Match Preview: Aston Villa vs West Ham (FA Cup Third Round)

Fixture: Aston Villa v West Ham United

Date: Friday, 10th January 2025

Kick-off: 8:00 PM (GMT)

Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham

Competition: FA Cup Third Round

Aston Villa welcome West Ham United to Villa Park for an all-Premier League affair in the FA Cup. Both teams are eager to make a deep run in the competition to bring excitement to their respective campaigns. Villa come into this game as favourites, while West Ham aim to overcome their recent struggles.

Aston Villa have been inconsistent this season, sitting 8th in the Premier League. They enter this game following a 2-1 win over Leicester City, which showcased their resilience. Villa’s home form has been a bright spot, and they’ll be keen to build on it against a vulnerable West Ham side.

Recent Form (Last 5 Matches): WDLWL

Key Stats: Villa have scored in each of their last six games but have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five. They have won three of their last six matches across all competitions.

West Ham are struggling in the Premier League, sitting 14th and battling inconsistent form. Manager Julen Lopetegui might not even be in charge for the game following defeats to Manchester City (4-1) and Liverpool (5-0). The Hammers will look to this FA Cup tie as an opportunity to turn their fortunes around.

Recent Form (Last 5 Matches): LLDWL

Key Stats: West Ham have conceded nine goals in their last two matches. The Hammers have managed only one win in their last five games.

The two sides have met 48 times since 1995, with Aston Villa slightly ahead in the overall record.

• Total Matches: 48
• Aston Villa Wins: 14
• West Ham Wins: 12
• Draws: 22
  

Recent Meetings:

• 17 Aug 2024: West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa (Premier League)
• 17 Mar 2024: West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa (Premier League)
• 22 Oct 2023: Aston Villa 4-1 West Ham (Premier League)
  

Villa will be without key defenders Pau Torres and Diego Carlos, both sidelined with foot injuries. John McGinn is also out with a hamstring issue, while Jhon Durán is serving a suspension. Despite these setbacks, Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey are expected to lead the attack.

Predicted Starting XI:
Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Onana, Tielemans; Ramsey, Buendía, Bailey; Watkins

The Hammers are missing Michail Antonio (broken leg), Jarrod Bowen (foot injury), and Lukasz Fabianski (head injury). Mohammed Kudus and Niclas Füllkrug are expected to be key figures in their attack.

Predicted Starting XI:
Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Mavropanos, Coufal; Souček, Paquetá, Soler; Summerville, Kudus, Füllkrug

Please note that actual starting lineups may vary depending on final team selections and any last-minute changes.

• Villa's attacking players like Bailey and Watkins could exploit West Ham's defensive vulnerabilities.
• West Ham might find it difficult to contain Villa's attacking threat.
• West Ham could find the net through counter-attacks or individual brilliance.
  

Aston Villa - Villa will likely use their standard 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on controlling possession and exploiting spaces with their dynamic attacking players. Leon Bailey’s pace on the flanks and Youri Tielemans’ creativity in midfield will be critical for breaking down West Ham’s defence.

West Ham - West Ham may adopt a cautious approach with a 4-3-3 formation, looking to absorb pressure and counter-attack. Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paquetá will need to provide the creative spark in midfield, while Niclas Füllkrug will spearhead the attack.

Aston Villa will look to dominate proceedings at Villa Park, leveraging their superior form and home advantage. West Ham’s recent defensive vulnerabilities and injuries to key players could make this a challenging encounter for the visitors. However, Villa’s inconsistent defence means the Hammers might have opportunities to score.

• Aston Villa to Win
• Both Teams to Score
• Over 2.5 Goals
  

Aston Villa last won the FA Cup in 1957, while West Ham’s most recent triumph came in 1980. This means both sides are hungry to break their long-standing drought in the competition.

Will Villa maintain their home fortress, or can West Ham find a way to upset the odds? All eyes will be on Villa Park for this exciting FA Cup clash.

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All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.