Reserves 0-0 Aston Villa FT

Barclays Premier Reserve League South
The Marston's Stadium
Tuesday 13 January
Kick-off: 7pm


Final score: Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham United

FULL TIME - Yes it is. A fantastic defensive display from Alex Dyer's men keeps the league leaders at bay on their home pitch. The clean sheet largely down to the superb performance of Marek Stech, who arguably had his finest game in a West Ham United shirt.

90 min - Two minutes of added time. Is it going to be honours even here?

89 min - We nearly do! Another brilliant tackle from Tomkins denies Weimann, but the No6 concedes a corner in the process. It is swung in but headed just wide of Stech's near post.

88 min - Are we going to see a dramatic winner here tonight?

84 min - Great header clear by Tomkins. The young centre back has been at the heart of resilient United rearguard tonight and if they can keep the score as it is it would be a good result to take back to London.

83 min - The United No11 is unable to continue and is carried off to a loud round of applause from both sets of fans.

82 min - A break in the game as Payne receives treatment allows all here to catch their breath. It has been an entertaining encounter with plenty of goalmouth action.

79 min - Villa make their first change as Mikaelsson departs for James Collins - who should not be mistaken for the United defender of the same name!

76 min - More heriocs from Stech. First he tips away a header from Sam Williams for a corner. Straight away he thwarts the home side again by catching Lowry's header.

75 min - Dyer makes his last two changes. Homar Eyjolfsson comes on for Dyer, who has shown some neat touches. The other change sees Tom Harvey replace Stokes.

72 min - Stech makes two more great saves to keep Villa at bay. The No1 has been immense this evening.

70 min - Rayner makes the first booking of the match and it goes to Lowry who hauled back Sears as he tricked his way past him.

68 min - The game is really coming to life now and another great tackle, this time from 'Gala, stops Albrighton from crossing.

66 min - Josh Payne has the Hammers' best effort of the match. The ball sat up perfectly for the No11 and he smashed a sweet volley that Taylor had to dive well to collect.

61 min - Spector, who has had a sound game so far, makes a crucial tackle on Albrighton in the area. The American international had to time his tackle on the the Villa No7, who has proved to be a tricky customer in the opening hour.

58 min - United are attacking the end of the stadium with no stand, although four hardy souls and one steward have managed to squeeze in.

53 min - Stech has to make his first save of the half and what a stop it is. 'Gala makes a great tackle to deny the tricky Albrighton, but the ball clips his foot and loops high into the air. Stech manages to reach back and just tip the ball behind for a corner. Great football all round.

49 min - The new formation seems to have had a positive impact as United launch the first attack of the half. Sears breaks forward and passes to Jeffrey, who then feeds to Tristan. He turns well but it is crowded out but still manages to lay the ball to Stokes, who stings the hands of Taylor.

47 min - Spector has moved to left back with Jeffrey joining Sears and Tristan up front.

46 min - Alex Dyer makes his first change of the game at the break. Lopez makes way for striker Jack Jeffrey, with the team switching to a more familiar 4-3-3 formation. Villa get us underway again.

45 min - The half time whistle goes as the teams finish the opening period goalless, although both teams have had chances. This young Villa team have looked dangerous but have yet to really trouble Stech. At the other end, Tristan and Sears have both had a couple of moments of brilliance. Will the second half bring us goals?

44 min - Sears is fouled 25 yards from goal as United attempt to go into the break ahead. Lopez curls it in but it is cleared. There will be one minute of added time.

40 min - Kieron Dyer leads a charge out from a defence to set up another Hammers attack. At the other end another offside flag denies Villa.

37 min - Lowry is involved again, this time with Tristan. Once more Miss Rayner has to have a word with the players.

34 min - Stech saves down low from Andreas Weimann. The Czech Under-21  international has looked solid thus far.

33 min - Villa, the league leaders, threaten once more. Marc Albrighton tries his luck from 25 yards but it flies well over.

30 min - Alex Dyer is standing on the touchline with his hands in his pockets, giving advice to his side

28 min - Spence and Shane Lowry are involved in a tangle on the halfway line. Both players are given a talking to by Rayner.

25 min - The visitors win another corner. A short routine sets up captain Tony Stokes but his drive is blocked in the area

22 min - The home side think they have taken the lead. A shot from the edge of the area is palmed away superbly by Stech only for it to be turned in by Sam Williams. However, the assistant on the far side flags for offside to stop their celebrations in their tracks

20 min - There is a good turn out in the Midlands tonight. A few hundred fans have turned out, representing both teams. One lucky supporter even got his shirt signed by Sears before the game

18 min - So close! Tristan leaves his marker for dead and rifles in a superb effort from 25 yards which Taylor does well to hold

16 min - Stech shows safe hands to gather a driven shot from Dominik Hofbauer safely

15 min - Tristan's battling wins a corner on the right for the Hammers. Lopez swings it in and the Spanish striker nearly converts it with a neat header, but it goes just over

13 min - Our referee this evening is Amy Rayner.

10 min - Villa win the first corner but it is easily gathered by Stech, His throw out sets up the counter attack which ends up with Tristan testing former Arsenal stopper Stuart Taylor from 25 yards. A good start to the game from both teams.

8 min - Sears fires in the first effort in for United after a nice move that came about from Dyer's dummy.

7 min - The two men tasked with providing width to the team from a wing back position are Walter Lopez and Jordan Spence

5 min - The home side have the first shot as Barry Bannan tests Marek Stech from distance

3 min - Alex Dyer has taken advantage of the strong options available to him in defence by switching to a 5-3-2 formation with three central defenders - Jonathan Spector, James Tomkins and Bondz 'Gala.

2 min - The visitors have started well and a clever flick from Sears nearly puts Kieron Dyer clear

1 min - Freddie Sears and Diego Tristan kick off

We approaching kick-off at The Marston's Stadium as the players finish their warm-up and head back down the tunnel for the final preperations before we get underway. Alex Dyer has named a strong starting XI with seven players who have featured for the first team.

Aston Villa: Taylor, Lichaj, Lowry, Roome, Clark, Hofbauer, Albrighton, Weimann, Bannan, Williams, Mikaelsson (Collins 79)
Subs: Bevan, Collins, Bradley, Grocott, Blythe

West Ham United: Stech, Spence, 'Gala, Tomkins, Lopez (Jeffery 46), Dyer (Eyjolfsson 75), Spector, Stokes (Harvey 75), Payne, Sears, Tristan
Subs: Loveday, O'Neill