Aston Villa Match Preview

West Ham United briefly spent time out of the relegation zone last weekend following their unexpected 1-1 draw with Manchester City in Stratford. This afternoon, the Hammers will hope to climb out of the relegation zone. They will achieve that aim, provided they clinch maximum points when they travel to face Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s team started March with an away win at Fulham and will be looking to end the month in similar fashion and if they do, it will mean they have been unbeaten since their heavy defeat against Liverpool at Anfield at the end of February.

It seems that the tables have turned since the reverse fixture back on 14 December and Unai Emery’s side are now struggling for Premier League form, as they haven’t picked up a victory in three games.

David Moyes may have lost his last visit to the West Midlands with the East Londoners but, today’s visitors generally have a good top-flight record here in recent years. Having said that though, the Villains are currently unbeaten in their last seven games against today’s opponents.

West Ham are still in need of points and will hope to collect another three to put an end to that particular statistic. They will instead be hoping to extend their winning run in March by inflicting more misery on a side that have won just three of their last twelve league encounters.

The visitors will have had three more days to prepare for this game, that is because Emery’s side were involved in European action just three days ago when they beat French club LOSC Lille and progress to the quarter-final stage of the UEFA Europa League.

If the Irons can claim a fifth away success of the season here, then it will be the first time they have achieved that particular feat since May 2025 when they clinched maximum points against both Manchester United, as well as then newly-promoted outfit Ipswich Town.

Not only that, but it will also give Espírito Santo’s men a further confidence boost going into what will be a huge encounter under the Stratford lights against fellow strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers on April 10.

Crysencio Summerville will be missing again after he was unavailable for the encounter against the Citizens last time out, due to a calf injury, while Oliver Scarles has recovered from the minor problem that also kept him out of that clash.

One player that will not be involved however, is youngster Ryan Battrum, as senior figures in East London have allowed him to gain valuable experience and spend the remainder of the current season on loan at Enterprise National League side Braintree Town.

The match kicks off at the unusual time of 2:15pm and for the fourth successive game, the Hammers will be televised. Coverage begins at 2pm and the referee is Paul Tierney.