West Ham
Villa keen to avoid Barry Irons farewell
ASTON Villa go into Sunday's vital Premier League showdown with West Ham knowing inspirational club captain Gareth Barry could be playing his last game for the club.
England international Barry has already been the subject of a summer transfer bid from Liverpool.
Team-mate Patrik Berger has found himself black-listed after encouraging Barry to join the Reds, and Villa manager Martin O'Neill admitted he faces a tough task persuading the 27-year-old to stay with the club.
"Obviously trying to keep Gareth Barry at the football club will be the most important thing to do in the summertime," O'Neill told avfc.co.uk
"A player of Gareth's undoubted quality and ability would take some replacing, so keeping him at Aston Villa is as important as anything we do in the transfer market."
Villa go into Sunday's Upton Park clash knowing a win, coupled with a home defeat for Everton at the hands of Newcastle United, would secure fifth place and a spot in next season's UEFA Cup.
Villa's Swedish defender Olof Mellberg will wave goodbye to the club after Sunday's game before leaving for Italian club Juventus.
But Irons striker Dean Ashton, who scored his 10th goal of the season with a spectacular overhead kick in the 4-1 defeat at Manchester United on Saturday, is desperate to stop the Midlands side reaching Europe.
"The goal on Saturday was the best of my career," the Cheshire-born striker told whufc.com
"It was made even more special by the fact I did it at Old Trafford against Man United, which is the team my family support and where I dreamt of scoring growing up as a boy.
"It was just a shame we couldn't put on a better performance as a team but we are looking to end the season on a high on Sunday at home to Aston Villa."
Should the Irons beat Villa, Alan Curbishley's team will ensure they finish the season in 10th place ahead of local rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
However, a Spurs home win over Liverpool coupled with a Hammers draw or defeat would see the White Hart Lane outfit leapfrog Curbishley's men.
9:35am Thursday 8th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Shrimper Nation, Shrimpley on 5:43pm Fri 9 May 08
Barry Irons we love you, don't go!
Barry Irons we love you, don't go!
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