West Ham 2-2 Aston Villa

Villa named a side that needed to win while hoping that Everton would lose to Newcastle, in order to leapfrog the Toffees into fifth place, thus guaranteeing a UEFA Cup place.

That this pulsating clash ended in a draw, while Everton comfortably defeated the Geordies, means that the Villains' remaining hopes of qualifying for Europe lies with the Intertoto Cup that takes place this summer.

Martin O'Neill's men enjoyed the lion's share of the early exchanges and Ashley Young hit the post early on for the visitors, but it was the Hammers who took the lead after just eight minutes when Nolberto Solano executed a well taken free kick on the edge of the box.

But Villa bounced back six minutes later and, this time, Young would not be denied when he drove a low hard shot across the face of Robert Green's goal.

An entertaining end-to-end encounter ensued as both sides carved out chances but were denied owing to some good goalkeeping at either end.

Gareth Barry put Villa in front on 58 minutes, moments after Green had thwarted Hammers old boy Nigel Reo-Coker's effort, the visitors' captain slotted home the rebound.

Bobby Zamora then saw his fine header glance off the bar after a fine jinking run and cross by Luis Boa Morte.

But, with two minutes remaining, Ashton rifled a first time shot from the edge of the area that left Scott Carson with no chance.
In the end, a draw was a fair result and a fitting finale to both sides' seasons.

The game was especially significant for Villa fans, who watched defender Olof Mellberg pull on their colours for the final time before he moves to Italian club Juventus this summer.

In a moving gesture, the Swede gave each of the 3,200 travelling Villa fans a club shirt with the message "Mellberg - Thanks 4 Your Support."

Villa fans will be hoping that captain Barry does not follow the Swede out of the exit door. The England midfielder has been repeatedly linked with a move to Liverpool and his performances this season suggest that he would difficult to replace.

Still, for the time being, O'Neill was keen to savour what has been a positive season for a club that is more accustomed to mid-table mediocrity.

He said: "I'm very pleased with the team because we've taken big strides since last season.

"It's disappointing we've missed out on the Uefa Cup but, with Everton beating Newcastle, it doesn't seem so bad.

"We're in the Intertoto Cup for definite now, which means we have to play 17 games in the middle of June!"

He added: "What it really means is that we have to be back a week earlier and be competitive sooner than expected because the ties are mid to late July."

TEAMS:
West Ham: Green, Neill, Tomkins, Ferdinand, McCartney (Pantsil 46), Solano (Sears 80), Noble, Parker, Boa Morte, Zamora (Cole 73), Ashton.
Subs Not Used: Wright, Mullins.

Goals: Solano 8, Ashton 88.

Aston Villa: Carson, Mellberg, Laursen, Knight, Bouma, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Carew (Harewood 87), Agbonlahor.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Salifou, Routledge, Maloney.

Goals: Young 14, Barry 58.

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).

Attendance: 34,969.