their pattern and West Ham appear to be working their way back into the game.
38
Substitution
West Ham make a change and Camara is going off, must be an injury, and is replaced by Carlton Cole.
36
Yellow Card
Zat Knight is the latest player into the book, as his late lunge on Ashton sees him recieve a yellow card.
33
Another opportunity for Villa, as a cross is missed by Martin Laursen and then Zat Knight can't quite poke it home.
31
Young gets away down the left and his cross almost picks out Agbonlahor, but a combination of Gabbidon and McCartney scramble it away.
29
A free-kick for Villa just inside the West Ham half, but Luke Moore handles on the edge of the area to the relief of the visiting defence, who are struggling against the lightening pace of the Villa forward line.
26
Bouma gets down the left and his through ball is latched onto by Agbonlahor, his cross whistles across the area.
24
Goal
Agbonlahor is brought down on the edge of the area to earn the home side a free-kick. Craig Gardner's effort takes a deflection and beats Robert Green.
21
Etherington plays the ball into Hayden Mullins, it opens up for the midfielder but his 25-yard effort goes tamely wide of Scott Carson's goal.
19
Lee Bowyer powers forward in the Villa half and his cross is searching out Etherington, but under pressure from Barry, the winger's header drifts wide.
17
Young cross is behind Agbonlahor, but the England Under-21 international flicks his header goalwards and Green has to be alert.
15
The ball falls to Luke Moore 12-yards out and although he doesn't connect properly, Robert Green is forced into a save.
13
Agbonlahor's pace is already causing the Hammers defence problems, skinning Danny Gabbidon but is eventually crowded out.
11
Yellow Card
Matthew Etherington crosses from the left and Henri Camara finds the net....but with his hand and is booked by referee Tanner.
9
Great work from Ashley Young down the left, the former Watford man crosses but Moore miskicks and the chance is gone.
7
Steve McClaren is in the crowd, keeping an eye on his England stars - Barry, Young Carson and Ashton.
5
West Ham have started well and are enjoying the lion's share of possession in the early stages.
3
First sign of a break, as Luke Moore and Gabriel Agbonlahor link-up but Danny Gabbidon gets a foot in and clears.
1
Ljungberg tries to cross for Dean Ashton, but the ball deflects off Wilfred Bouma and goes behind for a corner. Villa manage to clear the cross.
Kickoff
West Ham get us underway and look up for this clash, with Freddie Ljunberg getting a couple of early touches.
Awaiting Kickoff
Alan Curbishley plumps for Dean Ashton and Henri Camara up front, with Craig Bellamy out injured. Hayden Mullins starts in place of the absent Scott Parker.
Awaiting Kickoff
With John Carew out injured, Luke Young gets a rare start for Villa. Nigel Reo-Coker comes up against his former club, with the home side keeping the same side that start at Spurs on Monday.
Aston Villa
West Ham United
Full time
Craig Gardner's deflected free-kick wins the game and although West Ham improved in the second half, Villa deserve the points.
Maloney takes the ball into the corner and plays it off Neill to earn the home side a corner and waste some valuable time.
Barry swings in a cross and Knight is free, but his header is straight at Green and West Ham are still alive.
Agbonlahor is played in over the top by Barry and looks like he could wrap it up but Lucas Neill gets back to deny him.
Substitution
The final change for the Hammers, as Matthew Etherington is replaced by Luis Boa Morte.
Substitution
West Ham make another tactical changes, as Hayden Mullins is replaced by Mark Noble.
Substitution
Another change for the home side, as goalscorer Gardner is replaced by Stiliyan Petrov.
Etherington crosses for Cole again, but the striker misses the target with his 12-yard shot.
Young is played in down the left, but his low, driven cross goes past the face of goal and nobody can get a final touch.
Yellow Card
McCartney is the fifth player into the book, after bringing down Agbonlahor.
Great play from Barry, spreading play to Reo-Coker, the midfielder bursts into the box but doesn't know what to do and is crowded out.
A chance of an equaliser goes begging Ljunberg's excellent free kick picks out Cole again, but the substitute's header goes wide.
Yellow Card
Another Villa player is cautioned, as Mellberg's mis-timed tackle on Ashton sees him handed a booking.
Substitution
The first change for Villa, as Shaun Maloney comes on for Luke Moore.
This has been a really scrappy second half and neither side looks like adding to the scoreline.
Ljunberg gets a rare touch and his cross picks out Bowyer, but the midfielder's 14-yard header drifts wide.
Former Villa loanee Cole is having a bad day! The former Chelsea man recieves a pass from Ashton and then blasts his shot well wide.
Another break from the visitors, with Etherington getting into the area down the left but Knight gets accross well to block the cross.
West Ham's best chance so far falls to Cole. Mellberg's header is tame and the striker scuffs his shot goalwards, with Carson on hand to save.
Yellow Card
Reo-Coker has been niggling his former team-mates and goes into the book after a rash challenge on Bowyer.
It's been a quiet beginning to the second period and Villa will be happy with how things are panning out.
Bouma's early cross causes all sorts of problems for the West Ham defence, Young and Agbonlahor throw themselves at the ball but the collide and can't get a crucial touch.
The visitors are seeing plenty of the ball in these early stages of the half and Ashton looks to be their main threat,
Second half
Villa get us underway again and West Ham know they will have to improve to get anything out of this game.
Half time
Villa deserve their lead at the break and their attacking pace is causing the Hammers defence real problems. Plenty of work for Alan Curbishley to do at the break.
Ljunberg swings in the corner, Upson rises high but the former Birmingham man's header is well over the bar.
Good possession from West Ham, McCartney's cross causes confusion and Ashton's shot hits Laursen and goes behind for a corner.
Villa have lost some of their pattern and West Ham appear to be working their way back into the game.
Substitution
West Ham make a change and Camara is going off, must be an injury, and is replaced by Carlton Cole.
Yellow Card
Zat Knight is the latest player into the book, as his late lunge on Ashton sees him recieve a yellow card.
Another opportunity for Villa, as a cross is missed by Martin Laursen and then Zat Knight can't quite poke it home.
Young gets away down the left and his cross almost picks out Agbonlahor, but a combination of Gabbidon and McCartney scramble it away.
A free-kick for Villa just inside the West Ham half, but Luke Moore handles on the edge of the area to the relief of the visiting defence, who are struggling against the lightening pace of the Villa forward line.
Bouma gets down the left and his through ball is latched onto by Agbonlahor, his cross whistles across the area.
Goal
Agbonlahor is brought down on the edge of the area to earn the home side a free-kick. Craig Gardner's effort takes a deflection and beats Robert Green.
Etherington plays the ball into Hayden Mullins, it opens up for the midfielder but his 25-yard effort goes tamely wide of Scott Carson's goal.
Lee Bowyer powers forward in the Villa half and his cross is searching out Etherington, but under pressure from Barry, the winger's header drifts wide.
Young cross is behind Agbonlahor, but the England Under-21 international flicks his header goalwards and Green has to be alert.
The ball falls to Luke Moore 12-yards out and although he doesn't connect properly, Robert Green is forced into a save.
Agbonlahor's pace is already causing the Hammers defence problems, skinning Danny Gabbidon but is eventually crowded out.
Yellow Card
Matthew Etherington crosses from the left and Henri Camara finds the net....but with his hand and is booked by referee Tanner.
Great work from Ashley Young down the left, the former Watford man crosses but Moore miskicks and the chance is gone.
Steve McClaren is in the crowd, keeping an eye on his England stars - Barry, Young Carson and Ashton.
West Ham have started well and are enjoying the lion's share of possession in the early stages.
First sign of a break, as Luke Moore and Gabriel Agbonlahor link-up but Danny Gabbidon gets a foot in and clears.
Ljungberg tries to cross for Dean Ashton, but the ball deflects off Wilfred Bouma and goes behind for a corner. Villa manage to clear the cross.
Kickoff
West Ham get us underway and look up for this clash, with Freddie Ljunberg getting a couple of early touches.
Awaiting Kickoff
Alan Curbishley plumps for Dean Ashton and Henri Camara up front, with Craig Bellamy out injured. Hayden Mullins starts in place of the absent Scott Parker.
Awaiting Kickoff
With John Carew out injured, Luke Young gets a rare start for Villa. Nigel Reo-Coker comes up against his former club, with the home side keeping the same side that start at Spurs on Monday.