English Premier
2012-08-18 - West Ham United vs Aston Villa
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 18 August 2012 - Kick Off 3pm
West Ham United
There is a little bit of pressure on West Ham United this season, not usually the norm for a newly promoted side, but they are desperate to be a Premier League side in time for when they move into the Olympic Stadium (something that is expected to be announced in October for the start of the 2014-15 season). The fans are likely to be a little more patient with Sam Allardyce's tactics this season after being on his back for most of last.
They were the pre-season favourites to win the Championship last season, but a late season collapse saw West Ham enter the Play Offs rather than earn automatic promotion. However, they handled the pressure exceptionally well as they beat Cardiff over two legs and Blackpool in the Final to return to the top flight after a one season absence.
The Hammers finished 11-8-4 at Upton Park last season, scoring 41 goals and conceding 26, but they now move up the level of competition they will face here this season. However, they were a 'big' team in the Championship so had the pressure of expecting to win every home game last season and that won't be there this year and could see them still picking up positive results here. West Ham will need to if they are to survive in the top flight.
James Collins will make his second debut for West Ham having returned to the club from Aston Villa this Summer. Jack Collison, Modibo Maiga and Alou Diarra are all likely to be absent.
Aston Villa
It was never going to be an easy task for Alex McLeish, formerly of Birmingham City, to endear himself to the Aston Villa fans who had openly criticised his appointment from day one. However, he didn't help his own cause with some 'negative' tactics that neither earned the necessary results nor tuned the fans in as they flirted with a relegation battle right up until the final day of the season.
It was no surprise to see him sacked in the Summer and he has been replaced with Paul Lambert, a manager known for preferring the attacking side of the game. Lambert did an excellent job at Norwich City in his three years at the club and there is a much more positive vibe at Villa Park coming into this season.
Villa finished a lowly 16th in the Premier League last season and were only 2 points better off than relegated Bolton Wanderers. They finished with a 3-10-6 away record, scoring 17 goals and conceding 28.
Richard Dunne, Gabby Agbonlahor and Marc Albrighton are all missing for this game, but Ron Vlaar should make his debut at the heart of the defence. Darren Bent is also back in the squad after missing the last six months or so of the previous season with an injury.
Head to Head
Aston Villa recorded the double over West Ham United the last time they met in the League a couple of seasons ago.
Villa's record at Upton Park has been pretty decent of late too having lost just 1 of their last 5 games here- in fact, they have won 2 of their last 3 trips to East London with those sandwiching a West Ham win.
The Hammers have won just 2 of their last 11 home games against Aston Villa in the League.
Prediction
This looks like being a really close game between these two sides that will want to get off to a positive start in a Premier League that has a number of clubs that could be dragged into a relegation fight with a poor start to the season.
Recent history points to this being another close game as 7 of the last 11 games at Upton Park between these sides have ended in draws. In fact, the last two games would also have ended in draws but one of the sides scored a goal in the 90th minute (West Ham first time, Aston Villa most recently) to secure a 2-1 win.
I expect Aston Villa to be better than last season, but they were the away draw specialists in the League and you have to think Sam Allardyce will want to get off the mark in terms of points and would probably take a draw now so that has to be the pick from this game.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
West Ham United 1-1 Aston Villa
