West Ham United FC vs Aston Villa FC, Premier League 2022-2023, Today Match Prediction

West Ham United FC vs Aston Villa FC Match Prediction & Analysis

Time is running out for West Ham and David Moyes to convince the club’s fans that they have it within them to avoid a full-on relegation scrap at the end of this season.

The Hammers were thoroughly beaten by Brighton last weekend, catapulting towards the bottom three with a 4-0 defeat. 

While their recent form of two wins and two draws from their last six isn’t the worst in the league, it suggests an inconsistency that is making it very hard to predict them right now.

The same can be said for Aston Villa in many respects, although they are in a much better, and safer, league position.

Sharing a points total with Chelsea heading into this weekend, Villa have won three and lost three of their last six in the league and still harbour hopes of pushing into the top half this season.

A positive away performance would see them take a step closer to that here.

TEAMS PREVIEW

West Ham United FC Preview

Reasons to be cheerful:

     On a run of five consecutive victories over Villa 

     And Moyes is unbeaten in 13 league a matches as manager against the Midlands side

Reasons to be fearful:

     Lucas Paqueta and Michail Antonio face late fitness tests here

     Already equalled last season’s total of 14 defeats

One week, West Ham are winning 4-0 against Nottingham Forest. The next, they are on the end of a similar thrashing from Brighton.

This see-saw set of results has hampered their season and has taken a club that has been challenging nearer the top end of the table in recent times into a genuine relegation battle.

Many believe that West Ham are too good to go down, although only time will tell whether their supposed squad strength will save them.

Here, Lucas Paqueta and Michail Antonio face a race to be fit having picked up knocks in the Hammers’ 2-0 Europa League victory in midweek.

Star Man – Danny Ings

Ings is back to face his former side, the team he left just a month or so ago. He has two goals for them since and will be keen to impress against his former employers.

Aston Villa FC Preview

Reasons to be cheerful

     Won back-to-back games without conceding

     Four wins from their five away games under Unai Emery

Reasons to be fearful

     Poor record against Villa

     Boubacar Kamara ruled out with an ankle injury

Aston Villa have taken all the right steps since Unai Emery took over as manager and now have an outside shot of finishing in a European space at the end of the season.

Currently, the likes of Brighton, Fulham and Brentford hold those spots and you’d be hard pressed to say that Villa deserve it over them right now. However, with 13 games to play, Villa could make their case.

Villa have been a little up and down under Emery – series of wins followed by a run of defeats – but they have competed in every game they’ve played. They’ve also scored in every match under Emery too.

They must overcome a poor record against the Hammers here – just one victory has come in their previous 13 meetings with the London club.

Star Man – Ollie Watkins

Although Villa’s form has risen and fallen this season, Watkins has shown great consistency over the past month or so. He can score for the fourth consecutive away game here.