Aston Villa will be aiming to shake off a poor recent FA Cup record when they welcome West Ham United on Friday evening. Although the Midlands outfit fell at the fourth-round stage last year, they’ve shown a marked improvement under Unai Emery this season. Villa have lost just one of their last 14 home matches and have not conceded a home goal in Champions League encounters against notable sides such as Bayern Munich, Bologna, and Juventus.
West Ham, on the other hand, come into this clash off the back of two heavy defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City. Julen Lopetegui’s men did at least manage to find the net at the Etihad, and they’ve scored in ten of their last 11 away games. However, a trip to Villa Park remains a formidable prospect given the hosts’ formidable home form.
Below are our three top predictions for this intriguing FA Cup showdown.
Prediction 1: Villa to Win & Both Teams to Score (2/1)
Aston Villa vs West Ham United Predictions
The statistics make this an appealing pick. Both teams have scored in nine of the last ten meetings, which bodes well for a lively contest. Villa’s imperious run at home suggests they can edge it, even if they concede in the process.
Prediction 2: Over 2.5 Goals (10/11)
Aston Villa vs West Ham United Predictions
Given how often these sides have traded blows in previous encounters, three or more goals looks likely. At 10/11, this represents solid value considering the probability: both teams carry a genuine threat and neither appears entirely stable at the back.
Prediction 3: Correct Score 2-1 (8/1)
Aston Villa vs West Ham United Predictions
This scoreline aligns with Villa’s knack for winning tight contests at home while West Ham usually find the net on their travels. At 8/1, there’s good value here, reflecting a probability that’s higher than casual bettors might assume given Villa’s home dominance.
Should Villa maintain their unbeaten streak at home, they can expect to progress in this competition and continue their quest for FA Cup glory.
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