By Paul Brown

Villa huffed and puffed but just couldn't quite hammer the door down in this one.

The claret and blue troops were always on the front foot and, despite several chances, they couldn't quite find that bit of luck they needed to nick the three points.

James Milner fired agonisingly wide for the home team just after the break in the best effort of the game while Gabby Agbonlahor had three good chances - one in the first half and two in the second - the better of those right at the death.

Milner's driven shot from just outside the box was inches away from settling in the net after stunning build-up play from Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey down the left had set the midfield star up for his rocket.

And Agbonlahor was unlucky on three occasions as he looked to break the deadlock. The first effort just before the half hour mark - a shot on the turn from outside the box - drew an impressive save from Hammers goalkeeper Rob Green.

He fired the second over the bar midway through the second period. And, undoubtedly the best of the trio - was made possible by his own pace and power. He turned Matthew Upson - a tower of strength at the back for West Ham - and raced towards goal. Unfortunately his first touch was too strong and Green came out to blast clear.

But that only told part of the story. Villa were on the attack for vast periods of this contest and created plenty of openings.

Ashley Young - a terror throughout the game - charged down the left in Villa's first real opening before producing an outrageous chipped effort, which Green did brilliantly to tip out of harm's way. Soon after, James Collins headed marginally wide from Stewart Downing's pinpoint centre.

After the break it was more of the same although to their credit West Ham produced more fizz going forward, after being largely on the defensive throughout the first period.

Milner saw his chance flash wide while Carlos Cuellar, again in the full-back role, fired one over the bar from close-range after a snappy centre from winger Young.

Collins, the man who has replaced the Spaniard in the centre, also saw a left-footed effort fly marginally wide from just outside the box.

Villa did have the ball in the net just before the hour mark - John Carew prodding home but the linesman's flag was up.

In between Agbonlahor's skied effort, Frank Nouble shot too close to Brad Friedel after getting the better of Collins down the left and unleashing a long-range drive. And Junior Stanislas's cross-cum-shot was skewed out for a corner by Collins.

With the game heading for a draw, Agbonlahor had the major chance to win it but he was unlucky to have a heavy touch at the crucial moment.