Aston Villa match preview
WHUFC.com
All the early team news ahead of Sunday's Barclays Premier League trip to
Aston Villa
15.01.2010
Barclays Premier League
Aston Villa v West Ham United
Villa Park
Sunday 17 January
1.30pm
Referee: Mike Jones
WHUTV - ALL THE NEWS AND VIEWS, ACTION AND REACTION
+ LIVE AUDIO COMMENTARY
• West Ham United are set to play their first Barclays Premier League game
of 2010 against Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday.
• Both sides' first scheduled league games of the new decade - for the
Hammers a home game with Wolverhampton Wanderers and for the Villans a trip
to Wigan Athletic - were postponed due to the wintery weather.
• A Boleyn Ground draw with Chelsea on 20 December, coupled with three
points in the Boxing Day game with Portsmouth, moved the Hammers out of the
bottom three and another maximum on Sunday could move Gianfranco Zola's side
up to 13th in the table.
• This will be the second league meeting between the two sides this season
and West Ham United's second 'return' fixture of 2009/10. The Hammers
secured a dramatic last-minute victory courtesy of Zavon Hines' winner in
the first game at the Boleyn Ground on 4 November.
• In the corresponding game last April, Diego Tristan's late header
cancelled out Emile Heskey's eleventh-minute opener.
• This is the 90th league meeting between the two sides. West Ham have won
32, Aston Villa have won 30 and there have been 27 draws.
Last time out
Sunday 3 January 2009
FA Cup third round
West Ham United 1-2 Arsenal
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Daprela, Kovac, Behrami,
Stanislas (Edgar 88), Diamanti, Jimenez, Nouble (Sears 79)
Subs not used: Stech, N'Gala, Da Costa, Payne, Lee
Goal: Diamanti 45
Thursday 14 January 2009
Carling Cup semi-final
Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Aston Villa
Aston Villa: Guzan, Warnock, Cuellar, Dunne, Collins, Downing, Milner,
Ashley Young , Petrov, Heskey (Sidwell 71), Agbonlahor
Subs not used Reo-Coker, Friedel, Luke Young, Carew, Delph, Beye
Goal: Milner 23
Last meeting
The teams last met at the Boleyn Ground at 10 November when substitute Zavon
Hines scored a 93rd-minute winner to secure the Hammers all three points.
Mark Noble had given the home side the lead from the penalty spot just
before half time, before Robert Green saved Ashley Young's spot kick. The
Villa winger made amends soon after with a curling 25-yard effort.
The teams that day were -
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Da Costa, Upson, Ilunga (Spector 8),
Behrami, Parker, Noble, Collison, Franco, Cole (Hines 32)
Subs not used: Kurucz, Tomkins, Jimenez, Stanislas, Diamanti
Goals: Noble (pen) 45, Hines 90
Aston Villa: Friedel, Beye, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Sidwell, Ashley Young,
Petrov, Heskey (Reo-Coker 46), Agbonlahor, Carew
Subs not used: Guzan, Luke Young, Shorey, Albrighton, Delph, Delfouneso
Goal: Young 52
Head to head
Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
4 November 2009 - West Ham United 2-1 Aston Villa
18 April 2009 - Aston Vila 1-1 West Ham United
20 December 2008 - West Ham United 0-1 Aston Villa
11 May 2008 - West Ham United 2-2 Aston Villa
6 October 2007 - Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham United
3 February 2007 - Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham United
Overall record v Aston Villa (all competitions) W 37 D 29 L 34
Next up
West Ham United have a free weekend on January 23/24 following their
elimination from the FA Cup. They are next in action a week on Tuesday when
they travel to Portsmouth for an evening kick-off. Aston Villa have the
return leg of their Carling Cup semi-final at home to Blackburn Rovers on
Tuesday 20 January.
Referee
• Sunday's referee is Mike Jones.
• Jones started refereeing at 15, and is now on his 17th season on the
National List, four as an assistant and thirteen as a referee. 2009/10 is
his second season as a Select Group referee.
• He was appointed to referee the 2009 FA Trophy final between Stevenage
Borough and York City and to referee the 2007 League Two Play-Off final
between Bristol Rovers and Shrewsbury Town, both at Wembley.
• He was the fourth official for the 2004 Carling Cup final between
Middlesbrough and Bolton Wanderers and was also the man in the middle for
the 1997 Conference League Cup final and the 2005 Women's FA Cup final.
• Jones took charge of one West Ham United game last season - the 2-1 home
victory against Stoke City on 28 December 2008.
West Ham United
• Last November's victory over Villa was West Ham United's first in eight
attempts. Their previous maximum came when a Marlon Harewood hat-trick
helped them to a 4-0 win at the Boleyn Ground in September 2005.
• The Hammers have won at Villa Park twice, in 1995 and 2006, since the
inception of the Premier League.
• West Ham's biggest ever away win at Aston Villa came in a Division One
fixture played on 2 April 1927. Vic Watson scored twice, while Stanley
Earle, Joseph Johnson and Jimmy Ruffell also netted in a 5-1 victory for the
Hammers in front of a crowd of 20,000 at Villa Park.
• The Hammers have scored all seven of the penalties they have been awarded
this season, a Barclays Premier League high.
• West Ham have scored 28 goals this season in the league with eleven
different scorers registering. Carlton Cole leads the way (seven), with
Alessandro Diamanti (five) and Guille Franco (three) next in line. Jack
Collison (two), Matthew Upson (two), Junior Stanislas (two), Manuel da
Costa, Mark Noble, Luis Jimenez, Zavon Hines and Radoslav Kovac have also
registered.
• Scott Parker has been booked seven times this season and Guille Franco
five - leading to his suspension against Arsenal. Julien Faubert, Cole and
Mark Noble are each on four yellow cards, but will now not be suspended when
they receive a fifth as the FA disciplinary deadline has passed.
• Only Robert Green has played in every league game for the club this
season. He is on a run of 108 successive league starts.
• Diamanti has had 47 shots on goal this season, with 27 of them hitting the
target, both higher than anyone else at the club.
• Jack Collison has more assists (four) than anyone else, while Mark Noble
has put in the highest number of crosses (19) at the club.
• Matthew Upson has the highest number of defensive clearances (21), while
his central defensive partner James Tomkins has made 17 defensive blocks.
• Green wil celebrate his 30th birthday on Monday.
Aston Villa
• Aston Villa have lost their last two Premier League games - against
Arsenal and Liverpool. Those defeats ended a seven-match unbeaten run which
began after the defeat at the Boleyn Ground.
• They will, however, be high in confidence after a taking a one-goal
advantage in the first leg of the Carling Cup courtesy of victory at
Blackburn Rovers on Thursday evening.
• Ashley Young has won more free-kicks than anyone else in the Premier
League (43).
• Gabriel Agbonlahor is the Villans' top scorer with eight Premier League
goals. The England striker has also had more shots (43) and more shots on
target (32) than any of his team-mates.
• James Milner has the most assists for the club this season (eight).
• Villa's biggest-ever home league victory over West Ham came in Division
One on 25 April 1987. That day, the Villans ran out 4-0 winners at Villa
Park in front of a crowd of just 13,584. Warren Aspinall scored twice, while
Stephen Hunt and Simon Stainrod netted a goal each. Villa would end the
season by being relegated to Division Two.
Team news
• Both managers still have Saturday's training to asses their players' form
and fitness before naming their matchday squads.
• Gianfranco Zola could recall key first-team players for Sunday's match.
Guille Franco returns from his one-match suspension, while the likes of
Scott Parker, Mark Noble, Jack Collison and Herita Ilunga could be involved
after missing the FA Cup defeat by Arsenal.
• Fabio Daprela, who impressed greatly on his first-team debut at left-back
against Arsenal last weekend, will be eager to be involved again.
• Danny Gabbidon and Kieron Dyer are both likely to miss out as they are
still recovering from their hamstring injuries.
• Freddie Sears could make his first Barclays Premier League appearance of
the season after his return from a loan spell at Crystal Palace.
• Long-term absentees Luis Boa Morte (knee) and Calum Davenport (leg) are
also definitely unavailable.
• Carlton Cole is making good progress from his knee injury and is aiming
for a late January return.
• Aston Villa team news to follow.
Old boys
• James Collins will be facing West Ham United for the second time since
leaving the Boleyn Ground in the summer. The central defender left swapped
London for Birmingham on 1 September for an undisclosed fee after making 65
appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals.
• Carlton Cole will be playing against the team where he spent the 2004/05
season on loan. Cole scored three goals in 30 league and cup appearances (20
starts) for Villa.
• Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker spent three-and-a-half seasons at
West Ham. The former MK Dons player made 142 appearances for the Hammers,
scoring eleven goals, before making the switch to Villa in the summer of
2007 for a £7.5m fee.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Billy Askew,
Alan Curbishley, Mervyn Day, Marlon Harewood, Ray Houghton, David James,
Fred Norris, Tony Scott, Les Sealey, Nolberto Solano, Tommy Southren, David
Unsworth and Phil Woosnam.
General information
• For ticket information, click here.
• Saturday's weather forecast is for a bright day with some clouds in
Birmingham, with a top temperature of 7C.
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Aston Villa v West Ham
BBC.co.uk
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Premier League
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Villa Park Date: Sunday, 17 January 2010 Kick-off: 1330 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio, live on Sky
Sports 1 & highlights on Match of the Day 2
TEAM NEWS
Aston Villa could revert to the line-up that started their last league game
against Liverpool, having made changes for the two cup ties against
Blackburn. That would mean recalls for Brad Friedel, Luke Young and John
Carew.
West Ham do not have any senior strikers available after Guillermo Franco
suffered an injury in training. Freddie Sears could make his first Premier
League start of the season, while Scott Parker, Danny Gabbidon and Mark
Noble hope to be involved.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Aston Villa
Suspended: None Doubtful: None
Injured/unavailable: Bouma (toe), Davies (shoulder), Salifou (leave of
absence)
West Ham
Suspended: None
Doubtful: Gabbidon, Noble & Parker (all hamstring)
Injured: Boa Morte, Cole & Hines (all knee), Davenport (leg), Dyer & Ilunga
(both hamstring), Franco (unspecified)
MATCH PREVIEW
Aston Villa are closing in on some precious silverware but the holy grail
remains Champions League qualification. Successive league defeats have
quelled Villa's quest for a top-four finish and they cannot afford to be
sidetracked by the prospect of a Wembley final in the Carling Cup, having
overcome Blackburn 1-0 in Thursday's semi-final first leg.
West Ham's priority this season is simply one of survival. Since winning in
the West Midlands on the opening day of the season, against Wolves, they
have only managed three more league victories. One of those was against
Villa in November, when Zavon Hines scored the decisive goal in stoppage
time. The Hammers could start the match in the bottom three if results go
against them on Saturday but their precarious position has not deterred
potential suitors from taking over the club. Reports in Italy are suggesting
that Massimo Chellino, the president of Italian club Cagliari, has agreed a
deal to become West Ham's new owner.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• West Ham have won only one of their last 12 visits to Villa Park (W1, D6,
L5). That was in January 2006 when Marlon Harewood scored the decisive
penalty in a 2-1 Premier League victory.
• Villa lost to West Ham for the first time in seven matches in November's
reverse fixture.
606: DEBATE
Have your say on this match
Aston Villa
• Villa have won seven of their last nine games in all competitions.
• They have conceded 18 goals in 20 league matches - only Chelsea have a
better record.
• They are three points worse off after 20 games than at the same stage last
season.
• Villa have only won four of their 10 matches against bottom-half
opposition this season, losing to Blackburn, Wigan and West Ham.
West Ham
• The Hammers have only won one of their last six league games, mustering
just four points in that period.
• It is 13 months since they last came from behind to win a league match - a
2-1 home victory against Stoke in December 2008.
• Alessandro Diamanti has scored four goals in five matches.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Aston Villa
Agbonlahor: 9 goals (8 league); Milner: 7 goals (4 league)
West Ham
Cole: 7 goals (7 league); Diamanti: 6 goals (5 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mike Jones
Assistant referees: Scott Ledger & Stephen Child
Fourth official: Howard Webb
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Aston Villa (L0-1 v Liverpool, h): Friedel; L Young, Cuellar, Dunne,
Warnock, Milner, Reo-Coker (Albrighton 72), Petrov, Downing (Sidwell 80),
Agbonlahor, Carew. Subs not used: Guzan, Delph, Delfouneso, Beye, Collins.
West Ham (L0-2 v Tottenham, a): Green; Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga
(Spector 19), Collison (Stanislas 79), Behrami, Kovac, Parker (Jimenez 12),
Diamanti, Franco. Subs not used: Stech, Da Costa, Nouble, Payne.
MOST RECENT MEETING
West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa (4 November 2009)
West Ham scorers: Noble 45 pen, Hines 90.
Aston Villa scorer: A Young 52.
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Cellino: no comment
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 15th January 2010
By: Staff Writer
Massimo Cellino has once again refused to be drawn on his proposed bid for
West Ham United, despite further reports emanating from Italy claiming that
he has won the race for control of the club. calciomercato.com, who
prematurely reported that Cellino had purchased the club yesterday morning
are once again stating that the Cagliari chairman remains poised to claim
victory with him awaiting 'official agreement ... from banks', adding that
only a last-minute hitch will prevent the deal from completing. Not to be
outdone, SkySports Italia reported that they had spoken with Cellino this
morning, who is reported to have told them: "I'll speak only when it's
official." Despite these fresh claims from Italy the Intermarket-led
consortium, comprised of a number of wealthy Irons supporters, remain
confident that they will win the race to wrestle control of West Ham from
current owners CB Holdings. It is thought that an announcement could be made
as early as this afternoon.
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Aston Villa v West Ham preview
Davies not ready for hosts while Hammers face injury crisis
By Richard Bailey Last updated: 15th January 2010
SSN
LIVE ON SKY SPORTS
Aston Villa v West Ham
1.00pm, Sun, Sky Sports HD1, Sky Sports 1 and online with Sky Player
PREDICTIONS
skysports.com prediction: Aston Villa 2 West Ham 0
Sky Bet odds: Aston Villa 4/7 Draw 11/4 West Ham 11/2
One to watch: James Milner
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola may struggle to name a starting XI when he
takes his side to face Aston Villa on Sunday. The Hammers have up to 10
first-team players in the treatment room and with the club's poor finances
restricting Zola's attempts to sign reinforcements the Londoners find
themselves up against it before a ball has been kicked.
West Ham currently lie just outside the drop zone with one win in their last
six games, although a credible 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea occurred in the
midst of that run.
Meanwhile, Villa will be buoyed by their 1-0 victory over Blackburn in the
Carling Cup semi-final first-leg on Thursday, although Zola will be hoping a
few of Martin O'Neill's men will still be feeling the exertions from Ewood
Park on Sunday. The Midlanders currently sit nicely in sixth, three points
off Manchester City in fourth, despite losing their last two Premier League
games, against Arsenal and Liverpool. However, O'Neill will know his side
must start picking up maximum points in the coming weeks if they are to
maintain their challenge for the final UEFA Champions League place, with
three of City's next four league games coming against teams currently
occupying the relegation places.
Team news
Defender Wilfred Bouma is still out with an ankle injury having not played
in the last 18 months. It is hoped the Dutchman will return to full training
next week. Fellow defender Curtis Davies has fully recovered from the
shoulder problem that has kept him sidelined since August but the game
against the Hammers may have come too soon for the 24-year-old. Brad Friedel
should return in net having dropped to the bench for the League Cup tie
against his former club Blackburn with Brad Guzan starting in goal.
Scott Parker, Mark Noble and Herita Ilunga are all struggling to be fit for
the Hammers with the trio all suffering with hamstring injuries. Zola will
be extra cautious with Parker having risked the midfielder at Tottenham last
month only for the 29-year-old to limp off after just 12 minutes with Ilunga
following seven minutes later. Striker Guillermo Franco is the latest to be
sidelined with a hamstring problem limiting Zola's options up front with
Carlton Cole (knee) not expected back until next weekend. Defender Danny
Gabbidon, yet another player with hamstring problems, may return but the
club remain unsure as to when midfielder Kieron Dyer (hamstring), forward
Zavon Hines (knee) and stabbing victim Calum Davenport will next feature.
Meanwhile, winger Luis Boa Morte is another long-term casualty with the
Portuguese ace out for the season with knee damage.
Possible starting XIs
Aston Villa: Friedel, Warnock, Dunne, Collins, Cuellar, Milner, Petrov,
Downing, Young, Agbonlahor, Heskey.
West Ham: Green, Upson, Tomkins, Kovac, Daprela, Behrami, Stanislas,
Jimenez, Faubert, Diamanti, Nouble.
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West Ham United Midfielder Kieron Dyer Pondering Retirement
Injury-plagued Hammer considering hanging up playing boots.
Jan 15, 2010 11:43:00 AM
West Ham United midfielder Kieron Dyer, 31, could be about to retire from
football, if a report in The Mirror is to be believed. Dyer, formerly of
Newcastle United and Ipswich Town, signed for current club West Ham in 2007,
but has mustered just 18 appearances as a spate of injuries has prevented
him from making a sustained run in the Irons' first-team. Dyer was last seen
in Hammers colours in the middle of December, but was withdrawn from action
after just 20 minutes of the 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers.
Prior to that, he struck twice in a reserve game against Stoke City, later
revealing that his problematic hamstring "felt good"; however, it is this
recurring issue that is said to have sidelined him once more. According to
The Mirror, at least one club had contacted the Boleyn Ground outfit with
the intention of taking Dyer on loan for the rest of the season. They were
turned away though as the player was deemed to be pondering his future.
Dyer's Hammers career began with an horrific injury as he suffered a double
fracture of the right leg, and the England international has since been
jinxed with a succession of hamstring injuries. Should he permanently retire
from playing, then he will become the second star from Upton Park to call
the curtain down on his career this season. Dean Ashton, 26, also retired
last month after he was unable to recover from a long-term ankle problem.
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WEST HAM: 'Jiminez could leave', admits Nani
11:29am Friday 15th January 2010
Guardian Series
WEST HAM midfielder Luis Jiminez could be offloaded in the January transfer
window after the club's sporting director Gianluca Nani admitted the
Chilean's time at Upton Park may be up. Jiminez has failed to impress since
arriving in east London last summer, and reports in Italian newspaper
Itasportpress.it suggest Italian sides Catania, Chievo and Parma are all
interested. The newspaper quoted Nani as saying: "There is a possibility
that Jiminez could leave our club."
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Keane rubbishes Dyer link
CARL MARSTON
Last updated: 15/01/2010 11:00:00
GreenUn24
IPSWICH Town boss Roy Keane has rubbished rumours linking Kieron Dyer with a
return to his old club. Midfielder Dyer, whose career has been ravaged by
injuries in recent seasons, left Portman Road in the summer of 1999 to join
Newcastle for £6m. The 31-year-old moved on to West Ham for another £6m fee,
but has only started five league games in the last two-and-a-half years for
the Hammers, due to injuries. "It's utter rubbish," insisted Keane, with
reference to Town being linked with Dyer. "He's still injured, isn't he?
Kieron Dyer is not a player that I'm interested in, at this moment in time.
"If we were interested in a player, then we'd contact the club."
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