At least we kept a clean sheet…

Aston Villa 0 West Ham 0

Well, not quite the 11 goals WHU needed to go second but at least it was a solid defensive performance in a disappointing game. Watched the first half in the World's End. The Irons had more of the play in the first half though Villa had the best chances with Wesley heading a great chance over and McGinn drawing a fine low save from Fabianski. For the Hammers there was a Haller header just wide and an Anderson header blocked by a defender after a fine Masuaku cross. 

The best moment is when Mings and El Ghazi clash after conceding a West Ham corner. Heads come together but Mike Dean, for once, eschews a controversial double sending off.

For the second half I had to move to the Faltering Fullback to play for my pub quiz team the Beta Males. So had half an eye on the screen while trying to remember which planet had moons called Phobos and Deimos (Mars), why played Rey in the recent Star Wars movies (Daisy Ridley) and who was the lead singer of Skunk Anansie (Skin). 

Mike Dean distinguished himself again by giving Arthur Masuaku a second yellow for a rather innocuous foul on the halfway line. Haller looked increasingly isolated up front and Yarmolenko, after a fine game against Norwich, disappointed. 

But we did well to hold out with ten men. Diop had a fine game at the back as did Fabianski whose commitment was characterised by his charge from goal to take the ball and El Ghazi out in the first half. 

Grealish just failed to connect with a cross late on and the Irons also had a late but not entirely convincing penalty shout from Fredericks. Not a great game, but to be positive that's four league games unbeaten since the City defeat and Villa defeated Everton in their last home game. And perhaps with 11 men we might have nicked it. 

While as my pal Nigel quipped, David Cameron will certainly be pleased with a draw between his two teams, West Ham and Aston Villa.