JARROD BOWEN caught Villa chilly in the beginning of every half on an evening we noticed the great and dangerous of Jack Grealsh.
The West Ham wideboy delivered the nook for Angelo Ogbonna to nod the opener ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SECONDS into the primary half.
Jarrod Bowen scored West Ham’s winner as they beat Aston Villa 2-1 at London StadiumCredit score: Kevin Quigley-The Every day Mail
Ollie Watkins missed a penalty at 2-1 and had a late equaliser dominated out by VARCredit score: AFP or licensors
Angelo Ogbonna opened the scoring after two minutesCredit score: Rex Options
Bowen then restored the Hammers lead with what turned out to be the winner with a flick solely TWENTY-NINE SECONDS into the second.
In-between England’s new poster-boy Grealish levelled for the guests with a shocking strike earlier than the break.
However the Villa skipper blotted his copybook – and mugged himself proper off – with a disgraceful piece of play-acting throughout a second-half spat with Pablo Fornals which noticed John Terry and a Hammers coach booked.
Grealish, an early contender for Participant of the Yr, may be in line for an Oscar after he theatrically threw himself to the ground in a bid to point out the Spaniard kicked out at him.
There isn’t any doubt Fornals did lash out, however TV replays confirmed the contact – if any – was minimal, whereas Grealish’s response was delayed and diabolical.
The cameras did Villa no favours as they tried and failed to start out the Prem season with a record-equalling fourth consecutive away victory – with Ollie Watkins having a stoppage-time ‘equaliser’ dominated out by VAR for offside.
West Ham additionally needed to be grateful to Watkins smashing a 71st minute penalty in opposition to the crossbar as they continued their best-ever begin to a house marketing campaign on the London Stadium since shifting right here in 2016.
The Hammers’ season appeared to activate their Covid outbreak in September – earlier than which they’d misplaced each of their opening Prem matches.
Jack Grealish scored a spectacular first half effort to make it 1-1Credit score: Eddie Keogh Telegraph Media Group
VAR denied Watkins a late equaliserCredit score: Sky Sports activities
Declan Rice tugged Trezeguet again to concede the penaltyCredit score: Sky Sports activities
Since then they’ve misplaced simply certainly one of their eight League video games, profitable three and drawing certainly one of their 4 at dwelling.
This soulless stadium won’t ever be thought to be dwelling by diehard Irons, however a minimum of they now have gamers who really feel comfy taking part in there.
Boss David Moyes made one change to his facet which gained 1-0 at Sheffield United final day trip, with Michail Antonio coming in for main scorer Sebastien Haller.
And it was the recalled frontman who helped get the Hammers off to a flyer – as he managed and laid off Arthur Masuaku’s long-throw into the field to Tomas Soucek, whose highly effective shot in the direction of objective was brilliantly blocked by Matt Targett.
The ensuing nook was then headed dwelling by Ogbonna on the far publish to place the hosts 1-0 up with lower than two minutes performed.
Because the nook was being taken on this empty stadium you may hear Villa defender Tyrone Mings telling his team-mate Targett – who was marking Ogbonna: “Don’t foul, don’t foul.”
Sadly the full-back didn’t bounce both as Ogbonna netted with ease.
Villa got here again into it, with Trezeguet dragging a weak shot simply extensive and Ezri Konsa headed over from Targett’s deep cross earlier than Conor Hourihane’s free-kick palmed away for a nook by West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Grealish then offered one other second for his sensational showreel when he collected the ball in midfield, burst ahead and fired dwelling from 20 yards to stage the scores within the twenty fifth minute.
Bowen glanced dwelling a Stated Benrahma cross to make it 2-1Credit score: Eddie Keogh Telegraph Media Group
The Hammers go fifth with the winCredit score: Eddie Keogh Telegraph Media Group
Sadly for the Hammers, Vladimir Coufal confirmed nothing like the identical talent or composure as he blazed effectively over the bar when introduced with the possibility to revive their lead from an analogous distance moments later.
Villa confirmed why their away type had been so good as they completed the half the stronger with Ollie Watkins firing extensive with a shot from contained in the field – and Hourihane doing likewise with one other free kick from outdoors it.
Antonio’s return from harm lasted simply 45 minutes as he was subbed at half time.
His substitute Stated Benahima made a right away impression as he crossed for Bowen to move the Hammers again in entrance simply TWENTY-NINE SECONDS after the restart.
Again got here Villa as soon as extra, as John McGinn had a deflected away for a nook and Trezeguet was denied by a Fabianski’s beautiful point-blank save – when he actually oughta scored.
A niggly conflict threatened to show nasty when Grealish and Fornals clashed.
The fallout spilled to the touchline the place Villa No2 John Terry and a member of the Hammers backroom crew had been each booked.
And the controversy didn’t finish there as Villa had been awarded a 71st minute penalty when Trezeguet was introduced down within the field by Declan Rice – after which by chance kicked within the face by the England man.
However Watkins hit the bar with the ensuing pen to proceed his depressing run from the spot.
The £32m striker has now missed 4 of his final six pens within the League.
And his woe didn’t finish there as he was denied a last-gasp leveller when VAR Stuart Attwell determined he was fractionally offside.
