Aston Villa will be encouraged after getting back on the clean sheet train against Southampton albeit if it was fortunate after VAR was in their corner at the weekend. One thing the weekend did show is that after giving Burnley 3 points, we showed that we can hold on to a victory, sit a bit further back and put in a gritty performance.
Aston Villa could go up to 5th, with a win against the Hammers, which would be a great position in the table and show how far we have come as a club over the past year. I think Cash and Targett will be key, again, for this one with them providing the real width, Targett, especially wasn't really able to roam forward against the Saints bit will look to have the shackles off as Villa are back at Villa Park. Villa are starting to get back into their mojo after the long COVID Break which halted the season, whereas West Ham were on a great run of form, before losing to a stricken Liverpool team at the weekend, without really laying a glove on their makeshift defence.
Team News:
Hause will be out for 6 weeks or so, Wes still not back yet. Everyone else should be ok.
I am going to go for a 2-0 Villa win, I just think that sometimes West Ham can set up a bit more defensively and if we can keep their front 3 quiet, I think we could be ok.
Opposition View: @WestHamViews_
I think it is safe to say that no West Ham fan was expecting the success we have had this season, Moyes wasn't given a lot to spend in the summer, but has made the most out of what he has available and has got us playing unbeliveable football. He's got players who looked to be on their way out playing as if they were in their prime, for example Aaron Cresswell, the signings of Soucek, Coufal, Dawson and Benrahma.
I expect it to be a very exciting game of football, Villa will be thinking about their previous loss at the London Stadium and West Ham will be looking to bounce back after our loss to Liverpool, it's always a very physical game against Villa and last time out out boys just about coped with it, hoping for the same this time round if not better.
Team News:
No injuries for the Hammers, which is another rarity of this season. I don't see him starting, but new signing Jesse Lingard, I expect to see on the bench, and get a few minutes under his belt, with no backup striker signed in Jan I expect Yarmolenko to be the backup if not I could see Odubeko on the bench
Predicted Lineup for West Ham:
Fabianksi, Coufal, Dawson, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Soucek, Rice, Bowen, Benrahma, Fornals, Antonio
Predicted Score: I am going for 2-1 West Ham, we always seem to play great after a loss, wouldn't surprise me if it was 2-2.
Predicted XI:
Predicted Scores:
Jordan Page: 2-1
The AVFC Faithful: 2-0
Kian Davies: 1-2
JP Smith: 2-1