FA Cup | Third Round

Jan 10, 2025 at 8pm UK

Villa Park

Aston Villa vs West Ham

Match preview

Aston Villa extended their unbeaten run on home soil to 10 top-flight games last weekend, with Leon Bailey ending a long personal drought to score the winner in a 2-1 victory over Leicester City.

The victory, which did not require an outstanding performance, boosted the Villans' hopes of securing a European spot at the end of the season and moved them up to eighth in the Premier League table, just behind challengers Bournemouth, Manchester City and Newcastle United.

Unai Emery's side had won just one of their last four matches in the run-up to 2024, so starting the new year with maximum points will have boosted morale at the Birmingham club's training complex at Bodymoor Heath.

Seven-time FA Cup winners Villa now return to the famous knockout competition looking to improve on a dismal run of results, having lost seven consecutive third-round ties between 2017 and 2023.

They finally ended that run last season with a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough, but have now lost all six of their home cup games and, excluding non-league teams, only Rotherham United have suffered more consecutive home defeats in the competition's long history.

This time around, Villa will take on West Ham, who they beat 2-1 in the league earlier in the season, and will wear an all-black 150th anniversary kit to mark the occasion.

The two sides are due to meet again in the Premier League later this month, when the Hammers could be a very different proposition under new management.

Emery's fellow Basque, Julen Lopetegui, endured an interminable wait to be put out of his misery, but the former West Ham boss was finally sacked on Wednesday after an unimpressive spell in east London.

The London club had won just six league games during his tenure, and last Saturday's 4-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City was their ninth loss in 20 top-flight games this season.

Although the Hammers remain out of relegation trouble - they sit 14th in the table, seven points above the drop zone - the nine-goal defeats proved too much for the board.

After a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of league leaders Liverpool, even struggling Manchester City were able to put four past Lopetegui's side in their opening game of the year, meaning they have now lost by three or more goals on nine occasions.

Indeed, new manager Graham Potter inherits a side with the worst defensive record outside of the promoted sides this season, conceding at the rate of almost two goals per game.

West Ham, who were knocked out of the FA Cup by Bristol City at this time last year, have not suffered consecutive third-round exits since a run of three between 2012 and 2014 - but recent events suggest few will be tipping them to prevail on Friday.

Recent Performance

Aston Villa form (all competitions):WLWLDW

West Ham United form (all competitions):WDDWLL

Team News

With injuries piling up, Unai Emery is likely to make changes to the Aston Villa starting line-up - especially with a run of seven games in 22 days - and fringe players such as Emi Buendia and Ian Maatsen could come into contention.

Morgan Rogers has returned from suspension, but captain John McGinn picked up a hamstring injury against Leicester, leaving centre-backs Pau Torres and Diego Carlos on the sidelines.

Jhon Duran, heavily linked with a move to West Ham last summer, is serving a three-match ban for violent conduct, leaving Ollie Watkins to lead the line up front.

The Hammers' attacking options will also be limited by absences, with Jarrod Bowen suffering a broken foot and Michail Antonio facing a long road to recovery from a car crash, so Niclas Fullkrug will be expected to lead the visitors' attack.

Emerson Palmieri remains a doubt with the minor injury that ruled him out of last week's Premier League defeat, while veteran goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is still out with a concussion.

It remains to be seen whether there will be any major changes for West Ham's first game since the departure of Julen Lopetegui: Konstantinos Mavropanos, Guido Rodriguez and ex-Villa striker Danny Ings are all in contention to come off the bench.

Possible starting lineup

Aston Villa possible starting lineup:

Martinez; Bogarde, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Barkley, Onana; Bailey, Buendia, Ramsey; Watkins

West Ham United possible starting lineup:

Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Cresswell; Soucek, Rodriguez; Kudus, Paqueta, Summerville; Fullkrug