Villa close to safety after 1-0 win over West Ham

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) Tom Cleverley scored for the third straight game to earn Aston Villa a 1-0 win over West Ham that pushed his team further away from the Premier League's relegation zone on Saturday.

The on-loan Manchester United midfielder tapped in from close range after a pass from young playmaker Jack Grealish in the 31st minute. He also scored against Manchester City and Everton, having previously not found the net in 37 games.

Villa is four points clear of the bottom three with two matches remaining, having won three of its last four league games under new manager Tim Sherwood. The team has also reached the FA Cup final against Arsenal.

West Ham, whose season has tailed off after a strong start, had a goal by Enner Valencia ruled out for offside.