Steve Sidwell backs Aston Villa to beat the West Ham Utd
Dec 19 2008 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail
STEVE Sidwell believes Villa can break a 12-year barren run at West Ham tomorrow and be third in the top division’s table come Boxing Day for the first time in a decade.
Only the top two and Everton have done better on their travels this season.
A win and Villa will go third, where they have not been at this time since 1998/99 when they were top of the pile under John Gregory.
Back then Villa had taken 36 points from their opening 18 matches – just five more than the current crop who have played a game fewer.
Sidwell, sent off in the closing stages of the UEFA Cup game against Hamburg on Wednesday, says Villa prefer to play on the break.
“I think the boys do because of our style of play,” he said.
“With the pace we’ve got we are at our most dangerous on the counter.
“We can catch teams on the break very easily away from home because they’re trying to come out and score against us. We know what we can do away from home.
“When you play at home the away team arrive not expecting to win, they
