Gardner doesn't help cause for going Green

But the West Ham keeper was not the only player to leave Villa Park frustrated that his hope of performing on a higher stage had been wounded.

Winner: Craig Gardner sends West Ham to another defeat

A grim-faced Dean Ashton took the news about a tweak to medial knee ligaments with more grace than he ought, following his own personal injury hell. But his team-mate Green was clearly unimpressed that he had been omitted by England coach McClaren.

Villa's Scott Carson and Portsmouth's David James have been called up to deputise for Tottenham's Paul Robinson for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia on Saturday and Russia four days later.

McClaren and goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence were in the crowd at Villa Park. It would not have helped Green's mood to know that the pair may have been scouting Green's opposite number, Villa's Scott Carson, who has leapfrogged the Hammers keeper in the pecking order.

Green, 27, said: "It's not my job to call myself up. I was in the squad in the summer for the Estonia game and got told my position was there to lose — and I lost it through not playing a game. If people want to find out why, they need to bring it up with England. You try to work out the logic.

"I've had no explanation. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. If I never play for England again, it won't be for the want of trying or the passion to do it. It will just be something that doesn't happen, but I'll live."

Ashton, whose dream of making his international debut was shattered when he broke an ankle before a friendly with Greece last year, has been named in McClaren's latest squad.

And the 23-year-old remained hopeful of being able to take his place following a scan yesterday, even if West Ham boss Alan Curbishley virtually ruled him out. Ashton said: 'It's a nightmare but plenty of others have had similar luck. It's part of the game and one of those things.

"I'm devastated because this was my chance to show people what I'm about. The comments made about me were really flattering and it was nice to hear what the England manager said about me."

Villa deserved this victory for their first-half display. Craig Gardner's 24th-minute deflected free-kick separated the two teams and West Ham were lucky to still be in the game as Ashley Young gave Hammers full back Lucas Neill a torrid time in the first half.

The Australian's mood would not have been helped by a rousing chorus of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot from both sets of supporters as news filtered through of England's rugby heroics in Marseille.

Villa's Nigel Reo-Coker, aided by the unsung Gareth Barry, won the midfield honours but the former may have been lucky to escape without censure after his hand appeared to catch Lee Bowyer in the face during a first-half tussle.

ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Carson 6; Mellberg 6, Knight 6, Laursen 8, Bouma 6; Gardner 5 (Petrov 78min), Barry 7, Reo-Coker 6, Young 6; Moore 5 (Maloney 68, 5), Agbonlahor 7. Booked: Knight, Mellberg, Reo-Coker.

WEST HAM (4-4-2): Green 6; Neill 5, Gabbidon 5, Upson 6, McCartney 6; Ljungberg 5, Bowyer 5, Mullins 6 (Noble 80), Etherington 4 (Boa Morte 80), Ashton 7, Camara 4 (Cole 36, 4). Booked: Camara, McCartney.

Man of the match: Martin Laursen.

Referee: Steve Tanner.