West Ham vs Aston Villa: Villans growing with "experience" says Matty Cash
Matty Cash feels Aston Villa are growing stronger with "experience" as they attempt to continue their hot streak at Premier League strugglers West Ham United on Sunday.
Villa currently sit third in the English top-flight after collecting their ninth win in 10 league games with a last-gasp win over current leaders Arsenal at Villa Park last weekend.
They registered an eighth successive win in all competitions with a 2-1 success at FC Basel in the Europa League on Thursday - their longest winning streak since 1914.
After climbing to within three points of the summit, Cash is confident Villa can lean on past experiences to continue their challenge at the top end of the Premier League.
"I think the manager said it the other day, every game we're learning new experiences and we're getting better from it," Cash said.
"When we first got into Europe, it's obviously new to some players. Then you have a year in the Conference League and you have experienced there.
"Then you into the Champions League and it's like, wow, it's new to some players again.
"But every week we're gaining different different experiences and that will benefit us as a team 100 per cent.
"We've been up there in the table a lot. Up to fifth, sixth, seventh. And obviously now we're sitting third, so hopefully we can use those experiences now."
Ollie Watkins will make his 200th appearance for the Villans if he features at the London Stadium, after scoring 78 times for the club in that time, including three this season.
Emi Martinez and Pau Torres are doubts ahead of the trip to the capital after sitting out the midweek win in Switzerland.
World Cup winner Martinez was absent for the 4-3 win at Brighton last Wednesday due to a back issue, but returned for the memorable win over the Gunners three days later.
However, the Argentinian goalkeeper was kept out again by the same issue, while Torres is nursing an injury, which forced him off last weekend.
"Both are injured," Emery revealed. "Now we have Konsa and Lindelof both centre-backs and Lamare Bogarde can play there.
"His versatility is fantastic. We will need players to feel comfortable when we have players injured like at left centre-back.
On Martinez, the Spaniard added: "He has a problem in his back. He is not feeling 100 per cent well. Tomorrow and Saturday we will check him again. Hopefully he is getting better for Sunday.
"He had a back problem last week and he was not feeling 100 per cent well. We decided to stop him for this match.
"It is not a big problem, last week in Brighton he felt it. Hopefully he can feel better for Sunday."
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