Sam Allardyce: 'Clean sheet was vital'

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has expressed his relief that his side managed to keep a clean sheet in today's goalless draw with Aston Villa.

The Hammers boss rued his team's finishing, but was pleased to see them end a run of three home defeats on the bounce.

"After three home defeats on the trot it was very important we didn't lose," BBC Sport quotes him as saying.

"We tried to win it but we didn't find the quality to put the ball into the net. We delivered 38 balls into the box, but it's a spell we are having where we can't find the net.

"In the last two home games we have conceded three in both so it was vital to get back to keeping clean sheets. There's only one thing missing, and that's scoring a goal or two, but we are only a small margin away from being a three-point team instead of a one-point team."

The result leaves West Ham in 14th place in the table, with Villa one point above them in 13th.