Aston Villa team news vs West Ham confirmed as Rogers, Maatsen and Olsen start
by John Townley, https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/authors/john-townley/ · Birmingham LiveUnai Emery has named his Aston Villa team to take on West Ham in the FA Cup third round.
He has made three changes from the side which beat Leicester City last time out as Robin Olsen, Ian Maatsen and Morgan Rogers come into the starting XI.
From back to front, Olsen starts in goal behind a defence of Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings and Maatsen. Boubacar Kamara and Ross Barkley operate in the double pivot, while Leon Bailey plays off the right and Rogers from the left as Youri Tielemans supports Ollie Watkins in attack.
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The Hammers sacked Julen Lopetegui on Wednesday and swiftly replaced him by appointing Graham Potter. The former Brighton and Chelsea boss will return to Villa Park later this month for a league fixture, but will be hoping to make an instant impact tonight.
Villa come into the game on the back of a 2-1 win over Leicester City last weekend, while West Ham were defeated 4-1 by Man City at the Etihad Stadium following a 5-0 home loss to league leaders Liverpool.
Villa starting XI: Olsen, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen, Kamara, Barkley, Bailey, Tielemans, Rogers, Watkins.
Subs: Gauci, Nedeljkovic, Digne, Bogarde, Onana, Ramsey, Jimoh-Aloba, Buendia, Burrowes.
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Buy your Aston Villa 150th anniversary commemorative kit
Aston Villa have released a special commemorative kit to celebrate the club's 150th anniversary - and you can get your hands on one now.
The club is continuing its season-long celebration on Friday night when Unai Emery's side host West Ham in the FA Cup. To mark the fixture, which is nearly 150 years to the day of their first-ever recorded match, players will wear a one-off black kit.
It's the colour Villa first used for their kits before the transition to claret and blue colours. The shirts will also feature adidas' Aeroready technology as well as the famous three stripes in all black.