West Ham United 2 - 2 Aston Villa

West Ham 2-2 Aston Villa: Ashton levels at death

Updated: May 11, 2008, 5:20 PM UK

Aston Villa's last-ditch push to secure a UEFA Cup place ended in failure as they concluded their season with a 2-2 draw at West Ham.

• O'Neill intent on keeping Barry

Skipper Gareth Barry appeared to have fired a second-half winner when he expertly finished a move he started but Hammers striker Dean Ashton struck a late equaliser to earn his side a point they scarcely deserved.

But ultimately Villa's efforts to secure European qualification were rendered meaningless by Everton's victory over Newcastle which took the matter out of their hands.

O'Neill could have asked little more of his players as they dominated a feeble West Ham side which was often shambolic in defence, despite the return of Anton Ferdinand from a hamstring injury.

A curling free-kick from Nolberto Solano gave the Hammers a dream start but the impressive Ashley Young's brilliant finish cancelled out the goal.

Villa were nearly caught by an early counter initiated by Nigel Reo-Coker who picked out Gabriel Agbonlahor with a superb pass.

Agbonlahor dashed forward and slipped the ball to Ashley Young only for his shot to strike the left post.

Villa were left to rue the missed chance as West Ham edged ahead in the eighth minute.

Ashton was felled on the edge of the area and referee Mike Dean immediately signalled for a free-kick.

Solano stepped up and curled the ball into the top-right corner with goalkeeper Scott Carson getting a fingertip to the effort.

Six minutes later Villa were back on level terms with Reo-Coker once again doing the initial damage.

The former Hammers midfielder found Young, who took advantage of slack marking to rifle home a superb goal from 12 yards out.

Villa threatened again through Stiliyan Petrov, who sped down the right wing and crossed for John Carew but he just failed to connect with the ball.

The lively Young was proving a handful and one threaded pass opened up a static Hammers' defence, but once again Carew could not get on the end of it.

A neat jink and turn from Bobby Zamora caused a few worrying moments at the other end but his shot was blocked and the danger passed.

Mark Noble blasted wide of the target as West Ham continued to create a series of half chances, while Villa looked threatening on the counter.

Zamora pulled the trigger on the brink of half time but his shot sailed narrowly wide and there was still time for Agbonlahor to have a shot cleared off the line by Carson.

Portuguese winger Luis Boa Morte, forced a fine save from Carson as West Ham made a bright start to the second half.

Villa should have gone ahead five minutes after the interval when Agbonlahor squared to Carew who only had Green to beat from close range, but the Hammers' keeper showed smart reflexes.

The ball squirted out to Petrov who tumbled over as Green came out to claim the ball but Dean was unconvinced by the theatrics and booked the Bulgarian.

Carew then had an attempt cleared off the line as Villa, perhaps spurred on by news of Newcastle's equaliser, poured forward.

And their reward came in the 58th minute when Barry, spotting acres of space before him, went marauding through midfield to the edge of the box.

He executed a perfect one-two with Reo-Coker that he concluded by smashing the ball home past Green from close range.

Zamora almost levelled a heartbeat later but was denied but the woodwork while at the other end Young broke free down the left only to send his effort narrowly wide.

Ashton could have levelled in the 82nd minute but he rushed his shot and Carson did not have to intervene.

Ashton could not be denied two minutes from time, however, as he produced a stunning equaliser to grab an unexpected late point for West Ham.

O'Neill intent on keeping Barry

Aston Villa chairman Randy Lerner will meet Gareth Barry in an attempt to persuade the England midfielder not to join Liverpool.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill has been at loggerheads with Rafael Benitez over the Reds' interest in Barry, who has been linked with a £10million summer move to Anfield.

And O'Neill is refusing to give up Barry without a fight after watching his club captain fire Villa's second goal in the 2-2 draw with West Ham.

He said: 'We want to do our utmost to keep Gareth because he's so important to us and is back to his brilliant best.

'It's interesting and ironic that apparently there was an offer from an Italian club for Steven Gerrard yet Liverpool were quick to remind everyone that he is under contract.

'Gareth has two years left on his contract and we want him to stay. The chairman will talk to him to show how much we value him.

'I will not be made to feel under pressure by other clubs because they want one of our players. We're going to talk it through with Gareth.

'I can't understand why Gareth would want to leave. He's only 27 and has been brilliant for us.

'He has been selected for England and has played regularly for them because of his exploits with Villa.

'In terms of him playing in the Champions League, we can guarantee him that within the next 23 years!'

Barry and Ashley Young were on target for Villa at Upton Park but their efforts were not enough to secure fifth spot and a UEFA Cup berth.

But they could yet qualify for Europe via the back door with their sixth place finish in the Barclays Premier League sending them into the Intertoto Cup - although O'Neill has his reservations over the competition.

He said: 'I'm very pleased with the team because we've taken big strides since last season.

'It's disappointing we've missed out on the UEFA Cup but with Everton beating Newcastle it doesn't seem so bad.

'We're in the Intertoto cup for definite now, which means we have to play 17 games in the middle of June!

'What it really means is that we have to be back a week earlier and be competitive sooner than expected because the ties are mid to late July.'

West Ham striker Dean Ashton rescued a point with a lightning strike two minutes from time.

Manchester United have been linked with a move for the England marksman but boss Alan Curbishley insists the Hammers do not need to sell.

He said: 'Every club has its problem over sides wanting to buy their players, look at Tottenham.

'It's something you have to deal with if it comes along but fans saw last summer that we had players coming in rather than leaving.

'We've had to balance the books a bit since but the numbers joining us was a big plus for us. We're hoping to build on that, I'm not under pressure to cut costs.'

West Ham finished in 10th place and Curbishley insisted he could not have asked for any more from his injury-hit squad.

He said: 'I've said all along how well my players have done.

'We let ourselves down in a couple of games but in the main we have done well despite having to contend with a lot of problems.'