Aston Villa Stagnant in Race for the UEFA Champions League

Manchester City lost 2-0 to Everton, Liverpool drew 1-1 at Stoke City, and Tottenham Hotspur failed to find the net in a 0-0 draw with Hull City.

This meant Aston Villa had a glorious opportunity to be level on points with fourth and fifth placed Tottenham and Man City in the Premier League table, and thus be right back in there in the race for that fourth UEFA Champions League place.

Instead, Villa failed to capitalise on the mistakes of their rivals, and themselves slipped up with a 0-0 draw against struggling West Ham United at Villa Park.

Despite West Ham 's clogged up midfield with a 4-5-1 formation, the home side had chances galore to score but failed to take a single one, despite the best efforts of Gabriel Agbonlahor, John Carew, James Milner, and co.

The away side on the other hand, played to defend and offered little in attack for the best part of 70 minutes, unlike their counterparts who tried spraying around Hollywood style passes in pursuit of that ultimately elusive goal.

The visitors came away with what they wanted to achieve, a solitary point. The home side left with exactly what they did not want, a solitary point.

It was goalless, lifeless draw that leaves Villa in sixth place and still two points of the pace in the race for the Champions League .

It was an unlikely, hard-fought draw that lifts the Hammers out of the relegation places and clear on goal difference as they look to ensure their Premier League survival.

And for Liverpool , Manchester City, and Tottenham, it was a draw at Villa Park which comes as a welcome boost, hiding their own on-pitch failings in the race for fourth place.