West Ham v Aston Villa

Last updated : 15 April 2011 By BBC Sport

Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has the entire squad at his disposal and is expected to name an unchanged side.

Ashley Young will reach the milestone of 250 career league appearances, and Gabriel Agbonlahor could start for the 200th time in his club career.

West Ham

Doubtful: Collison (fitness)

Injured: Kurucz (knee), Stanislas (hernia)

Aston Villa

Injured: None

MATCH PREVIEW

West Ham have promoted this game as a celebration of Britishness, but it's been no picnic for either side this season.

It's in our hands, but we've got to improve massively on Saturday's performance [the 3-0 defeat at Bolton]

Thomas Hitzslperger, West Ham

Despite boasting some of the cream of the nation's talent, West Ham and Aston Villa have too often left their fans feeling as sick as if they had eaten a dodgy prawn sandwich.

Before kick-off, patriotic flags will be distributed to supporters to raise awareness for the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research. Moore would have been 70 this week and The Hammers are hoping to draw inspiration from the tribute to their most famous son, having slipped back into the bottom three following successive heavy defeats. Their need for a win on Saturday is heightened by daunting trips to Chelsea and Manchester City in their next two fixtures.

Villa have badly underperformed since their champagne display against West Ham on the opening day of the campaign. Gerard Houllier's side are targeting two more wins to preserve their top-flight status, having moved five points clear of danger following their nervy victory over Newcastle last weekend.

Saturday's game will also be tense. There is a history of people losing their heads in east London - who keeps theirs at the Boleyn Ground could be the key to survival.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• West Ham's only win in the last nine meetings came at home in November 2009 (W1, D4, L4).

• Seven of the last 10 matches between these sides at Upton Park have been drawn.

• Aston Villa are looking to complete the league double over West Ham for the first time since 1983-84.

West Ham

• They are winless in their last three matches, losing the last two.

• Five of their seven league victories this season have come against bottom-half opposition. They have lost only three of 14 matches against these sides.

• The Hammers have earned 19 points at Upton Park this season - only Blackpool (15) have a worse home record in the division.

• Thomas Hitzlsperger made 99 Premier League appearances for Aston Villa from 2000 to 2005.

• Matthew Upson will be making his 300th career league appearance, two days before his 32nd birthday.

Aston Villa

• Villa are looking to win consecutive matches for only the second time this season. They are also looking to keep back-to-back clean sheets for the first time in a year.

• They have dropped 23 points from winning positions, the equal-most in the Premier League along with Sunderland.

• Gerard Houllier's side have conceded in each of their last 17 away league matches.

• They are the only club this season without a Premier League goal by a substitute, according to Infostrada.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

West Ham

Cole: 11 goals (5 league); Piquionne: 9 goals (6 league)

Aston Villa

Bent: 16 goals* (13 league); A Young: 8 goals (6 league)

* Bent scored 11 goals (8 league) for Sunderland.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Michael Oliver

Assistant referees: Mike Cairns & Simon Long

Fourth official: Andy D'Urso

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

West Ham (L0-3 v Bolton, a): Green; Tomkins, da Costa, Upson (Jacobsen 46), Bridge, Noble, Parker (Spector 76), Hitzlsperger, Piquionne (Cole 46), Keane, Ba. Subs not used: Boffin, Gabbidon, O'Neil, Obinna.

Aston Villa (W1-0 v Newcastle, h): Friedel; Walker (Cuellar 78), Dunne, Collins, L Young, Downing, Petrov, Makoun (Reo-Coker 67), A Young, Agbonlahor (Pires 86), Bent. Subs not used: Marshall, Albrighton, Heskey, Clark.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport