Aston Villa moved a step closer to securing Premier League survival by beating West Ham United 1-0 at Villa Park this afternoon.
The Villans dominated the first half and Tom Cleverley gave them the lead when he touched in Jack Grealish's cutback from close range.
West Ham improved after the break and Enner Valencia saw his header disallowed for offside.
However, Villa held on to claim the victory to move four points clear of the relegation zone.
Find out how the action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Good afternoon everyone! There are just three games left to play in this season's Premier League and the race for survival is heading towards a dramatic conclusion. One of those teams in the thick of the relegation battle are Aston Villa, who will be hoping to claim three vital points against West Ham United.
Villa are one of the form teams in the bottom seven and four wins from their past eight games have lifted them up to 14th in the table. They are currently two points above 18th placed Sunderland, so there is still plenty of work for Tim Sherwood and his players to do before their FA Cup final date at the end of May.
VILLA v WEST HAM build-up pictures: Pitchside here as we get set for kick-off. #AVFC #FightLikeLions pic.twitter.com/wRY0COCRHY
— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) May 9, 2015
It has been a far less turbulent campaign for West Ham, but their poor run of form since the turn of the year has stopped them from seriously challenging for a place in the top six. They will be hopeful of securing a finish in the top half of the table and they have comfortably beaten their points tally from last season.
Right, let's check out the team news from Villa Park, which was announced just a few moments ago.
ASTON VILLA XI: Given, Bacuna, Okore, Vlaar, Richardson, Westwood, Cleverley, Delph, N'Zogbia, Grealish, Benteke
WEST HAM XI: Adrian, Jenkinson, Collins, Burke, Cresswell, Amalfitano, Noble, Kouyate, Nolan, Downing, Valencia
ASTON VILLA SUBS: Guzan, Agbonlahor, Weimann, Senderos, Cole, Hutton, Sanchez
WEST HAM SUBS: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Cullen, Song, Nene, Cole, Jarvis
There we have our two teams for this afternoon's match. Let's start with the hosts, who are unchanged from last week's victory over Everton. They do have Gabriel Agbonlahor back from a hamstring injury, but he starts from the bench, with Jack Grealish and Charles N'Zogbia continuing to support the in-form Christian Benteke.
West Ham have also kept faith with the same side that played against Burnley. Reece Burke, who has started the last two games, keeps his place in the defence with James Tomkins and Winston Reid both injured. Diafra Sakho is still out, so Enner Valencia leads the line, despite scoring just one goal in his last 13 games.
A season that had looked like ending in disaster for Aston Villa may now end with the club retaining their Premier League status and potentially winning a trophy. There were real concerns that they would face the drop in February and after they slipped into the relegation zone, manager Paul Lambert was sacked.
Tim Sherwood was then appointed as manager and the new boss had a tough start with defeats to Stoke and Newcastle in his first two games in charge. However, the club earned back-to-back league wins against West Brom and Sunderland to change the mood drastically at Villa Park.
They have managed to win two of their previous three games in the league against Tottenham and Everton, while they can consider themselves unlucky to have lost 3-2 at Manchester City, in a game that saw them fight back from two goals down, before being denied what looked like a clear penalty prior to City's winning goal.
It is not just in the league where they have improved, as Sherwood has guided the club to their first FA Cup final in 15 years. They stunned many by coming from behind to beat Liverpool in the semi-final and they will now take on holders Arsenal at Wembley in three weeks' time.
Here's some massive news that will concern Aston Vila fans. It's just finished in this afternoon's early Premier League kick off, where Sunderland have claimed a 2-0 win at Everton. Goals from Danny Graham and Jermain Defoe mean that the Black Cats have moved one point above Villa and up to 14th in the table.
There will be no final appearance for West Ham this year, but they can be safe in the knowledge that they will once again be playing in the Premier League again next season. They had enjoyed a very good start to the season and were fourth on Christmas Day, but just three wins from 16 games since the turn of the year has hampered any hopes of finishing inside the European spots.
They had actually gone into last weekend's match against Burnley after four straight games without a win, but a penalty from Mark Noble helped them to grind out a victory against the league's bottom club. It could have been a very different game if Michael Duff hadn't of been sent off midway through the first half, but Sam Allardyce would have just been glad to have got the three points.
I did speak about West Ham not being able to finish inside the top seven, but they could actually secure a place in the Europa League due to their fair play ranking. The Hammers are currently just ahead of Everton in the fair play table and it has been revealed that the Premier League has been granted one additional slot to the first qualifying round of next season's Europa League.
If the Hammers do get into Europe, then it remains to be seen whether Sam Allarydce will still be in charge of the club. Rumours have intensified that he will be leaving when his contract comes to an end in the summer and David Moyes has emerged as a potential candidate to replace him.
Aston Villa come into today's game with a good recent record against their opponents, having only lost three of the previous 15 games between the teams. That run was extended in November, as the teams played out a goalless draw at Upton Park.
Two of their last three meetings have actually ended in goalless draws, but in recent weeks Villa seem to have found their scoring touch. However, in last season's meeting at Villa Park, it was West Ham who claimed the points, as a double from Kevin Nolan earned them a 2-0 victory.
© Getty Images
PREDICTION: This is a crucial game for Aston Villa and they will know that three points could be enough to keep them up. They have produced some good displays recently under Sherwood and I feel that they will have enough to beat an out-of-sorts West Ham, with a 2-1 victory how I see things finishing this afternoon.
With just a few minutes left until kick off, make sure you check out our video preview of today's match.
KICKOFF! We are underway at Villa Park!
We're yet to see our first chance on goal from either side, with most of the game being played in the centre of the pitch. Neither side have been able to keep the ball for too long, but there is a good atmosphere and a lot of noise being made by the home supporters.
CLOSE! This would have been a great goal had it found the back of the net. Villa win a free kick around 30 yards out from goal and Bacuna steps up to take it. The Dutchman ends up hitting the ball well enough, but it heads just slightly over the bar.
Villa have just started to crank up the pressure and Grealish wins a corner following some good link-up play with Benteke. The resulting set piece causes all manner of problems, with N'Zogbia seeing his effort blocked by Noble.
SAVE! Cleverley has found the net in his last two games for Villa and he comes close to a third here. He is picked out by a floated pass over the top by Delph, before firing in a strike towards the far corner, that forces Adrian to palm away the ball to safety.
CHANCE! First real chance of the match for Benteke. Another long ball from Delph is headed on by Okore into the path of Benteke. It is at a slightly tight angle for the striker and he can only prod the ball wide at the front post.
West Ham have been caught on a few occasions by the long ball and this time they are extremely fortunate to see the flag go up against Benteke, with the Belgian clean through on goal. He was just a fraction offside and it was a great spot by the linesman.
We may not have had any goals here, but at the King Power Stadium, Leicester City are 2-0 up against Southampton thanks to a Riyad Mahrez double. As things stand, that would lift the Foxes a point above Villa.
It has just gone a bit quiet here at Villa Park, with very little in the way of chances at the moment. Villla are still pressing for the opening goal, but the Hammers are producing a solid display at the back and have kept their shape well, despite a couple of nervous moments.
SHOT! Benteke does brilliantly to control a cross on the edge of the box and he brings the ball down before teeing up Delph. The midfielder then fires in a low drive that takes a slight deflection, but heads comfortably into the gloves of the keeper.
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham (Tom Cleverley)
Villa have broken the deadlock and it's a wonderfully worked team move. Grealish shows great skill down the left and he drives to the byline before pulling the ball across to Cleverley, who has the simple task of tapping the ball home from just a few yards out. That's three goals in three games for the on-loan Manchester United midfielder, who is enjoying a great run of form at the moment.
That is such a huge goal for Villa and at the moment it will lift them three points clear of the relegation zone. However, there is still a long way to go this afternoon and Sherwood will hope that his team can now press home their advantage.
Amalfitano and Cleverley have clashed with each other on a couple of occasions and after they both get a talking to from the referee, the West Ham man kicks out at his opponent. There was not much in it, but if the referee had seen it then he could have been in trouble.
SHOT! Villa have really dominated this first half and they are getting a lot of players into the box whenever they can. After another heavy spell of pressure, the Hammers scramble the ball clear to Westwood on the edge of the box, who curls in a low effort that lacks any power and is comfortably held by Adrian.
It's still all Villa and the impressive Grealish hammers an effort wide after getting onto the end of a loose ball just outside the area. They fully deserve their lead and it's vital that they manage to hold on going into the break.
YELLOW CARD! N'Zogbia picks up the first booking of the match for dragging down Kouyate on the halfway line.
HALF-TIME: Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham
Lee Mason brings the first half to a close and it's Aston Villa who lead at the break. Tom Cleverley's third goal in as many games is all that separates the teams and Tim Sherwood will surely have been delighted at how his team have played.
© Getty Images
Let's take a quick look at the statistics from the opening 45 minutes. Villa have completely dominated and they have seen 64% of the possession. They have also had 10 shots on goal, with four of those finding the target, but West Ham have only been able to muster one wayward effort.
There are some massive games taking place at the bottom of the Premier League this afternoon. Leicester are currently beating Southampton 2-0, which would give them a remarkable sixth win in seven matches. Newcastle have come from behind to go into the break level with West Brom, while Hull are being held to a goalless draw by Burnley. If that score stays the same at the KC Stadium, then the Clarets will be relegated.
Right, the players are making their way back out onto the pitch, with the second half set to begin in just a few moments.
West Ham take the kick off and get us back underway!
DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION: I can reveal that the Hammers have made a couple of changes at the start of this half, with Song and Nene coming on for Nolan and Amalfitano.
CLOSE! Nene almost makes an immediate impact, as he picks up a loose clearance in space and fires in a powerful effort. The ball ends up heading just over the bar, but it's a promising sign for the Hammers.
Allardyce must have given his players a strong talking to at the break, because they are taking the game to Villa. They are seeing a lot more of the ball and there is far more energy and purpose to their display.
SHOT! Villa have looked sluggish since the break, but they burst into life, with N'Zogbia driving into the box. He skips past his marker with ease and then fires in a decent strike that ends up crashing into the side netting.
SAVE! Villa are coming under a lot more pressure and Given has to be alert to tip over a firm header from Collins. They really could do with the security of a second goal, as they are just hanging on a little bit.
Nene has looked lively since his introduction and he lets fly with a curling effort after cutting in from the right that heads over the bar. The changes made at the break have really given West Ham a boost and they look far more of an attacking threat now.
You can really feel the nerves at Villa Park and you can hardly blame the fans. They are slightly more subdued than they were in the first half, with their team not keeping the ball as well at the moment.
GOAL DISALLOWED! This is a massive decision in the match, as West Ham have a goal ruled out. Valencia had escaped his marker to head Nene's cross into the corner, but the linesman had his flag raised for an offside. However, the replays show that the striker was probably in line.
SUBSTITUTION: First change of the match for Villa, as Agbonlahor replaces N'Zogbia.
YELLOW CARD! Song goes into the referee's notebook for the Hammers after bringing down Grealish.
Much better from Villa now, as Cleverley drills a low ball across the box that just misses Benteke at the front post, but is cleared before Agbonlahor can apply a finishing touch. Sherwood's side seem to have regained their control of the ball and are showing more of their first-half form now.
SUBSTITUTION: It's another change for Villa, with Hutton replacing Bacuna at right back.
SUBSTITUTION: West Ham are also making a sub and it's former Villa striker Cole who comes on for Noble.
West Ham's bright start to the second half looks to have faded and it's Villa who are ending strongly. They seem to be caught in two minds about going for a second goal and protecting what they have, with three points all that matters now.
SHOT! Villa are on the attack again and following a patient build up the ball drops kindly to Westwood outside the box. He is urged by the crowd to shoot and drills in a low effort, but he just scuffs the attempt slightly and the ball heads wide of the far post.
Villa are so close to the three points now and it really could be enough to secure their survival. It seems as if Hull are heading to a 1-0 defeat against Burnley and that means that Villa would move four points clear of the Tigers, with just two games left to play this season.
There are going to be four minutes of stoppage time.
CHANCE! What a chance for Agbonlahor to seal the points for Villa. Grealish picks him out with a brilliant ball over the top and he charges into the box. He then looks to guide an effort past Adrian, but Cresswell gets back to put him under pressure and he ends up poking the ball wide of the post.
SUBSTITUTION: Final change for Villa, with Sanchez coming on for Grealish.
SHOT! Another good chance for Villa to make sure of the win, as Cleverley fires in a powerful shot from range that is smothered at the second attempt by Adrian.
FULL-TIME: Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham
It's all over and Aston Villa have hung on to beat West Ham 1-0 this afternoon. They will fancy their chances of staying up and they now sit four points clear of the bottom three.
Well, that's all we've got time for here. I'll be back to bring you analysis and player ratings from this afternoon's match, so stay tuned for that. I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend. Goodbye!
Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
