Villa aim to snatch a last-gasp place in Europe by winning at West Ham and hoping that Everton lose at home to Newcastle.

And defender Zat Knight believes Martin O’Neill’s side deserve a place on the continental stage after being in the Premier League’s top six for most of the season.

Knight said: “We’ve managed to take it down to the wire and I think we deserve to be in Europe. In many seasons, sixth place can get you in there automatically.”

His team-mate, Nigel Reo-Coker, can expect a hot reception when he returns to Upton Park for the first time since leaving West Ham.

While Hammers fans give rousing receptions to ex-players like Carlos Tevez, they do not take kindly to those who leave under a cloud.

We’ve managed to take it down to the wire and I think we deserve to be in Europe

Zat Knight

Reo-Coker, who captained West Ham to the FA Cup final in 2006, was blamed by many fans for a
loss of team spirit that almost saw the club relegated last season.