Peter Withe

Some team news for you:

Friedel; Luke Young, Davies, Knight, Reo-Coker; Ashley Young, Sidwell, Barry, Petrov, Milner; Agbonlahor. Subs: Guzan, Harewood, Delfouneso, Osbourne, Salifou, Shorey, Gardner

Looks like we are sticking with 4-5-1 but we're playng Reo-Coker at right back and Knight at centre back. I have confidence in these two and still think we can do it today.

If we win this match we create a six point gap between us and Arsenal, who you'd have to fancy are going to be our main threat to securing a Champions League place this season.

Lose and we're all even again and with only one goal separating us in terms of goal difference it could be that they go ahead of us. Sort of makes this an important match doesn't it?

Some people will say Martin O'Neill has made some questionable signings during his time at Villa but I am not one of them. That post is for a different day, this one is about the players he has let go.

Since taking control, O'Neill has let over twenty players leave the club. Some because they did not fit into the formation he wanted Villa playing, some because they did not have the right attitude and some because it was simply just their time to go.

West Ham are in trouble, financially that is, so they're going to be in no position to hold out for more cash when we pop down to East London in January and offer £7mn. for their best player.

The interesting thing about today is that we're 3rd and if Arsenal win or draw then we are all of a sudden within reasonable distance of 2nd. That is based on the assumption that Chelsea will win at Everton tomorrow and move back to 7 points ahead of us.

Isn't it exciting! We've got Arsenal at home on Friday and then Hull away - a Hull side who are very very poor at home at the moment. After Gillingham it's the Baggies and Sunderland. We might be even closer to 1st by the end of January than we are now... only time will tell.

First off, it was a lucky goal but it wasn't a lucky victory. It was one of those where you don't play your best football but you get the result - much like Blackburn earlier this season.

Who said football was a funny old game, was it Jimmy Greaves? He was spot on today.

All day Milner couldn't cross a ball without it going to the first West Ham player and then with one of them, the last one I think, it hits the first West Ham player, as planned we'll no doubt find out later, and deflects into the goal.

We'll start with the one that popped up yesterday; Charles N'Zogbia, because I quite like it. He's 22 years old and currently at Newcastle where he is apparently struggling to get into the team.

The draw is taking place and we've got CSKA Moscow, or CSKA Moskva as UEFA have it on their site, in the next round of the UEFA Cup.

Anyway, the full draw will be published below when it is complete, but for now, let's look forward to February.