Hammers and Villains seek happy days

Both West Ham United and Aston Villa go into tonight’s game at the Boleyn Ground on the back of two draws but both teams are desperate for the win, although for very different reasons.

West Ham United have picked up two points from their last two games but are only kept off the bottom of the table by Portsmouth on goal difference. Meanwhile Villa will be looking to get back to winnings ways and climb into the top four with maximum points. A win for Zola’s Hammers though would see them jump out of the bottom three at the expense of Blackburn Rovers.

The Irons achieved the unthinkable 10 days ago by coming back from the dead against Arsenal to take a share of the spoils and on Saturday the Hammers stormed into a two goal lead before allowing the Black Cats in to sneak a draw. Aston Villa came from behind to gain a point at Goodison Park but a week earlier they were pegged back late on against Midlands rivals Wolves. Will either side be able to hold on to the lead or will this be another draw?

Going by recent form this game looks like going in Villa’s favour. The Hammers haven’t won in their past six meetings with Martin O’Neill’s men and their last success over Villa was four seasons ago – when they actually did the double over the Villains. Marlon Harewood was a hat-trick hero for the Hammers that season as the Irons tore Villa apart in a 4-0 thrashing. Will the Hammers give the Villains another beating or will O’Neill get the better of his Italian counterpart?

West Ham are still looking to record their first home win of the season and Zola will be desperate to get that monkey off his back, while Villa have lost just once on the road this season (v Blackburn Rovers).

Will the Hammers be happy come 9.40pm or will the travelling Villa fans be vocal in victory? The majority of the Panel believes the points will be heading back up the M6 but West Ham United should never rule out West Ham United.

West Ham United v Aston Villa; Kick Off 7.45pm Nov 4 2009

Prediction Panel

Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 0 – 1
Chris Cox : 1 - 2
Graham Enwright : 1 - 1
Sue Gardener : 1 - 2
Chris Goodwin : 0 - 1
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 2 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : 0 - 2
Peter Lee : 0 - 1
Don McMahon : 1 - 1
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 1 - 1
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : 1 - 2
Dave Nash : 0 - 1
Stephen Orford (sqf) : 1 - 1
Tony Ratton : 1 - 2
Peter Rendle : 0 - 1
Dan Taylor : 2 - 1
Andy Wakeman : 2 - 1
Isaac Williams : 1 - 1
Mark Williams : 2 - 1

Panel Verdict

It looks as though the Hammers will go home unhappy yet again.

Home: 4; Draw: 5; Away: 10; TBC: 1.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!