Conor McNamara
BBC Radio 5 live commentator

"A half-full Villa Park for the FA Cup defeat by Manchester City on Saturday says it all. Reaching the final of that competition last season seems a long time ago now.

"Aston Villa can concentrate on the league but lamentably they have had more cup wins this season (3) than league victories (2).

"And yet, three league games unbeaten is - relatively speaking - a purple patch for Remi Garde. He will be desperate to keep it going.

"West Ham's fine season sees them still in the hunt for a European place and home form is crucial. Slaven Bilic's team haven't lost in the Premier League at Upton Park since August."

It seems former West Ham and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand's prep before games has changed a bit. He put up the below picture on Instagram earlier along with the message: "Can't beat a bit of Pie & Mash..Before @whufc_official, external tonight." 

I fancy some now...

Image source, Getty Images

Former Aston Villa midfielder Ray Houghton says the club's failure to sign players in January was 'quite remarkable'.

Villa are bottom of the Premier League, 10 points adrift of safety.

"It probably says we're going down, it's as simple as that and as clear as that," Houghton told BBC World Service.

These two tables highlight how the Premier League's struggling teams - Aston Villa excepted - all swung into action during the January transfer window. The top teams appear to be happy with their lot. For now.

Four of the six teams at the bottom spent more than the entire top six combined. Very, very interesting and a definite pattern. 

Image source, #bbcfootball

Image source, #bbcfootball

West Ham keeper Adrian is back in the starting line-up after he missed the FA Cup draw at Liverpool to go back to Spain to attend the birth of his first child. He's one of four changes as defender James Collins, midfielder Mark Noble and winger Michail Antonio return to the side. New Hammers loan signing Emmanuel Emenike is not included.

West Ham: Adrian, Cresswell, Reid, Collins, Tomkins, Kouyate, Song, Noble, Antonio, Valencia, Payet.

Image source, .

Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor makes his first start for the club since 2 November last year. Keeper Mark Bunn, defenders Joleon Lescott and Jores Okore, as well as midfielder Carles Gil, also start as boss Remi Garde makes five changes from the FA Cup hammering by Manchester City.

Aston Villa: Bunn, Richards, Okore, Lescott, Cissokho, Bacuna, Gana, Veretout, Gil, Ayew, Agbonlahor.

Image source, .

Chris S: Looking forward to seeing the new Aston Villa signings in action tonig... Oh. This is awkward.

Image source, Reuters

There are reports Aston Villa boss Remi Garde appears to be reconsidering his position, external at the club following the club's failed moves in the transfer market.

"I am disappointed. I know that the team needs some strengthening and improvement with new players," he said.

"We are bottom of the league and not very attractive for players. 

"Also, financially speaking the club is in the situation probably where they did not want to spend too much money and I can understand that."

Ingen, geen, aucun, keine, ninguna - whatever language you want to say it in, it adds up to the same when it comes to the number of signings Aston Villa made in January - NONE.

Instead of Villa boss Remi Garde being glued to his phone negotiating the arrivals of someone - anyone - on transfer deadline day yesterday, he was heading down to London for his side's game against West Ham.

Garde missed out on his two main January targets, after Croatian goalkeeper Lovre Kalnic was denied a work permit and striker Seydou Doumbia (pictured) joined Newcastle on loan.

At least no-one left on transfer deadline day!!

Image source, Getty Images

If Aston Villa wanted a sign of how desperate their plight was then they got it in the January transfer window. The top flight's bottom club tried to strengthen in their increasingly doomed fight against relegation but no-one wanted to join them. 

West Ham, on the other hand, won the race to sign right-back Sam Byram from Leeds and also drafted in striker Emmanuel Emenike on loan from Fenerbahce as they look to consolidate on their fifth spot in the Premier League.

It looks like there'll only be one winner in the claret and blue derby but let's see if Villa can upset the odds.