Premier League: Aston Villa thrash West Ham to close on top four
Aston Villa climbed to within two points of the Premier League lead as Douglas Luiz struck twice in a 4-1 win over West Ham on Sunday.
Douglas Luiz netted in the 30th and 52nd minute to send Villa two goals ahead, before West Ham halved the deficit shortly before the hour through a deflected Jarrod Bowen effort.
Ollie Watkins registered a third for the hosts in the 74th minute, though, before Unai Emery’s side made it four late on through Leon Bailey.
The result has moved Villa into fifth position in the Premier League table on 19 points, while West Ham remain ninth, having suffered their third league defeat of the campaign.
West Ham tested Villa early through Bowen, who saw his point-blank effort saved by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, although the offside flag was raised shortly after.
Tomas Soucek headed a Michail Antonio cross over the crossbar in the 10th minute, before Luiz saw a curling effort brilliantly kept out by West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola down the other end.
Villa came close again in the 16th minute through Watkins, who worked some space inside the box before firing towards the bottom corner, but his effort was just wide of the post.
Moussa Diaby sent one wide of the West Ham goal in the 28th minute, but Villa took the lead shortly after, with Luiz’s strike from the edge of the box finding a route into the bottom corner despite the best efforts of Areola, with the power too much for the goalkeeper, while there was also a slight deflection.
Watkins came close again in the 32nd minute, with the striker having a low strike tipped just wide of the post by Areola, who was not receiving too much help from his defenders.
John McGinn sent another effort wide of the West Ham target in the 36th minute, before the Hammers had a couple of half-chances of their own, with Lucas Paqueta missing with an over-head kick before Vladimir Coufal had a dangerous cross gathered by Martinez.
Watkins continued to cause West Ham problems early in the second period, and only an excellent block from Kurt Zouma prevented another shot from him flying towards the goal.
Villa were awarded a penalty in the 50th minute of the match when Edson Alvarez was penalised for a foul on Ezri Konsa, and Luiz buried his penalty past Areola to double the home side’s advantage.
West Ham were back in the match in the 56th minute, though, with Bowen’s strike from distance taking a deflection off Lucas Digne and ending up in the bottom corner of the net.
Goals often change matches and that was the case at Villa Park in the period that followed, with West Ham suddenly causing all sorts of problems with their pace and movement in the final third.
Matty Cash headed an effort from Nayef Aguerd over his own crossbar in the 65th minute, before Bowen headed over shortly after, with the Hammers threatening a second goal at Villa Park.
Cash was again needed to turn a low Antonio cross wide of the post in the 71st minute, but Villa managed to score a third in the 74th minute through Watkins.
The England international was released by McGinn, and he faced up to Zouma before working a yard of space and smashing the ball past Areola with an emphatic finish.
Bailey sent one just wide of Areola’s post in the 87th minute, but the attacker got his name on the scoresheet two minutes later, with his goal capping a brilliant afternoon for Emery’s side.
