MATCH PREVIEW

LAST MEETING: Aston Villa 1 West Ham 0 (Barclays Premier League, 06-10-07)

LAST TIME AT UPTON PARK: West Ham 1 Aston Villa 1 (Barclays Premier League, 10-09-06)

HEAD-TO-HEAD: West Ham 36 wins, Aston Villa 33 wins, 27 draws

FORM: Aston Villa suffered a shock 2-0 home defeat at Wigan on Saturday to leave their direct route into the UEFA Cup hanging by a thread.

Martin O'Neill's men had previously been on a fine run having taken ten points from a possible 12, which moved the club to within three points of fifth-place Everton.

But the sixth-place Villains now need to take all three points against the Hammers and hope that the Toffees lose at home to Newcastle in order to secure fifth place.

Otherwise, the Intertoto Cup beckons.

DANGER MAN: It's an unlikely one, but Marlon Harewood will be desperate to do well against his former employers, as will former Irons skipper Nigel Reo-Coker - the pair left Upton Park for Villa Park in the summer.

Powerful striker Harewood has had to contend with being used as a substitute this season. He has made just one start in the league.

But he has played an important role from the bench in recent weeks and has weighed in with some fine goals.

Be sure that if gets on, Harewood will be looking to deliver an all-action performance.

FUN FACT: World famous violinist Nigel Kennedy (pictured) is a massive Aston Villa fan.

The eccentric 51-year-old fiddler - who was born in Brighton and now lives in Poland - once painted his Jaguar car in the club's claret and blue colours.

PREDICTION: West Ham 2 Aston Villa 2

11:18am Saturday 10th May 2008

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