Football News

Despite Aston Villa succumbing to a midweek loss against Martin Jol's Hamburg in the Uefa Cup, Steve Sidwell - who was red carded in the closing stages of that game - believes the Villans can return from east London with maximum points at the weekend.

Aston Villa are currently occupying a Champions League spot, and if they are to maintain their advantage over fifth-placed Arsenal, then a weekend win is a must, as this will stand them in good stead for when the Gunners visit Villa Park on Boxing Day.

Sidwell shared his thoughts about Villa's plus points with the press today: "With the pace we’ve got we are at our most dangerous on the counter.

Counter Attack

"We can catch teams on the break very easily away from home because they’re trying to come out and score against us. We know what we can do away from home.

"When you play at home the away team arrive not expecting to win.

"West Ham are at home. They need to come out and entertain their own crowd," he explained.

Since the injury to John Carew, Martin O'Neill has experimented with England hopeful Gabriel Agbonlahor in the lone role in a 4-5-1 formation.

"When we’re at home maybe the 4-5-1 doesn’t work so well.

"Sometimes we do struggle to break teams down when they come to Villa Park and put 10 men behind the ball," Sidwell said.

"But we know what we have to do and we’re working hard in training on it."

Despite the installation of charming Italian tactician Gianfranco Zola, West Ham have only managed to register one win since the victory over Fulham in September. That was at Sunderland a month ago.
Villa though have not won at Upton Park for precisely 12 years.