Everton and Villa play out first-half stalemate

Everton 0 Aston Villa 0

Everton and Aston Villa fought tooth and nail at Goodison Park today for the right to go into the UEFA Cup.

Uncompromising and fiercely competitive, this Premier League clash meant so much to both sides as they battled for fifth place.

The first half produced three bookings but few chances, the best Everton chance being an Aiyegbeni Yakubu cross-shot that Scott Carson palmed away, leaving Manuel Fernandes to fire the rebound wide.

Ashley Young hit the bar from a free-kick.