Let’s be clear; we can consider ourselves pretty fortunate to come away from Upton Park with 3 points. I think most fans will agree that Brad Friedel was the Man of the Match, which speaks volumes.

It’s not as if West Ham bossed the game. We created plenty of chances, probably the better of the game, but we were clearly the away team. However, we often like to say that the measure of a good team is the ability to play poorly and still get a result. A bit cliched perhaps, but accurately describes this outing.

Anyway, due to a stinking hangover this is not much of a match report (and very late at that), so I’ll close out with some revealing stats:-

West Ham had 66% of the possession and spent that time completing 402 passes, while Villa put together only 171 accurate passes.

The Hammers had 20 shots, 8 on target forcing 7 saves out of Friedel, hence the MotM performance. Villa managed 11 shots, 2 on target. I haven’t mentioned Milner’s winner yet, but I have to wonder if it is counted in these shooting stats??

It might have been a shot I suppose, more likely a cross, that took a deflection off Lucas Neill and looped into the net. The Londoners would be justified if they felt a little mugged, but that’s football for you.

More importantly; after 18 games Villa now sit 3rd in the Premiership. Sure Man Utd still have two games in hand, but they have to come back from a couple of games in Japan and earn the points yet. Arsenal host Liverpool tomorrow, so I’m hoping for a draw which will leave us 3 points clear of Arsenal and only 5 points behind Liverpool.