Can Villa End High-Flying Hammers` Run?

Sam Allardyce`s West Ham United can make further progress up the Premier League table with a home victory over Aston Villa tomorrow (Saturday 8th November). A win at the Boleyn Ground would see the Hammers usurp Arsenal in fourth position with their London rivals not playing until Sunday.

The Iron will do well not to underestimate Villa, however, who will be looking for a result in order to stop their rapid slide down the table. The Villans are 16th despite going four games unbeaten in a superb start to the season.

Paul Lambert`s side haven`t picked up a point since grabbing an unlikely victory over last season`s runners-up Liverpool in September. Their six defeats in as many games began with consecutive 3-0 thrashings at the hands of Arsenal and Chelsea respectively before folding 2-0 at home to Manchester City. A further 3-0 loss followed at European hopefuls Everton prior to a poor performance away at strugglers Queens Park Rangers, a match Lambert`s men eventually lost 2-0. Villa did manage to score last time out against Tottenham, though it wasn`t enough to secure the win. A 16th minute Andreas Weimann effort gave the home side the lead, a margin that was sustained until the closing ten minutes with goals from Nacer Chadli and Harry Kane seeing the result snatched from under the Aston side`s noses.

West Ham are on a streak of their own, having not lost since their 2-1 defeat away at Old Trafford back in September.

The team bounced back with a 2-0 win over QPR, a Nedum Onuoha own goal early in the match breaking the deadlock before Diafra Sakho put the result beyond doubt. Sakho was again on the scoresheet, netting the opening goal in a 3-1 win against bottom side Burnley. Enner Valencia and Carlton Cole were the other two Hammers players to convert their chances.

Twenty-four-year-old Sakho bagged his sixth in as many games in a surprising victory over Manchester City at home with Morgan Amalfitano opening the scoring and the only City chance being dispatched by David Silva. An Ivory Coast international, Sakho, failed to continue his run by netting in a 2-2 draw away to Stoke sitting out the game after injuring his shoulder against champions City. He is 9/2 with most bookmakers to score first tomorrow after returning to full fitness. He can also be backed at 8/5 (Bwin) to score at any time and 17/2 (Bwin) to score at least twice. Both Valencia and Stewart Downing hit the back of the net to earn the side the draw against Stoke. The contrasting fortunes of the two clubs see the Upton Park outfit as the 3/4 (Numerous) favourites to secure all three points at home. A number of bookmakers make Villa the 9/2 outsiders for the match-up whilst a draw can also be grabbed at 11/4 (bet365, Betvictor, boylesports, paddy Power).

As well as seeing top scorer Sakho return, Big Sam will also be pleased to welcome back Winston Reid to the first team squad. The New Zealander sustained an injury at the Britannia Stadium last time out being substituted in the first half, though is anticipated to at least make the bench against Villa tomorrow.

England international Andy Carroll could take part in the game following his participation in a reserve team match against Southend on Thursday. The striker has not been seen after undergoing ankle surgery though is thought to be close to be making his return to the Irons side.

Paul Lambert`s Villa have it all to do with Fabian Delph and Alan Hutton still out with respective shoulder and ankle injuries. Christian Benteke is banned after being sent off for slapping Ryan Mason in their defeat at home to Tottenham.

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07/11/2014     © Frixo 2026