Aston Villa vs West Ham result: Jesse Lingard strikes twice on sensational debut to sink Villa

Aston Villa 1-3 West Ham: Man United loanee Lingard followed Soucek’s strike with two of his own

Jesse Lingard celebrates with his West Ham teammates (PA)

Jesse Lingard netted twice on his West Ham debut as the visitors defeated Aston Villa 3-1 in the Premier League on Wednesday night. 

Villa had the clearer chances in the first half, but David Moyes’ Hammers took the lead six minutes after the break.

Michail Antonio held up the ball up before finding Said Benrahma, who picked out Tomas Soucek. The Czech Republic midfielder then fired a shot into the far corner for his eighth goal of the season. 

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Lingard, who joined West Ham on loan from Manchester United this week, doubled the visitors’ lead at Villa Park five minutes later, beating Emi Martinez with a stinging left-foot shot after chesting down a clipped ball from Antonio.

Ollie Watkins scored his 11th goal of the season for Villa to reduce the deficit 10 minutes from time, but that prompted a quick response from Lingard, who lashed a shot that squirmed though the grasp of Martinez to seal a West Ham victory that lifts them to fifth in the table on 38 points. 

Villa, meanwhile, are ninth on 32.

Reuters