Villa’s pre-season preparations continued tonight against West Ham United. Shortly before the match, Aston Villa renewed their commitment to current manager Steve Bruce in a short statement. Villa deployed their preferred 3-man defence to start the game, and looked patient and progressive - owning the pitch in the first five minutes, before things quickly turned against them. Despite Villa’s best efforts - including a smart Alan Hutton volley, West Ham quickly took the lead. Michail Antonio won the ball on the right flank before driving forward, through Albert Adomah and Alan Hutton before lashing it home past Jed Steer. Villa’s defensive woes seemed to leak onto the other side of the pitch, where James Bree was found wanting in possession as the Hammers slowly targeted him throughout the first half. West Ham were rewarded in the form of their goal through this, as Marko Arnautovic found too much time and space in the box - and buried home for West Ham’s second. Villa sleepwalked into the half-time whistle two goals down and lacking inspiration. Far too often the ball was found pondering outside the West Ham box and far too often was a West Ham counter started by one of Villa’s own due to errors. In the second-half, Villa met back up with Robert Snodgrass - with the former loanee playing on the opposite side of the pitch. While he was in a new-look shirt for a new(ish) team - Villa set out with the same intent as the first-half; waiting for West Ham to turn on the style and advance. In typical pre-season nature, Villa retracted and allowed West Ham to own the park before introducing all of their returning World Cup stars - including Mile Jedinak, Birkir Bjarnason and Ahmed Elmohamady to the fold. Villa’s back-three suddenly included one senior-centre back, in a way - via the aforementioned Australian. James Bree and Alan Hutton made up the partnership on either side of him. Truth be told, it’d be harsh to be, well, harsh on Villa for their performance in a pre-season friendly, but this was a walkabout of ‘I am going to walk to Mordor to destroy the One Ring’ proportions. VIlla’s only serious attack of intent ended in a thunderous strike from Andre Green to give Villa a way back into the match following West Ham’s goal in which Robert Snodgrass added an easy third for the Hammers. Eh - it’s preseason. We’ll have to take the good with the bad and trust Villa to push forward when the ‘actual football’ starts, and use these opportunities to iron out some glaring errors in the set-up, which lacks solidity at the back and gusto going forward. Match Information Result: Aston Villa 1 - 3 West Ham United Context: Pre-season friendly Goalscorers: Who? Man of the Match: What?<doc-sep>Matthew Lewis/Getty Images More West Ham United Stories {{#articles}} {{item.title}} Aston Villa take on West Ham United in a pre-season friendly this evening. West Ham United starting line-up: Adrian; Zabaleta, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Masuaku; Rice, Noble, Wilshere; Antonio, Anderson, Arnautovic. West Ham United substitutes: Trott, Byram, Diop, Fredericks, Cullen, Obiang, Haksabanovic, Snodgrass, Martinez. West Ham United are back in pre-season action this evening as they travel to take on Aston Villa at Walsall’s Banks’s Stadium, just days after drawing 2-2 away at Preston North End. The Hammers have named a suitably strong side as they face another Championship side tonight, with Adrian in goal once again as Lukasz Fabianski continues to wait for his first West Ham game. Roy Keane and the growing links to Celtic Pablo Zabaleta, new signing Fabian Balbuena, Angelo Ogbonna and Arthur Masuaku line up in defence, with Declan Rice moving into midfield alongside Mark Noble and Jack Wilshere. Record signing Felipe Anderson is handed a first start, joining Michail Antonio and Marko Arnautovic in a three-man West Ham attack, though Andriy Yarmolenko isn’t in the squad at all. Ex-Villa loanee Robert Snodgrass is on the bench, alongside Nathan Trott, Sam Byram, Issa Diop, Ryan Fredericks, Josh Cullen, Pedro Obiang, Sead Haksabanovic and Toni Martinez, with Jordan Hugill once again missing. In other news, Paul Merson thinks Tottenham Hotspur chairman has advantage over Harry Kane<doc-sep>What began with a resounding vote of confidence from the new sheriffs in town ended with Aston Villa beaten by West Ham’s sharp shooting. Manuel Pellegrini will be pleased with what he saw from his team, but Steve Bruce declared himself ‘absolutely delighted’ just to be still in charge. It was not clear Bruce would be in he dugout for this friendly until an hour and a quarter before kick-off. Michail Antonio (middle) celebrates scoring with Mark Arnautovic (left) and Felipe Anderson Steve Bruce took charge after being reassured by the owners that he has their full support Nassef Sawiris (right) and Wes Edens issued a statement before kick-off about Bruce's future MATCH FACTS: Aston Villa 4-1-4-1: Steer; Bree, Elphick (Jedinak 59’), Chester (Bjarnason 59’), Hutton (Taylor 80’); Whelan (74’); Hourihane (Elmohamady 59’), Grealish (Green 74’), Doyle-Hayes (Lansbury 59’), Adomah (De Laet 61’); Kodjia (Knibbs 74’) Subs: Sarkic Goal: Green West Ham 4-2-3-1: Adrian; Zabaleta (Fredericks 81’), Balbuena (Diop 46’), Ogbonna, Masuaku (Byram 87’); Rice (Obiang 46’), Noble; Antonio (Snodgrass 46’), Wilshere (Cullen 66’), Anderson (Haksabanovic 46’); Arnautovic (Martinez 87’) Subs: Trott Goals: Antonio, Arnautovic, Snodgrass Advertisement But Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens liked what they heard during their meeting with Villa’s manager at Bodymoor Heath and judging by the supporters in attendance at Walsall’s Banks’s Stadium it was the popular decision. So Thierry Henry wil have to wait for his chance as a manager and that has to be considered the smart call by two businessmen with deep pockets but little time. Bruce deserved his chance for guiding Villa to the Championship play-off final on a budget and with money he could take that final step to the Premier League. It will be interesting to observe what Villa do between now an the transfer deadline on August 9. Keeping Jack Grealish would be a huge coup. He was yet again Villa’s best player, always looking for the creative option, and it is clear why Mauricio Pochettino wants him. Pellegrini has done most of his transfer work and this was a good work out for the likes of Felipe Anderson, Jack Wilshere, and Issa Diop. West Ham look a good bet for a positive campaign. Villa’s players found out news on Bruce as they checked phones stood by the side of the pitch. When Bruce arrived he declared his ‘absolute delight’ at staying on. As if fuelled by the knowledge of continuity, Villa began with a spring in their step. Inside the first ten minutes Grealish and Alan Hutton drew good saves from Adrian in the West Ham goal. Arnautovic added the second for West Ham as the Premier League side took full control But West Ham carried the clinic edge and went ahead with their first attack. Villa were sluggish to the threat of Michail Antonio, who picked up a loose ball and turned Tommy Elphick inside out before firing a low shot past Jed Steer. Sawiris and Edens had taken their seats in the directors’ box just in time to see their new team go behind. It was a sloppy concession and illustrates the need for Villa to recruit a centre-back to replace the departed John Terry. The men now signing off the cheques are supposed to have deep pockets, so we shall see. West Ham doubled their lead in the 28th minute when Arthur Masuaku made good progress down the left and crossed for Marko Arnautovic to sweep in. Jack Grealish was Villa's best player and keeping him would be a major coup for the club Pellegrini had started with Arnautovic up front, supported by Antonio, record-signing Anderson, and Wilshere. As a quartet, it shows a lot of promise. The £41.5million quality of Anderson was evident in every touch and Wilshere played with a smile on his face. Indeed, after the break the former Arsenal midfielder went close with a low shot at the end of a quick attack that Steer got down well to hold. The usual raft of changes took place, with substitute Robert Snodgrass getting universal applause following his successful loan spell at Villa last season. ‘Brucie, sign him,’ chanted the Villa fans. West Ham fans were able to watch new signing Anderson in action at Banks's Stadium Jack Wilshere was given a run out by Manuel Pellegrini in the Hammers' pre-season friendly Ryan Fredericks was the villain of the piece, heckled when he arrived with ten minutes to go. Villa supporters still resent the former Fulham defender for his poor foul on Grealish in the play-off final. Bruce switched to a back-three system for the final half hour, with Mile Jedinak holding the central role, and Villa seemed more secure until Snodgrass burst clear with seven minutes to go. He rounded Steer to finish, providing substance to the theories he could finally establish himself at the club. Soon after Andre Green got Villa something to show for a decent passage of possession, seizing on the ball in the area and rifling a thunderous finish into the top corner. This could be a big season for the 19-year-old, who suffered a long-term injury last term.<doc-sep>Aston Villa have new owners, and thanks to that slice of news a cloud is now hanging over the managerial position of the club. It is expected that Steve Bruce will be dismissed as the manager of the team and replaced with Thierry Henry. Equally, it’s likely that he stays put. Either way, we probably won’t know anything tonight - and as of writing, it looks like Bruce will guide his side in a match against West Ham United. Yes, Robert Snodgrass is returning - to face the Villa. It’s a ‘home’ game played in Walsall - due to Villa Park’s pitch renovation - and Villa will take on Manuel Pellegrini’s Irons. You can watch it all below. Thanks to Villa’s media team as well, you’ll be able to stream the game on YouTube. You can actually watch it on this page, below - if you fancy it. Enjoy the day and enjoy watching Villa again. It all starts here. Feel free to comment below! TV and Streaming Location: Bescot Stadium, Walsall, England Kick-off time: 19.45 pm UK, 14.45 pm Eastern, 11.45 am Pacific Weather: A warm evening in Walsall Open Match Thread: Jump into the comments at the bottom of the page Streaming: Click play on the video below Twitter: You can find our live updates @7500toHolte, and we’d also recommend @VillaReport for updates as well. Injuries Villa will likely miss Scott Hogan, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy and Harry McKirdy. Callum O’Hare is also out injured for a number of weeks. Aston Villa squad TBC Live twitter feed<doc-sep>
West Ham take on Aston Villa in their fourth pre-season friendly of the summer on Wednesday evening but not at Viilla Park, but at Walsall's Bescot Stadium just down the road. Club-record signing Felipe Anderson and fellow new recruits Fabian Balbeuna and Lukasz Fabianski are expected to be a part of the travelling squad heading to the Midlands to continue their preparations for the season ahead. £42m signing Anderson has had a week's worth of training under his belt now and if Jack Wilshere is anything to go by, that should be enough for the Brazilian to get at least a 45 minute run-out at the Bescot later. The same applies for Balbuena as both started training at the same time with their new teammates. Wilshere himself will continue his quest for fitness after featuring in the first half of the 2-2 draw with Preston North End last weekend and Robert Snodgrass looks set to face up to his former club this evening. Manuel Pellegrini has plenty of options to choose from now thanks to his summer spending splurge with a much better depth chart in his squad, so here is how we think he might line the team up this evening. Having played a game on Saturday, Pellegrini could either keep those players involved to build their fitness up or give them a rest and get others involved. We've gone for a mix of both. We've gone for Lukasz Fabianski to get the nod in goal at the start this evening as he targets a debut for the club following his £7m move from Swansea City earlier this summer. Aaron Cresswell should feature at the Bescot having got over a groin injury that has kept him out of the pre-season games so far. Pablo Zabaleta could start at right back though we've plumped for Ryan Fredericks as the manager tries something new. (Image: Lynne Cameron/Getty Images) We've picked Declan Rice to play a holding midfield role, something we haven't seen much of this season, but we've put him there so Angelo Ogbonna can get some minutes alongside Issa Diop, who has had a couple of shaky outings so far. Snodgrass should line up against his former club and Andriy Yarmolenko will play more advanced because we think that Felipe Anderson will make his long-awaited debut this evening. To be honest, the line up could be completely different to one we have gone for but that is the beauty of pre-season and having a much larger squad to choose from than what we have seen in recent seasons in east London. Keep up to date with the latest news, features and exclusives from football.london via the free football.london app for iPhone and Android. Available to download from the App Store and Google Play.