Aston Villa and West Ham United both extended their winless Premier League streaks with a 1-1 draw on Boxing Day at Villa Park.
© Getty Images
Villa's club-record stretch now stands at 17 games, while West Ham are without a win in eight.
Rudy Gestede, who started ahead of Scott Sinclair in attack for Villa, twice went close in the opening half, but it was West Ham who broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time.
© Getty Images
Shortly after Cheikhou Kouyate had grazed the bar with a header, left-back Aaron Cresswell was allowed plenty of room outside the box and picked out the bottom corner with a firm strike, his third goal in West Ham colours.
It was a cruel blow just before the break for Villa, who have not won since the opening day of the season away at Bournemouth.
Gestede was the goalscorer that day and it was the big striker who was brought down by Angelo Ogbonna to earn the hosts a penalty in the 62nd minute, which Jordan Ayew stuck away for his second goal in two games.
© Getty Images
Both sides struggled to really create some momentum in the closing stages and the only real chance fell to Villa right-back Alan Hutton, whose effort was cleared by Hammers defender James Collins.
If Newcastle avoid defeat at home to Everton in the evening kickoff, Villa will remain 10 points from safety at the bottom, while West Ham, who have drawn five in a row and only scored two in that time, have fallen a place to ninth.
Pascal Lemesre
