Rob Eddy's best bets for Sunday's clash at Villa Park include goals at both ends with a prolific striker getting on the scoresheet.
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Aston Villa and West Ham have been two of the success stories of the early part of the Premier League season and the pair will be hoping to pick up where they left off when they meet in their first game after the international break.
Unai Emery’s men are in rock-solid form at home but the Hammers have lost just twice, to Manchester City and Liverpool, all season.
This should be an ultra-competitive clash between two sides who have impressed this term.
Stalemate on the cards
Aston Villa have won an impressive 10 home games in a row in the Premier League but that run may come to an end against this West Ham side.
The Hammers are just two points behind the Villans in the table and have beaten the likes of Brighton, Chelsea and Freiburg this season.
Their brand of counter-attacking, set-piece heavy football can be very effective and the fact that they have lost just two of their 11 games in all competitions demonstrates that.
Their summer signings such as James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez have hit the ground running and are proving a very serviceable replacement for Declan Rice, while Lucas Paqueta continues to show his class.
Six of the last 14 meetings between these two teams have ended in a stalemate, showing the usual competitive nature of matches between this pair.
Although Villa are on a remarkable run at home, West Ham are hard to beat and a share of the spoils may be the likeliest outcome when these two meet.
Watkins in fine form
Aston Villa have been among the highest scorers in the Premier League this season and a key part of that has been the form of Ollie Watkins.
The striker has registered four assists and scored four times in eight league matches.
The 27-year-old’s form was rewarded with a call up to the England squad in the recent international break and he rewarded Gareth Southgate’s faith by netting the winner against Australia.
Watkins could find himself on the scoresheet once more against a West Ham defence that have conceded 12 times already this season.
High-scoring affair likely
These two teams are among the highest scorers in the top flight this season, only Newcastle and Brighton have netted more than Aston Villa’s 19, and they look set to add to that tally here.
Five of West Ham’s last seven matches have gone over 3.5 goals and both sides can contribute to another high-scoring affair in this matchup.
Villa’s last home league game saw seven goals and while a repeat of that is unlikely, four or more looks a realistic target.
Best Bets
Draw @ 11/4
Ollie Watkins to score at any time @ 1/1
Over 3.5 goals @ 7/5
