17.01.2010
Villa miss out after Hammers draw
Aston Villa's English striker Gabriel Agbonlahor (up) vies with West Ham's English goalkeeper Robert Green during their English Premier League football match at Villa Park in Birmingham.
Aston Villa failed to make the most of slip-ups by their Champions League rivals after a goalless draw at home to strugglers West Ham on Sunday.
The point at Villa Park saw Martin O'Neill's men stay sixth in the English Premier League table, two places outside of the Champions League spots, after a Saturday where fourth-placed Tottenham were held to a goalless draw by Hull, Manchester City lost to Everton and Liverpool drew 1-1 with Stoke.
Villa have now not won, and not scored, in the league since beating Stoke 1-0 on December 19.
But the draw was a boost for West Ham, lifting the London club out of the relegation zone.
"Away from home it's a good result," West Ham captain Matthew Upson told Sky Sports. "We're improving. We've had some really tight games against some top teams.
"We set out well today. The last few months we've had an improvement. Hopefully we can maintain that to the end of the season."
Elsewhere, Blackburn Rovers moved up two positions into 12th place with a 2-0 win at home to Fulham.
Defender Chris Samba opened the scoring in the 25th minute after Benni McCarthy's corner to the near-post had been cleared off the line by Damien Duff.
South Africa's McCarthy was also involved in Rovers's second goal, after half-time, when New Zealand defender Ryan Nelsen headed in his free-kick.
In Sunday's late Premier League match, third-placed Arsenal are away to Bolton, where a win for the Gunners would leave them just three points behind leaders Chelsea.
Source: © 2010 AFP - Glyn Kirk
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