Good afternoon and welcome to LIVE coverage of Aston Villa against West Ham United from Villa Park. A 3pm kick-off in this one.

WESTWOOD FIRES WIDE! Villa’s first real opportunity of the match comes just minutes before the half-time whistle. Bertrand flies down the wing and hangs a cross up towards Benteke. Tomkins beats the Belgian to the ball but only clears as far as Westwood on the edge of the penalty area. Unmarked, the Villa man volleys at goal – catching it well but sending it narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

As you’d probably expect from a side who struggles at home playing against a side who struggle away, this has not been a game full of class.

Collins flies into the back of Benteke, but referee Mike Dean waves play on. Weimann picks up the ball, turns and shoots from 25 yards. The effort is deflected out for a throw-in, and Dean stops play to show Collins the yellow.

Jarvis is flagged offside as he gathers Noble’s clipped pass and moves towards the Villa box. The winger is unhappy at the decision, adamant that he is onside.

Noble sends the ball into touch, thinking that Cole is still on the floor – which he isn’t. And Villa don’t give their opponents the ball back, much to the disgust of the travelling support.

Baker and Cole clash again with the two ending in a heap on the floor, but the referee waves play on. Cole looks in some discomfort.

Delph ventures forward with the ball and nears the edge of the West Ham penalty area. The midfielder has options either side and should really find one of them, but opts to shoot and sends his effort a long way wide. Waste.

The hosts are still very narrow. Benteke, Agbonlahor and Weimann are bunched together in the middle and have been pretty ineffective so far.

Bertrand is caught napping on the left and switches off as Nolan pulls away to receive the ball. The on-loan full-back busts a gut to recover and puts sufficient pressure on the West Ham midfielder to stop him from finding Cole in the box.

Villa continue to dominate possession, but there’s a lack of quality in the final third. It’s been very easy for the Hammers so far.

Villa are caught cold at the back and are guilty of allowing Jarvis to run through on goal for the second time in as many minutes. Baker is the man to make the sliding challenge this time.

Nolan spots Jarvis’s run in behind Lowton, putting the winger through on goal. Jarvis takes his time to set himself, allowing for Clark to make a superb sliding challenge.

Cole and Baker are at it again. This time the Villa defender attempts to shield the ball out of play, but is brought down by the striker. It’s turning out to be an entertaining battle, that…

That was easily the finest chance of this first half. Villa have seen most of the ball, but have done absolutely nothing with it. West Ham, however, should be 1-0 up.

Bertrand is down and requires treatment. The full-back clashed with the post as he challenged Downing for the ball. He should be ok, but looks in pain.

DOWNING MUST SCORE! The former Villa man is found unmarked at the far post by Jarvis’ fizzed ball across the face of the goal. Downing completely misses the ball from six yards and the ball runs out of play.

Agbonlahor leads a Villa attack, skipping down the left flank before cutting back inside. Villa have men forward but the West Ham defenders are positioned well and nothing comes of the move.

Downing and Demel link down the right before the latter sends a high ball into the penalty area. The wind gets hold of it which is enough to keep Guzan rooted to his line. Clark eventually heads away.

Great break from Villa. Guzan’s huge through sends Weimann down the left wing, and the Austrian then cuts back inside before finding Agbonlahor with a pinpoint pass. The Villa forward should striker it first time, but attempts to get the ball under control, allowing it to get away from him.

Downing is sent through on goal, but the linesman’s flag is raised in a flash. However, on second looking, the winger is onside. Villa very fortunate, there…

A decent little spell this from West Ham. The visitors have Villa penned in their own half and win a number of successive corners. They’ll want to capitalise on this spell of possession.