Hello and welcome to live text coverage of Aston Villa vs. West Ham United at Villa Park. As ever, it's a crucial match for both sides.

A glance at the table would tell you that Villa are 10th, which at this stage would usually mean a team are safe from relegation. However, this season has been extraordinary at both ends of the table, and Villa are just five points ahead of today's opponents, who are 18th.

We'll have more on the build up in a few minutes, but here comes the team news...

ASTON VILLA: Guzan; Lowton, Clark, Baker, Bertrand; Bacuna, Westwood, Delph, Weimann; Benteke, Agbonlahor

SUBS: Steer, El Ahmadi, Sylla, Helenius, Albrighton, Holt, Bennett

WEST HAM UNITED: Adrian; Demel, Tomkins, Collins, McCartney; Nolan, Noble, Taylor, Jarvis, Downing; C.Cole

SUBS: Jaaskelainen, Reid, Armero, Collison, Johnson, Borriello, Nocerino

We'll start with the home side, who have Gabby Agbonlahor back after a two-match absence with a foot injury. However, Ron Vlaar misses the game with a hamstring problem.

West Ham striker Andy Carroll begins a three-match ban after the club failed to get it overturned this week, which means Carlton Cole starts in attack. New signings Borriello, Armero and Nocerino are on the bench.

There will be more on the Carroll saga later, but for now we'll focus on Villa, who are still in the relegation scrap, despite being in midtable.

One of the main problems for Lambert has been a poor home record. Incredibly, they have lost half of their last 50 league matches at Villa Park, but they are on a six-match unbeaten run at home to West Ham.

Villa will have also gained lots of confidence from their thrilling 4-3 win against West Bromwich Albion, which saw the Villans come back from 2-0 down.

The return of Agbonlahor - who missed the defeat to Everton last Saturday with a foot injury - is also a huge boost, according to Lambert. "Gabby is looking good at the moment. We've missed him and his speed," the Villa boss told reporters. "I think we should have got at least a draw against Everton. Having him back would be a major coup for us."

This week has seen some speculation regarding Lambert's future at the club, but the former Norwich boss insisted that the important thing is to concentrate on today's match. He told Sky Sports News: "The most important thing is the game on Saturday. I speak to Randy a lot and things like that will take care of itself. There's nothing major in it."

"I've another year after this anyway. I never look too far ahead. The discussions between me and the chairman will be the same as they've always been," he added. "They see the vision and what's happened, and the work's going on behind the scenes, to have that vision of what you want to do."

But, what sort of record do Villa have against the Hammers? Well, they have met 108 times in total in competitive fixtures, with each club tasting victory on 38 occasions.

The first meeting came in the FA Cup second round in 1913, with Villa thrashing West Ham 5-0. The Hammers haven't won at Villa Park sine January 2006.

Looking at those stats, you'd have to say that Villa are favourites, but nothing is ever that simple, especially not this season. Throw in the fact that West Ham have won two of their last four league games, and we have a very close match on our hands.

Much of Sam Allardyce's week has been dedicated to Andy Carroll's red card saga. An independent tribunal upheld the FA's original decision to reject West Ham's appeal against the striker's three-match ban, which means that he's out of this fixture.

The Hammers boss is unhappy with the situation, but the focus must now get back to matters on the pitch. Speaking yesterday in his press conference, Allardyce said: "The whole procedure [Carroll's red card], in terms of how we put our case together and what the vast swell of people felt, was unjust but unfortunately for me the panel has not seen it as they should have seen it.

"We all have to overcome adversity and I hope the players are angry, as I am, and I hope they take that anger out in a positive manner against Aston Villa. I hope they prove that we can still win a game of football without Andy."

VINE: The Hammers are warming up #COYI https://t.co/C4VRXAqyF4

— West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) February 8, 2014

Allardyce continued: "I think that Paul Lambert had a massive learning curve last season with the dramatic change around of players that he made at Aston Villa, buying a lot of young players. I think that all those young players have grown in stature based upon the experiences that they had last season.

"They are using those experiences to put Aston Villa in a better light in terms of results. They have the danger men as we know."

However, despite their precarious position in the league, things are looking up for the Hammers. They have kept three clean sheets in their last four, and have four points from their last two away matches.

REFEREE: Our ref today is Mike Dean, who will be assisted by Jake Collin and John Brooks.

PREDICTION: I'm struggling to call this one. Villa have been average at home this season, but beat West Brom 4-3 after going 2-0 down. On the other hand, West Ham are gradually improving, but are still in deep trouble. With all of that taken into consideration, I'm going for a 1-1 draw.

The teams are in the tunnel as we approach kickoff. Plenty of hats and scarves on show at Villa Park.

Of course, that last statement refers to the fans, not the players!

KICKOFF! Villa get us underway!

An early touch for Brad Guzan in the Villa goal as he clears the ball. Now Villa have a free kick at the back following an offside decision.

A decent start by the visitors at Villa Park. Downing does well down the left and wins his side a corner. It comes into the box, where Tomkins is waiting. However, his header lacks power and goes wide. Promising.

There's a very strong wind blowing around the stadium today. It doesn't seem to be worrying the players, however, and Villa have just had a corner cleared, but it's put out by Demel for another.

The Hammers get it out and win a free kick deep in their own half. No chances as yet, but a decent start by both sides.

Agbonlahor appeals for a free kick, but Dean isn't interested. I think the Villa striker thought that he was having his shirt pulled.

Villa are enjoying a good spell of possession in midfield, but they are not penetrating the West Ham defence, who are happy to sit back and invite the pressure.

The away side win their second corner following good work by Carlton Cole on the right, but Fabian Delph clears. Again Villa have it in the middle of the park, but very little is happening.

OVER THE BAR! That's more like it! Downing, who is playing against his former club today, cuts in from the right and hammers a shot over the bar. It was too high to trouble Guzan, but at least we have a shot.

There are a few groans from the home fans with just under 20 minutes played. The visitors have used the ball well in the last couple of minutes, and Jarvis wins a corner.

CHANCE! This is either a dreadful cross, or the wind gets it. I think it's the latter, but Villa counter attack and should really be 1-0 up. Weimann looks for Agbonlahor, but his touch is poor and the ball runs away for a goal kick. The Villa man should have done better.

Villa have come back into the game, passing the ball around midfield. However, they don't have an end product and Adrian has it for the visitors.

CHANCE! West Ham get the ball to Matthew Jarvis on the wing, who beats Lowton and delivers a great ball to the box. Stewart Downing should score, but he misses his kick and the chance is lost. Ryan Bertrand, who was marking Downing, is down hurt, but I think he will be fine.

The left-back is back on his feet, but his team are struggling. West Ham are on top, and Jarvis's shot gets deflected for a corner, which is cleared.

CHANCE! The Hammers are in again, but Jarvis delays his shot and Nathan Baker does just enough to put him off, and the shot goes wide. Jarvis wants a penalty, but Dean says no.

Huge gaps are appearing in the Villa defence, but West Ham are not making their dominance count. The final ball is poor, but Sam Allardyce will be delighted with how his players have performed so far.

OVER THE BAR! A rare Villa attack as Fabian Delph slices a shot wide from 25 yards. Adrian had it covered, however.

Benteke feeds Weimann down the right, but the ball is too strong and the Hammers goalkeeper is able to come off his line and clear. Better from Villa.

At the moment, my prediction of 1-1 seems like a good shout. West Ham should be ahead, but Villa have also had their chances.

BOOKING! James Collins goes into the referee's book for a foul on Christian Benteke.

WIDE! This is a good chance for Villa, as Bacuna's cross deflects to Ashley Westwood, who drives his volley just wide. That was close!

Can West Ham make the most of their strong first-half performance before the whistle? Downing is in the box, but he delays his shot and three Villa players surround him. He eventually hits it, but his effort is blocked.

We've got one minute of added time at the end of this first half.

A disappointing first-half for Villa, who failed to show their best. West Ham did well to restrict their opponents to long-range efforts, but Sam Allardyce will be frustrated that his side didn't make the most of their chances.

The wind is very strong at Villa Park, but the home side can't use that as an excuse. Lambert's side have had plenty of possession in midfield, but have been unable to push through the Hammers defence.

MATCH STATS: The stats say that Villa had 58% of possession in the first half, with five shots compared to West Ham's seven. The Hammers had eight corners, however, five more than the home side.

The players are almost ready for the second half at Villa Park. The sky is black and we have a howling wind.

KICKOFF! West Ham get the second half underway.

What a start as West Ham take the lead 18 seconds into the second half! Downing beats Bertrand and delivers a ball to the box, where Nolan flicks it in. Great finish!

This is a nightmare for Villa! The Hammers double their lead and it's Nolan again! The midfielder robs Delph on the edge of the box and coolly slots the ball beyond Guzan. Terrible defending by Villa, but credit must go to Nolan for the finish.

With all that drama I forgot to tell you that Marco Borriello replaced Carlton Cole at the break. What an introduction to Premier League football!

It looks like Villa are preparing to make a change, and you can't blame them. They need a spark going forward. Benteke has hardly touched the ball, while Weimann and Agbonlahor have struggled.

VILLA SUB: Marc Albrighton is on for Matt Lowton.

CHANCE! Albrighton is involved straight away, and finally Villa have some width. The ball is clipped in by Albrighton, but it's just out of Benteke's reach.

Albrighton is full of energy on the right, and his enthusiasm is lifting spirits at Villa Park. However, as I say that Bacuna wastes possession with a shot that flies over the bar.

As in the first half, Villa are comfortable with the ball in midfield, but can't find a way through the West Ham defence. The effort is there, but the home side lack quality in the final third.

SAVE! Albrighton curls in a deep corner and Baker gets up above his marker, but his header is saved by Adrian.

HITS THE POST! What a shot! West Ham still have their 2-0 lead, but I have no idea how! Albrighton hammers a shot at goal from 30 yards and sees it strike the post, before hitting Adrian and going over the bar for a corner. The Hammers are very lucky!

WEST HAM SUB: Antonio Nocerino replaces the goalscorer Kevin Nolan for the away side.

VILLA SUB: Grant Holt comes on for Andreas Weimann, who had a disappointing afternoon.

HITS THE BAR! Marc Albrighton has made a huge difference since coming on. This time he does superbly to cross the ball from the left, and Benteke is waiting for a header. However, his looping effort hits the top of the bar.

SUBS: Villa's final change sees Joe Bennett replace Bertrand, and West Ham bring on Winston Reid for Matt Jarvis.

That West Ham change suggests that Sam Allardyce is happy to settle for two goals this afternoon. In fact, it looks like the Hammers have switched to five at the back. That could be a smart move, but Villa are in the ascendency and all it takes is one moment of magic or madness to change the complexion of the game.

CHANCE! Villa, like West Ham in the first half, have had their chances since Nolan's goals. Another brilliant cross from Albrighton is cleared for a corner with Benteke lurking at the far post. The ball comes in, and Benteke goes close with an overhead kick. Spectacular effort.

WIDE! The home fans can't believe it as another Benteke chance goes wide. Again it's Albrighton with the cross, but Benteke can only direct his header wide.

GREAT BLOCK! It should be all over, but Bacuna has denied Matthew Taylor what looked like a certain goal. The Hammers man has time and space in the box, but Bacuna stands firm to clear the shot for a corner.

Villa have the ball at the back, but I think they have run out of ideas. West Ham have defended well since their second goal, but the home side should have made more of some promising attacks.

Four minutes of added time are announced. Still time for Villa?

Villa have a free kick, but I think that's it for today.

A brilliant win for West Ham as their strong form continues. They are now 14th in the league, just two points behind Villa, who drop to 11th.

Kevin Nolan's quickfire double after the break was enough for the Hammers, as Villa forgot how to defend in the early stages of the second half. Paul Lambert's side created a number of chances, but they lacked a cutting edge in the final third.

That's all from me today, but make sure that you stay with Sports Mole for more news and reaction. Bye!