The game was end to end stuff,  Gareth Southgate reading the game and organising the defence his usual brilliance, and the tackling of Barry and Ehiogu ensuring West Ham chances were few and far between.

At the other end,  non stop running from Stan Collymore shows he may still have a future at Villa.

Paul Merson should have done better after a shot 5 yards out was saved by the keeper.  Lee Hendry volleyed in, for Hislop to pull off a good save.  The ball came to Merson, who in front of an open goal rolled the ball towards the goal.  He seemed to stop to examine his footwork, allowing Hislop to reach the ball and save it.  

If he had belted it in then it was a definite goal,  however it wasn't to be.

Michael Oakes,  in for the injured Bosnich had a good game, pulling off a magnificent string of saves.

The game deserved at least one goal for all the action on display,  and Aston Villa will feel they certainly did enough to win this game.  Manager Gregory said of West Ham "We were quite happy with the point here.  You have to remember, Manchester United have lost a  couple of championships here in the past so a draw is not a bad result"

West Ham boss Harry Redknapp avoided the questions surrounding the Berkovic drama and instead pointed at Villa's title potential and rating them very highly.