Goal-shy Villa held up by Hammers

Aston Villa lost ground in the race for a Champions League place after being held to a goalless draw at home to West Ham here on Sunday.

But the point saw the Hammers move out of the Premier League’s bottom three after a match in which the visitors’ England goalkeeper Robert Green played a key role in denying Villa a much needed victory.

Villa were looking to capitalise on the slip-ups made on Saturday by fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who drew 0-0 at home to Hull, and fifth-placed Manchester City, who were beaten 2-0 at Everton.

However, they remain sixth in the table, two places outside the Champions League spots and this result at Villa Park means Martin O’Neill’s League Cup semi-finalists are still seeking their first league win since December 19.

Teenage Hammers striker Mark Nouble, making his first league start, came close to opening the scoring after six minutes but from 12 yards out, and with only United States goalkeeper Brad Friedel to beat, he shot over the crossbar.

Shortly before the half-hour mark, Green was called into serious action for the first time when he finger-tipped away Ashley Young’s fierce cross-shot.

Green then did well to deny Gabriel Agbonlahor from 15 yards out.

After half-time, West Ham’s Radoslav Kovac, already booked, was fortunate not to be sent off for a rash challenge on Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov.

Villa striker John Carew, a half-time substitute for Emile Heskey, did have the ball in the back of the net in the 61st minute but the effort was correctly ruled out for offside.

Agbonlahor had a chance to win the match in stoppage time but a poor first touch gave the onrushing Green a chance to block at the striker’s feet.