When we played West Ham a couple of weeks ago it was in the FA Cup and Graham Potter had just taken over. I write that because the FA Cup is different to the League and Potter has had a couple of weeks to get across what he wants.
And I think Potter is a good coach. If the players have listened to him, they've taken onboard his approach and they're going to do what is expected of them from their new coach, today will be a different match to the one earlier this month.
And by that I mean it's going to be tougher. Tougher because we played in the week and we have to be ready for another match next Wednesday. West Ham have had a week on the training pitch.
That said, the only thing that impacts us is fitness and these days there are so many things players can do to get themselves ready and while I'm not sure, I suspect all of that stuff is available to the players and they've used them. Today is less about fitness and more about focusing 100% on this match and not thinking about what happened on Tuesday and what has to happen on Wednesday.
All that written, West Ham have a new coach and there is often a bounce with a new man and we have to be aware of that today. But it could turn out and I suspect it might, much like it did a couple of weeks ago and ironically, for the reasons I've written, we had a match on Tuesday and we have another on Wednesday.
By that I mean, even with a new coach, West Ham are West Ham and I think we should have just a little more than them. This isn't optimism, it's me trying to be pragmatic. But I've got it wrong before.
Back later. Going to hit the hill and get a few runs in.
Match facts from the BBC
Head-to-head
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Aston Villa are looking to complete their first league double over West Ham since 2010-11, having won 2-1 away on the opening weekend of the season.
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West Ham's 4-1 defeat in last season's corresponding fixture ended a five-match unbeaten run at Villa Park in the Premier League (W3, D2).
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The Hammers also lost away to Villa in the FA Cup a fortnight ago.
Aston Villa
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Villa are on a 10-match unbeaten home run in the Premier League (W6, D4). They've only had three longer streaks without defeat at Villa Park.
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However, Unai Emery's side are winless in their past five league games following Champions League fixtures, with two home draws followed by three away defeats.
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They have conceded a goal from their opponent's first shot on target in 11 Premier League matches this season, more than any other team.
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The Villans have also conceded 11 goals after the 75th minute in the current campaign, second only to Southampton's tally of 12.
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Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest have scored a joint-high eight Premier League goals this season prior to the weekend fixtures.
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Unai Emery is unbeaten against West Ham as Aston Villa manager, with three wins and two draws.
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Ollie Watkins is set to make his 200th Aston Villa appearance on Sunday. He has 69 goals and 30 assists in 168 Premier League outings and could reach 100 goal involvements in the fewest games by any player since Kevin De Bruyne achieved the milestone in 155 matches in July 2020.
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Lucas Digne is poised to play in his 100th Premier League game for the club.
West Ham United
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They have lost three of their past four league games.
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West Ham's most recent away fixture was a 2-1 FA Cup defeat by Aston Villa earlier this month in Graham Potter's first match in charge. They have lost 10 of their past 16 on the road in all competitions (W3, D3).
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The Hammers have only led at half time in three Premier League games this season, the joint-lowest tally in the division.
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Nonetheless, they've only failed to score in one of their 10 top-flight away fixtures in 2024-25 – a 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest in November.
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They have averaged just 8.7 shots and 2.4 shots on target in their seven matches without Jarrod Bowen since the start of last season, compared to 13.1 shots and 4.3 shots on target per game when he plays.