Aston Villa v West Ham: Boys in claret and blue are in a Euro battle
Few would have predicted both Villa and West Ham entering the second half of the Premier League season as contenders for European qualification.
Yet just a few months on from fighting against relegation, they are very much rivals in the race for a top-six finish as the campaign enters the homeward stretch.
The Hammers began the latest round of midweek fixtures fifth in the table though Villa, three points back but with two matches in hand, would leapfrog the visitors with victory tonight.
“What has been good is the turnaround for both clubs, both teams,” said Villa boss Dean Smith, who took his team to the London Stadium on the final day of last season still needing a result to avoid the drop.
“Last season both of us were fighting over the last four matches to stay in the league and now we are fighting at the right end of the table.
“It is a big game for both of us. I think both of us have achieved quite a lot already in the first half of the season and want to maintain the consistency which has got us into this position.”
Villa are on course to record their best season for more than a decade and under normal circumstances a fixture list which sees them play 11 of their final 19 matches at home, would be viewed as a big advantage.
But Smith believes the continued absence of fans makes that a moot point.
He said: “Statistically it has been proven that without supporters wins have evened themselves out both home and away. I think the advantage has gone.
“Teams are used to going into Portakabins and media rooms to go and get changed away from home and go out and play in front of no fans.
“There is certainly not the pressure on you from home fans there was before. It is very different now.”
Centre-back Kortney Hause has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a foot injury, while there is also no timeframe for the return of striker Wesley. Smith said the Brazilian was ‘not close’ to rejoining contact training, now 13 months on from suffering a serious knee injury.
He said: “We are still working on his range of movement and getting him up to his sprinting capacity that he was at before the injury.
“He has still not managed to get to that yet so it is ongoing work with the rehab staff and with us as coaches as well.”
Jesse Lingard could feature for the visitors following his loan move from Manchester United. Striker Michail Antonio has also been passed fit.
