If West Ham United's historical record is anything to go by, a trip to Villa Park might be a welcome fixture for FPL bosses with Hammers in their line-ups.
Searching for their first win of the new Premier League season, David Moyes’ outfit will aim for a similar return o last season’s 4-1 win when they travel to Aston Villa on Sunday 28 August – and FPL bosses will also watch closely as a host of Hammers’ attackers aim to star once more.
None more so than new-signing Maxwel Cornet, who has the reputation for scoring a hatful of FPL points and netted for his former club against Villa last season.
As it stands, there are just two Gameweeks left to compete for the title of August FPL Manager of the Month. If you want to test your FPL skills against fellow Hammers, you can join the West Ham FPL league by clicking here and using the code jiymp8.
Remember that throughout the season here on whufc.com and in each issue of the Official Programme, we’ll be picking out players to transfer into your team – and giving you some pointers on how to top your leagues!
This week, it is all about Cornet…
How did Maxwel Cornet get on last season?
Cornet will aim to strike once again against the Villans, although this time he will hope to win all three points.
In the Claret and Blue of Burnley last season, Cornet netted a late consolation as a second-half substitute, but his side were brushed aside 3-1 at Turf Moor.
That performance was not in isolation, however. Cornet’s attacking threat was evident in his first season in the Premier League, as he became an FPL fan-favourite due to his consistent returns, despite Burnley’s eventual relegation to the Championship.
A versatile player, Cornet netted nine goals in just 25 appearances at Turf Moor. He could be one to watch in future FPL Gameweeks.
How has Cornet done this season?
Cornet made his first Hammers start against Viborg FF in our UEFA Europa League first leg.
As European football returned to east London for the second consecutive season, Cornet showed his skill on the wing, and tricked past his man, before finding Gianluca Scamacca with an inch-perfect cross. The Italy striker was a grateful recipient and headed home with ease to break the deadlock.
In the second leg, he flicked Gianluca Scamacca’s header to Said Benhrama, who tapped home West Ham’s second of the night. He was also inches away from a first Hammers goal, but struck over from close range midway through the second half in Denmark.
Alongside his European starts, Cornet has also made cameos off the bench in league fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion. It will not be long before he transitions his European form to the Premier League stage once more.
His ownership sits at 0.1% so would be a huge differential should he strike in the league over the next few Gameweeks.
How do the Hammers fare at Villa Park?
Last season’s 4-1 victory was one of West Ham’s best performances of a memorable 2021-22 campaign.
Glorious to watch on the counterattack, the Hammers defeated Aston Villa 4-1 with a sequence of crisply executed moves that swept the hosts aside emphatically.
The Hammers ran riot, Ben Johnson, Declan Rice, Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen all struck. Ollie Watkins netted a sole reply for the hosts, who were down to ten men.
Over the years, Villa has proved a fruitful fixture for the Hammers, who have won their last four matches against Steven Gerrard’s men by an aggregate score of 11-4.
In fact, you would have to go back to 2015 for the last time West Ham fell to defeat against the Villa – it is the Hammers only loss in our last 12 meetings.
Our overall record reads: Won 44, draw 35, lost 38.
Opposition watch: Leon Bailey
Leon Bailey became an FPL favourite ahead of the new season, with a string of performances in pre-season that hinted at a starting bargain attacker for just £5.0m.
The early season FPL love for Bailey has slightly faded, with the 25-year-old rotated as Steven Gerrard looks to find a settled line-up at Villa Park.
Leon Bailey has on occasion featured as part of the attacking two under Gerrard but is set by FPL as a midfielder. He could be one to watch in future game weeks should he get a settled run in the Villa side, with the Jamaican netting in the 4-1 win over Bolton Wanderers in the week.
