Most supporters will fancy West Ham to pick up points against the Villains as the Hammers look to win their third straight match.
West Ham are set to host Aston Villa on Monday evening and many fans will believe that the East London side can and should pick up points against the Birmingham side who already have fifteen points this season. Below are predictions from some of our Green St. staff:
Justin: West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa
West Ham looks to continue their good run of form and achieve their third straight win after picking up all three points against Fulham and Sheffield United. The Hammers are off to their best start since that famous last season at the Boleyn.
While the wins have not always been pretty, West Ham have won with organization and toughness at the back, and just enough attacking firepower. It will be interesting what that attacking firepower will look like as Sebastien Haller scored the winner against Sheffield United but Michail Antonio looks set to return from injury.
On the other side, Villa had a phenomenal start to their season, winning their first four matches, including an opening day victory against Manchester United and their famous 7-2 victory over Liverpool. The Villains currently sit 7th in the Premier League table.
I have not predicted West Ham to win all season but I will this time. I do think Villa have lost a bit of that magic that also helped them see off Arsenal and Leicester City earlier in the season. I predict Haller scores again and Bowen gets back on the scoresheet too.
Adam: West Ham 2-2 Aston Villa
I think we’ll see a solid back-and-forth match between two teams that have shocked a lot of onlookers so far this season. Villa seems to ride their offensive machine to some lopsided victories but could find an issue in breaking down the Hammer’s in-form, defence-first formation.
For the Hammers, set pieces at both ends of the pitch may define the match. If Cresswell can get his delivery right and Sebastien Haller stays central, with the support of the threatening Ogbonna and Balbuena aerially, West Ham could wake up offensively via dead balls.
Lou: West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa
This is a game between two sides who have both improved astronomically since last season when they were both battling it out to stay in the Premier League. Villa, while inconsistent, have at times blown teams out of the water and West Ham should be cautious of that happening to them, too.
The Hammers, since their opening day defeat to Newcastle, have been consistent and are coming off the back of two wins and clean sheets.
Both teams will fancy the three points here, all the while showing respect to one another in what could be a tight game.