Source: SKY_Sports
Aston Villa v West Ham live!
90 + 4 ALL OVER: The match ends 1-1. Aston Villa are denied a return to winning ways in the Premier League as a late Tristan goal cancels out Heskey's first-half opener at Villa Park.
90 + 3 Villa want a penalty as Carew and Tomkins clash in the penalty area, but referee Styles is not interested. Replays suggest it was a penalty.
90 +2 Corner for West Ham, but Villa head clear and as the home side break, birthday boy Upson - who turns 30 today - hacks down Ashley Young to earn a booking.
90 ADDED TIME: There will be at least four minutes added time. Plenty of time for a twist in the tale.
88 All to play for now and West Ham look to be the only winners as Friedel is forced to tip a deflected effort over the bar and Savio fires just wide after Villa faild to clear.
85 GOAL TRISTAN (1-1)!!! West Ham won a dubious corner and as Dyer fired towards goal, Tristan deliberately deflected the ball past Friedel. Villa pay for their missed chances.
82 Villa win a free-kick in West Ham territory and Ashley Young, who has recovered from his foot problem, is to deliver. West Ham head behind for a corner. Green claims Young's kick with ease.
79 Ashley Young is down again receiving treatment on a foot problem. Both teams use the break in play to make changes. Villa bring on Craig Gardner for Milner. West Ham throw on Freddie Sears in place of David Di Michele.
79 West Ham are beginning to dominate possession as Villa drop deep and Friedel is forced to deny Boa Morte from a scramble in the box. The American goalkeeper has been Villa's best player.
78 Villa should have finished the game. Ashley Young crosses and Carew heads over the bar when in acres. The striker was stretching a little, but that was still a poor miss.
75 Villa are closing in on what would be a first league win in eight games and there could be signs of nerves in the final 15 minutes. However, there will be no need to worry if Savio continues to show finishing to that which he has just displayed when going close to the corner flag from the edge of the box.
73 Stanislas, who has been West Ham's best player, heads off and record signing Savio enters the fray.
Gav Virk says: "I wish Ash Young would nick a goal for us, he's been due one for months now. If we had more killer instinct going forward we would not have to worry about the shaky backline that much. We need to tighten up at the back, it may mean Petrov being more disciplined and protecting the back four."
70 Heskey, who is returning from injury, earns a breather as Nathan Delfouneso comes on.
69 It is all Villa again now. West Ham looked to have run out of ideas at the minute. I would not rule out a red card this afternoon. There are a few players walking the tightrope that are recklessly fouling.
67 Villa fans think they have their second of the match, however, Carew has only found the side netting. The home side are cranking up the pressure again. Carew and Heskey have linked up well in the injury absence of Agbonlahor.
65 Villa win another corner as Boa Morte times a tackle well on Ashley Young. Green punches the kick clear.
63 Petrov is correctly booked for a lunging challenge on Noble. The West Ham midfielder is not impressed and squares up to Petrov. Fortunately for the Hammers, Noble - who has already been booked - only receives a lecture for his reaction.
62 After the early bombardment, West Ham are doing well and win a corner. Noble's kick is headed away by Cuellar and Villa break, but Ashley Young hits wide when up field with Ilunga.
60 Dyer produces a risky challenge as Luke Young moves into the box. West Ham, though, avoid the penalty as Young stays on his feet.
59 Milner does well to ensure West Ham only win a throw-in and not a corner. Tristan handles in the area when Petrov is struggling to clear the throw.
58 I speak too soon as Ashley Young crosses and Carew just misses the ball as Green collects.
57 Villa's wounded duo are back in action and the match is now being played in midfield as chances on goalmouth action calms.
54 Bad news for Villa. Ashley young has hobbled of to be checked over. Curtis Davies is also receiving treatment after taking a Noble effort square on the chin. No glass jaw for the Villa centre-back though, he stayed on his feet.
52 Heskey does brilliantly to collect a long pass on the chest and set Villa attacking again. West Ham have cleared their heads and this match is like an all-out attack cup tie.
50 West Ham cannot get out of their half and Villa are sweeping forward in waves.
49 Villa have picked up where they left off and are all over West Ham as they rack up a corner in front of the Holte End shortly after Heskey wasted a great chance following a clever, scooped pass from Carew.
47 Villa are immediately on the attack and want a penalty as Carew tussles with Upson inside the 18-yard area. Referee Styles is not interested. Villa now have names and sponsors on their changed shirts following some swift sewing during the break.
47 WE'RE BACK: The teams are back for the second half and Villa get the action going. Let's hope for more to match the first half.
45 + 2 HALF-TIME: Villa go in at the interval with a 1-0 lead thanks to Heskey's scrappy finish in the 11th minute. Both defences have had afternoons to forget. I'll be amazed if there are not more goals in this match. Let me have your thoughts on the first half at peter.fraser@bskyb.com.
45 ADDED TIME: There will be at least two minutes added time as Villa win a corner.
44 Handbags at 10 paces between Ashley Young and Neill after the former is felled by the latter. Think I know who I would back in a dust-up between the pair. Young started the incident after winning the foul and is correctly booked for retaliation.
42 Stiliyan Petrov has a pop from 20 yards and Villa win a corner, despite replays showing that Green did not get a hand to the ball. West Ham clear.
41 West Ham are exposing Villa right-back Luke Young as Ilunga crosses and Boa Morte nods over the crossbar.
39 Ashley Young cuts in from the left touchline and attempts to play a give-and-go with Carew, but his pass is slightly over hit.
37 Villa only half-clear and Boa Morte drives towards the box. But after a combined, weak challenge from Milner and Barry, the West Ham man is correctly booked for diving when going to ground in stages. Good refereeing.
36 West Ham win a corner as Ilunga ghosts into the box. Shorey is forced to put the ball behind for a corner and Carew heads away. Both defences have been terrible.
34 Stanislas has been West Ham's best player by a distance and fires narrowly over the Villa bar from range.
33 Kieron Dyer replaces the injured Collins. Lucas Neill moves to right-back and Dyer takes a place in the heart of midfield. Barry, who has been excellent so far for Villa, will have to keep an eye on Dyer.
32 Boa Morte has a great chance to set up Stanislas when two-on-one with Luke Young as West Ham attack on the edge of the Villa box. However, Boa Morte's pass is hopelessly over hit and the move fizzles out.
29 West Ham are all over the place as Collins makes a hash of clearing to concede a corner when he had time and space at the near post. The Hammers are hanging on for the break but it is still at least 15 minutes away.
28 Heskey hits a post. Noble plays a terrible back-pass and Heskey intercepts to prod against a post. A massive let off.
26 Green shows all the composure of a striker when dropping the shoulder to beat Carew at a back-pass. Great when it comes off, but the goalkeeper could have been embarrassed.
24 West Ham's threat of the opening 10 minutes seems to have disappeared and their defence looks to be struggling every time Villa move forward. The home side are dominating midfield.
23 Young's first effort fires into the West Ham wall, but the winger pounces on the ricochet and grazes the far post with his left-footed effort. Villa can sense a second and their visitors have gone a bit quiet.
22 Danger for West Ham as Ashley Young has a free-kick 25 yards from goal after he was felled by Boa Morte.
20 Mark Noble is the first player to go in the book after sliding in on Barry from behind close to the halfway line. Ashley Young's delivery is poor.
18 West Ham are rocking as Villa rack up another corner after Herita Ilunga does well to head away a goal-bound Milner effort. The first corner is put behind and the second narrowly misses Cuellar at the back post.
16 This is end-to-end stuff, with both defences looking poor. Milner wins a corner and Carew is offered too much space in the box, but the Norwegian can only head over the bar.
13 Friedel is keeping Villa in this. David Di Michele breaks into the Villa box and the Villa's goalkeeper saves well. Diego Tristan, a shadow of his former self, volleys the rebound over the bar.
12 West Ham respond immediately and go on the attack. Luis Boa Morte fires just wide from the right corner of the box.
11 GOAL HESKEY (1-0)!!! Gareth Barry went narrowly close with a header seconds earlier, but Villa now have the lead. The home side break forward with a sweeping move and Milner crosses low from the right to allow Heskey a bit of a scrappy finish from six yards.
8 After a messy start the game is settling quite nicely. Villa, as they have done all season, are looking to counter-attack. West Ham, as you would expect from a team managed by Zola, are neat and tidy in possession.
6 Stanislas is proving a problem for Villa and James Milner performs a last-ditch tackle to stop the youngster pulling the trigger. Villa again clear the resulting corner.
4 Villa settle and go on the attack. John Carew, who has impressed since returning from injury, rolls James Collins on the edge of the West Ham box, but his shot is comfortably gathered by Robert Green.
3 A massive let off for Villa. Junior Stanislas breaks straight through the centre of the host's back four and is denied by a great save from Brad Friedel when one-on-one. Villa clear the resulting corner. Terrible
defending to allow the chance.
1 A very scrappy start with a host of hit-and-hope whacks up field as both sides give the ball away in the opening 60 seconds, but early doors yet.
KICK-OFF: West Ham get the game going.
Villa and West Ham finally make their way onto the field. The word is that there has been a late clothes show behind the scenes with referee
Styles deeming the two clubs to posses clashing strips. Villa have, therefore, changed to an all-white kit, which has been quickly knocked up from the club's shop!
The pitch is in perfect condition and the sprinklers are working heavily on one half, the half I would expect Villa to be attacking if they win the toss. The teams have yet to arrive on the field.
Our friends at the bookies have been in touch to inform me that all the money is going towards a Villa win on a glorious afternoon in the Second City.
As we await kick-off, I agree with Mr Russell about the 'must-win' status, but I think Champions League football went out the window a long time ago. Arsenal are flying, while Villa are liming, over the finishing line.
Kevin Russell says: "This is a must-win game to get Villa back on track for champs league. I know West Ham have had a great season so far and pushing for Europe but I think there team today looks rather weak,.............. up the Villa!"
Are West Ham supporters pleased to hear that Zola is reportedly on the verge of signing a new four-year deal to replace his 12-month running contract? What have Villa fans made of the season? Would you view a fifth-placed finish as a failure or would that represent progress?
If you fancy a flutter... Aston Villa are at 4/7 with the bookies, a draw is 13/5, and West Ham are 11/2. Too tight to call in my eyes. I reckon a draw could be on the cards.
We've all been to those end-of-season games in the past where your mind
is elsewhere on sunny April afternoons as two teams with nothing to play for do battle. In years gone by your weekend time would most likely be better spent with a spot of DIY or trailing around a furniture showroom looking for spring bargains. But not this season. There are battles every where you look in the Premier League and this afternoon's match in the Midlands is no different as both sides fight for Europe. Who will come out on top after the 90 minutes. Where will Villa and West Ham finish in the table?
You can drop me a line on any matter throughout the course of the afternoon at peter.fraser@bskyb.com. I will publish a selection of the best comments, analysis and jokes. Get in touch and have your name in lights!
What do you make of the team news? Is Heskey's return positive for Villa? It has been suggested that O'Neill's side have struggled since signing the former Wigan striker in the winter transfer window. Do West Ham look a little light in midfield without Parker and Kovac? Can Gianfranco Zola maintain his side's push towards Europe by ensuring Villa remain without a league win since early February?
Gabriel Agbonlahor (hamstring) misses out for Villa and so Emile Heskey's return from a similar injury is well welcomed by boss Martin O'Neill. Carlos Cuellar has won his race to recover from a back injury. West Ham are again without Radoslav Kovac as the midfielder remains sidelined with a thigh complaint, while Scott Parker (groin) also misses out.
Referee: Rob Styles
West Ham team: Green, Tomkins, Upson, Collins, Ilunga, Neill, Boa Morte, Stanislas, Noble, Di Michele, Tristan. Subs: Lastuvka, Lopez, Dyer, Nsereko, Sears, Payne, Hines.
Aston Villa team: Friedel, Luke Young, Davies, Cuellar, Shorey, Milner, Petrov, Barry, Ashley Young, Heskey, Carew. Subs: Guzan, Sidwell, Delfouneso, Knight, Salifou, Reo-Coker, Gardner.
The team news is in!
Welcome to our live commentary of the Premier League meeting between Aston Villa and West Ham United at Villa Park.
