FA Cup: Aston Villa vs. West Ham Odds, Preview, and Picks (Jan 10)
The FA Cup action continues on Friday with an interesting showdown between Aston Villa and West Ham. The visitors may be on the hunt for a new manager by the time that this week’s match kicks off, as rumors are heating up that the Hammers will be parting company with Julen Lopetegui.
How To Watch
- When: Friday, January 10, 2025, at 3:00 PM ET
- Where: Villa Park, Birmingham, England
- How To Watch: ESPN
Odds
| Match Result | Odds |
|---|---|
| Aston Villa | -143 |
| Draw | +350 |
| West Ham | +300 |
Match Preview
Aston Villa have endured a mixed festive period in the Premier League, but they bounced back to form with a fine showing at home to Leicester on Saturday. A Champions League push looks to be a tall order for the home side in the second half of the season, but Unai Emery has an excellent record as a cup manager, meaning a long-awaited piece of silverware could be within sight in the FA Cup.
Lopetegui’s future at West Ham remains in the balance, with reports indicating that the Hammers have already spoke to Graham Potter about the role. West Ham sit 14th in the Premier League standings at present, and have lost each of their last two matches, conceding a staggering nine goals in the process.
READ More: FA Cup: Everton vs. Peterborough Odds, Preview, and Picks (Jan 9)
This Friday’s showdown marks the first time that Villa and West Ham have collided in the FA Cup since March 1980. On that occasion, the Hammers would beat Villa 1-0 on their way to winning the competition. Villa recorded a 2-1 win over West Ham in the latest meeting between the sides, but they haven’t won consecutive games against the Hammers since 2010-11.
Villa’s record in the third round of the FA Cup is incredibly poor. The West Midlands side ended a seven-game losing sequence at this stage of the competition last season, but they haven’t reached the third round in consecutive years since 2016. Meanwhile, it would be a worry that the Villa have lost their last six home matches in the FA Cup.
Aston Villa vs. West Ham Picks
Villa holds the better recent form coming into this third round showdown. However, the trends make for worrying reading. Therefore, a shock win for the Hammers could be an interesting play at this weekend’s prices.
Free Pick:
- Aston Villa
