Three changes for Villa

Aston Villa manager David O’Leary made three changes from the side which had overcome Hull in the FA Cup for today’s Barclays Premiership visit of the West Ham.

Eirik Bakke and Milan Baros came back into the side at the expense of Lee Hendrie and club record signing Juan Pablo Angel.

Left-back Gareth Barry was suspended after incurring five bookings, and there was a rare outing for Jlloyd Samuel – his first start since the Carling Cup defeat by Doncaster in late November.

West Ham, with only one point from their last five matches, made two changes from the side which had disposed of Norwich in the FA Cup.

Goalkeeper Roy Carroll shook off a thigh problem and replaced Shaka Hislop - while Anton Ferdinand, who this week signed a new long-term contract, took over in defence from James Collins.

Aston Villa: Sorensen, Hughes, Mellberg, Delaney, Samuel, Davis, Bakke, McCann, Milner, Baros, Moore. Subs: Taylor, Angel, Hendrie, Ridgewell, Gardner.

West Ham: Carroll, Repka, Gabbidon, Ferdinand, Konchesky, Newton,Reo-Coker, Mullins, Etherington, Harewood, Zamora Subs: Hislop, Dailly, Benayoun, Katan, Clarke.

Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire)