MY ACCOUNT
– West Ham have won only one of their last five Premier League games
– Aston Villa have collected victories in four of their last five away games
– Recommended bet: Half Time / Full Time – Tie / Aston Villa
West Ham go into Sunday’s home clash with Aston Villa just a point outside of the relegation zone and having won only five of their 12 league games at the London Stadium.
David Moyes’ men did pick up a Europa Conference League win in midweek, with a 0-2 success over AEK Larnaca, which was their third away game in a row.
But their previous Premier League clash saw them thumped 4-0 at Brighton and the pressure is mounting on the Hammers in the battle to avoid the drop.
Villa are safely sat in 11th and are looking for a third consecutive league win, which could move them into the top half this weekend.
Team news
West Ham will hand late fitness tests to both Michail Antonio and Lucas Paqueta, who picked up minor injuries in Thursday’s European tie.
Moyes will be boosted though by the return to the squad of Maxwel Cornet, who played in Cyprus after five months on the sidelines with a calf problem.
Villa will be without Boubacar Kamara after the midfielder suffered an ankle injury in the home win over Crystal Palace last Saturday.
The visitors will make a late check on Leander Dendoncker, but long-term absentee Diego Carlos could be included in the squad for the first time since August.
The stats
West Ham’s recent run will concern both fans and backers alike, with the Hammers collecting just two wins in their last 13 league games.
Their last home game saw them secure a much-needed win over Nottingham Forest, with four goals in the last 20 minutes, although Forest were hit hard by defensive injury problems.
Either side of that win were two defeats, 2-0 at Tottenham and the 4-0 loss at Brighton, with the Hammers having scored just 23 goals in 25 league matches so far.
In contrast, Villa have scored in all 12 league games since Unai Emery took charge and have kept clean sheets in their last two games.
Their better displays have come on the road, with four victories in their five away games under Emery, with their only defeat at the hands of Manchester City.
Prediction
There is a lot of pressure on West Ham to deliver in front of their home fans and Villa’s away record suggests they can collect the three points on Sunday.
It is worth noting that Villa’s last seven away goals have come in the second half, with three of those scored by Ollie Watkins, who is 2/1 to score at anytime at the London Stadium.
The England striker has scored twice in the last four meetings between the sides and is looking to become only the second Villa player to score in four successive Premier League away games.
All four of the goals in last year’s two league meetings also came in the second half, so expect a tight first 45 minutes with things likely to open up after the break.
Back Half-Time / Full-Time: Tie / Aston Villa at 13/2 with LiveScore Bet.
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