Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the Premier League clash between West Ham United and Aston Villa.

West Ham will be looking to continue on from their good result in midweek as they advanced to the quarter finals of the Capital One Cup following a 2-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor.

Villa will be hoping to hit back after defeat last time out in the Premier League to Everton, which saw them slip to 13th in the table. Paul Lambert's side haven't won in the top flight since they beat Manchester City on September 28, so a victory here today is vital to end their slump.

The team news has just been released and we'll start with the home side.

WEST HAM STARTING XI: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Rat, Tomkins, Reid, Noble, Collison, Nolan, Downing, Jarvis, Morrison.

ASTON VILLA STARTING XI: Guzan, Lowton, Bacuna, Vlaar, Clark, Baker, El Ahmadi, Westwood, Sylla, Weimann, Benteke.

Sam Allardyce has made two changes to his side from their draw in the Premier League with Swansea City last week. Mohamed Diame is replaced by Jack Collison, who scored in the win over Burnley, while Matt Jarvis comes in for the injured Ricardo Vaz Te.

Paul Lambert has made four changes to his team from their defeat to Everton. Matt Lowton, Nathan Baker, Karim El Ahmadi and Yacouba Sylla all come into the team and replace Antonio Luna, Fabian Delph, Aleksander Tonev and Gabby Agbonlahor this afternoon.

A lot of changes by Lambert but following their defeat to Everton last time and out and the manner of the loss, changes were need to invoke energy into the team. The moves also give the Scot flexibility with his formations as Vlaar, Baker and Clark could form a back three, or Clark could move up to midfield.

Allardyce has again decided to play without a striker in his 4-6 formation. Ravel Morrison will be the forward most player in the lineup and he'll be supported on the flanks by former Villa man Stewart Downing and Matt Jarvis. It will be interesting to see if Big Sam's unconventional tactics work at home.

Downing believes that this match is huge in context of the Hammers' season, he told Premier League Productions : "It's a big game for us. We obviously need a result with our position in the league. It's also a big game for us all-round and the lads are looking forward to it. Aston Villa have got forward and attacking players with a lot of pace who can hurt teams, but so have we in that department. We're looking forward to the game and feel it is one we can get three points from."

WEST HAM SUBS: Adrian, O'Brien, Potts, J.Cole, Diame, Maiga, C.Cole.

ASTON VILLA SUBS: Steer, Helenius, Herd, Bowery, Tonev, Kozak, Johnson.

The head-to-head record of these sides favours a draw as eight of the 17 clashes at Upton Park have ended with a point apiece being awarded.

West Ham are on a terrible run of form at home at the moment as they've lost their last three games. That will give Villa a lot of confidence going into the match despite troubles of their own. The last time West Ham lost four matches on the spin at home was in the 2005-6 season.

West Ham have failed to find the net in five of their nine matches including their last game against Swansea. However, they will have some hope if they can get some early success as Villa have conceded the opening goal seven times this season.

The players are making their way out onto the pitch and we should be underway at Upton Park shortly.

We're underway at Upton Park.

Lowton raids forward down the right and cuts back onto his left foot his whips a cross into the box for the run of El Ahmadi, who isn't flagged offside but he just can't reach the ball and it runs through the Jaaskelainen.

Slow start for the home side as they're yet to really touch the ball as Villa raid down the left and win a throw in, however, El Ahmadi's throw goes straight out for a goal kick and now the Hammers will win possession.

CHANCE! El Ahmadi raids forward from midfield and has Benteke out to his left, he goes for the shot himself and it looks to be on target before Noble gets in to block the shot and divert it out for a throw.

SAVE! A long ball over the top of the West Ham defence from Vlaar finds Weimann, who beats Tompkins in a foot race and he bears down on goal but Jaaskelainen does well to smother the ball at the feet of the forward to make the stop.

Downing surges down the right for the home side and he gets past Rat before moving into the box, he can't get an effort away and tries to tee up Collison whose effort on goal is blocked by Westwood and cleared.

West Ham raid forward again in these early stages this time down the left with Jarvis and he beats his man with skill before laying the ball off to Nolan, who strikes a right-footed shot just wide of the post.

A rapid start to the game at Upton Park. It will be interesting to see if both teams can keep up this pace throughout the match.

SAVE! Demel pushes forward and finds Downing, the winger plays a short pass to the feet of Nolan inside the box, he gets the ball straight back from the midfielder, and he blasts a 20-yard effort at goal but it's straight at Guzan who makes the save.

A clearance from a West Ham corner goes straight upfield leaving Morrison and Weimann in a foot race, the Hammers man has to win. He does well to get goalside of the forward and win the ball just as the striker looked to be threatening to pull away. A crucial intervention.

The game is trying to settle out of its frantic pace and surprisingly it's the visitors who are knocking the ball around at the back to calm things down.

SAVE! Guzan keeps the scores level as he does brilliantly to deny Jarvis from close range after the midfielder was slipped behind the defence from a through ball from Nolan. He rounded the keeper initially but he got back just in time to make the stop.

Moments of calm as we finally get a couple of minutes without a goal threat. Despite playing with a six-man midfield the Hammers look very dangerous in the final third at the moment.

Nolan in played through in the box and from a tight angle he tries to get a shot away but Vlaar comes across to make the tackle and he somehow forces a goalkick for his side as the ball deflects off the midfielder and out.

The Hammers advance into a threatening position again as Downing has the opportunity to whip a cross into the box, he finds the space but his delivery goes straight into the hands of Guzan.

CHANCE! Downing gets the ball down the right again but this time his cross is better as he picks out Collison in the area, who glances a header at goal but it goes agonisingly wide of the post.

West Ham work the ball nicely again as they string three passes together on the edge of the area before he ball comes to Morrison 18 yards out he fakes the shot and tried to raid into the area but Vlaar doesn't fall for the trick and wins the ball.

The Hammers win a free kick in a dangerous position jut outside the penalty area as Baker brings down Noble.

Noble takes the free kick himself and his effort clips off the top of the wall and falls to El Ahmadi in the area who is fouled to ease the pressure on the visitors.

Another chance for the Hammers to threaten as this time Demel is brought down on the right by Bacuna. It's been one-way traffic for the past 20 minutes.

Downing whips a free kick in with pace and Reid wins the header in the air but his effort is deflected over the bar and the Hammers will win a corner. That deflection was close to finding the net.

The corner comes in from Jarvis but West Ham give away another foul in the penalty area as Vlaar is shoved. Another let off for the visitors.

Both sides seem content to go into the break level as the pace of the game drops again.

West Ham dominated possession in the first half shading it 61% to 39% but they couldn't find the elusive breakthrough they deserved for all their positive play.

Villa had a couple of moments as Weimann broke upfield twice to no avail as Jaaskelaninen and then Morrison stop him in his track. That's as close as Villa have come to getting an effort on goal.

Allardyce's side were seeing a lot of the ball in the final third of the pitch, they just needed something to go their way to get the goal.

We're back underway at Villa Park.

A couple of offside decisions to start the half as both teams look to get back into a rhythm after the break.

SHOT! West Ham work the ball outside the area and Nolan tries his luck from 25 yards but he blasts his effort over the bar.

West Ham win a free kick down the left as Jarvis is brought down by Lowton.

Jarvis takes the free kick himself but he blasts his delivery into the wall and Villa clear the danger away, much to the frustration of the home crowd.

West Ham are struggling to impose their passing game in this early stage of the second half and they're not being helped by an impatient home support.

Jarvis gets past Lowton again down the right and is awarded a free kick right next to the dead ball line. This time Lowton goes into the book for the challenge.

CHANCE! Jarvis whips in the free kick and it's headed clear but only as far as Collison on the edge of the box who fires a volley at goal but his shot goes just over the bar.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Joe Cole and Carlton Cole replace Jarvis and Collison for the hosts.

The Hammers launch the ball forward and Nolan takes control on the edge of the box, he tries to work the ball to Carlton Cole but Vlaar nips in to make the challenge and break up the attack.

Lambert's side are struggling to form any sort of passing or movement going forward. They've offered nothing in the second half of this game and are allowing West Ham to drive at them again and again.

Whether the Hammers have the quality to break them down is another thing as Downing drills another cross into the hands of Guzan.

OFF THE BAR!!! Lowton raids down the right and digs out a cross to Benteke who gets above Reid in the area and heads an effort at goal which clatter off the underside of the bar and the Hammers clear. What a chance!

CHANCE! At the other end, Downing slips through a pass to Nolan, who takes the ball in stride and fires at goal from a tight angle but he just misses the target.

After 20 minutes of calm the game exploded into life with those chances but neither side could take them. This game is here for the taking for either team, but who will get the goal.

The pace of the game has eased in the past five minutes as there have been a few scrappy challenges creeping in, which may be due to tired legs on both teams.

SHOT! The Hammers are on the attack again though and Joe Cole finds space down the left and manages to dig out an effort from a tight angle but his shot is comfortably saved by Guzan.

The Hammers pressure down the right and win a corner. Downing delivers from the right and his cross is a good one towards the near post but Guzan punches the ball clear and the ball into the box on the follow up is cleared by Benteke.

West Ham are showing patience at the moment as they are building from the back. There's no pressure on the ball from the visitors as all their players are back in their own half. A grandstand finish is possible here.

The ball just won't fall for West Ham as Downing gets a cross in from the right and Carlton Cole tries to bring the ball down and shoot but he's crowded out, but he does enough to lay it off to Morrison but his effort is blocked and Villa clear their lines.

CHANCE!! Benteke gets played through one-on-one with Jaaskelainen as he coasts down the left-hand side, he shoots from a tight angle on the half volley but the keeper makes an excellent one-handed save to keep the ball out.

There will be four minutes of added time. Can someone get a winner here?

SAVE! Joe Cole raids down the right and somehow gets inside the box, he shoots towards the near post from a tight angle but Guzan is there to make the save and Bacuna clears the danger from the deck.

The Hammers fail to win at home again as they are held by Villa at Upton Park. Allardyce's side just couldn't find that elusive breakthrough after dominating the first half. After the break they lacked ideas and couldn't breakdown a resolute backline from Lambert's side, who could have nicked the game themselves.

Lambert will be delighted with his side as they played to their game plan perfectly. They didn't concede and they looked dangerous on the break and if Benteke could have taken his two late chances they might have left with three points. But they will be happy enough to take the point away from Upton Park.

Thanks for joining our commentary today. Stay tuned with us from all the action from the clash between Arsenal and Liverpool. But from me it's goodbye.