Match Focus: Ayew Petulance Leaves Villa Dead and Buried at Upton Park

It had all started so encouragingly for Villa at Upton Park on Tuesday night. Remi Garde had named an attacking line-up and seemed to catch West Ham off guard by fielding a front two of Ayew and Agbonlahor. The Frenchman's plans would be foiled - not for the first time this season - before long.

If there was an overriding emotion that summed up Aston Villa's season it was the complete dejection felt when Jordan Ayew decided to elbow Aaron Cresswell in the face completely unprovoked. It was the sort of moment of inexplicable petulance that has tarred the Ghanaian's reputation to this point and the first real evidence of it in a claret and blue shirt.

Indeed, Ayew has become a fan favourite in a campaign that as offered so little to cheer. His willing running has taken many by surprise and his ability to do something spectacular out of nothing - see goals against Watford and Newcastle - has seemed Villa's greatest hope in a side that create very few chances.

Not only did his moment of madness cost his side on the night but it leaves the manager without his best attacking player for three more games at a time when both Rudy Gestede and Libor Kozak are struggling for fitness. Already proving to be something of a disciplinarian in his time at the club, Garde confirmed in no uncertain terms that he would be dealing with the incident.

While the increasingly despondent Villa boss claimed that the key turning point was actually John Moss' decision not to award Villa a penalty early on for handball - bemoaning the fact that they have now had very strong calls for a spot kick waved away in three successive league matches - Ayew's stupidity turned the game on its head.

The visitors were not only well in it to that point, they were firmly in the ascendency before the game was forced into a complete non-event. West Ham had been incredibly laboured in the opening exchanges and it took Villa being reduced to 10 men to spark any sort of life into the hosts.

Up to and including the 17th minute - the time of Ayew's dismissal - the away side boasted 66% possession and had 68 touches in their opponent's half to the Hammers' 22. With 16 touches inside Adrian's penalty box to 3 in Mark Bunn's at the other end, Villa had 4 corners, none of which were dealt with convincingly by the hosts, and the only shot on target of the game.

Thereafter, with the teams unequal in number, West Ham had 71% of possession and 23 shots, with Michail Antonio's header and Cheikhou Kouyate's late clincher two of 6 on target. Villa, in comparison to their early dominance, mustered just 5 touches in the opposition box to the home side's 36 as they sat with 10 men behind the ball and showed no sign of attempting to spring a counter, even when falling behind.

While a spirited defensive display from the visitors, the performance following Ayew's dismissal was something of a surrender akin to that of the Villa board. With his team attempting to waste time midway through the first half, Garde decided not to try and exploit any complacency from West Ham early on while legs were still fresh and any semblance of confidence in their performance to that point remained. Their cautious approach was understandable, but given their position in the table draws will not be enough so by that token it was a disappointing display.

It wasn't the first time Garde's best laid plans had been put to rest in the opening exchanges, and as a result it's been hard to judge his performance in terms of improving the team's general play. In Villa's first three defeats under the Frenchman they conceded inside 20 minutes and in his first 11 league matches they had failed to get into half time with a clean sheet. To that end the manager's inability to organise his players from kick-off, or perhaps more pertinently ensure they are fully concentrated, has been his greatest failing.

However, it's hard to feel anything but sympathy for the former Lyon boss. Just as he was able to string together a run of results without defeat to inspire some form of encouragement, that was halted by yet another early goal conceded in the cup against City at the weekend. The Villa board's inability and apparent reluctance to help Garde as they intimated that they would in the transfer market all but trampled any hopes of a miracle comeback to death.

The club has dug its own grave as far as this Premier League season is concerned. It wouldn't be surprising in the slightest if Garde decides to down tools come the end of the campaign to leave the job of climbing back out of it in the hands of the Villa hierarchy. That, for the fans that continue to travel in numbers to games such as that on Tuesday, is a chilling prospect.

BUABOOK TRADE TIP

Suspended for the next three games having suffered a dip in form prior to his ridiculous elbow at West Ham on Tuesday, it may be a wise move to sell shares in Jordan Ayew in the season market. I'll be cuttting my losses for as little as £3.00.

How much of the responsibility for Aston Villa's current position should fall at the feet of Remi Garde? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below