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Aston Villa vs West Ham LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today

The Hammers consolidated their place inside the top four with a big win at Villa Park

Jamie Braidwood
Sunday 31 October 2021 19:09 GMT
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Match Preview: Aston Villa vs West Ham on 31/10/2021

West Ham won 4-1 at Aston Villa to move into the top four in the Premier League and round off a wonderful week for David Moyes’ side.

The Hammers defeated London rivals Tottenham last weekend and reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with a penalty shoot-out victory against holders Manchester City, before putting 10-man Villa to the sword.

Villa boss Dean Smith will feel everything that could go wrong did go wrong as his team slipped to a fourth successive Premier League defeat.

Long-range strikes from Ben Johnson and Declan Rice saw Moyes’ men head into half-time in front, after Ollie Watkins had equalised for the hosts.

Ezri Konsa’s red card shortly after the break gave Villa an uphill task and further goals from Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen inside the final 10 minutes settled the contest. Follow all the reaction live below:

GOAL! Aston Villa 1-4 West Ham (BOWEN 84’)

West Ham are running riot! Antonio drives at the Villa defence unchallenged before slipping it forward to Lanzini. The substitute unselfishly squares the ball to Bowen for the simplest of tap-ins.

The Hammers are heading level on points with Manchester City!

Jamie Braidwood31 October 2021 18:13

GOAL! Aston Villa 1-3 West Ham (FORNALS 81’)

Fornals wraps up the points for West Ham in front of the travelling fans! Antonio flicks the ball forward to Bowen who has the entire half to run into. His shot across goal is saved by Martinez but Fornals follows it in to bundle it over the line!

Villa will be aggrieved that the two players involved in the previous incident had a part to play in the goal - but the goal had been coming. It was just a case of West Ham taking their chance.

Jamie Braidwood31 October 2021 18:10

Aston Villa 1-2 West Ham

78 mins: A challenge between Fornals and Nakamba sparks some pushing and shoving between the teams, with Bowen throwing McGinn to the ground.

Fornals was late and is booked for the tackle while Bowen also receives a yellow card for his shove on McGinn, who is also booked. McGinn got right into Fornals’ face following the tackle.

Jamie Braidwood31 October 2021 18:09

Aston Villa 1-2 West Ham

77 mins: West Ham have had a couple of sloppy minutes in possession, which has given Villa some confidence ahead of these closing stages.

Jamie Braidwood31 October 2021 18:06

Aston Villa 1-2 West Ham

75 mins: Soucek has taken a knock and Mark Noble is warming up just in case. The Czech Republic international looks to be ok, though.

Jamie Braidwood31 October 2021 18:05

Aston Villa 1-2 West Ham

73 mins: Cash tries his luck from range after being presented with time and space on the edge of the box. His dipping shot drifts wide of Fabianski’s post.

Jamie Braidwood31 October 2021 18:03

Aston Villa 1-2 West Ham

70 mins: Fornals picks out Bowen at the back post and the West Ham forward has two efforts at goal, the second low and saved by Martinez at his near post.

Moyes urged his side to be more clinical ahead of today’s match - and a third goal here would surely seal three points. They're getting plenty of opportunities to do so.

Jamie Braidwood31 October 2021 18:01

Aston Villa 1-2 West Ham

68 mins: Save! Rice tries to beat Martinez on his side, but the Villa goalkeeper gets down well to turn his powerful shot behind for a corner.

Bowen swings it in but it’s a poor cross and evades everyone.

Jamie Braidwood31 October 2021 17:58

Aston Villa 1-2 West Ham

66 mins: West Ham have taken the sting out of this game following Watkins’ header that hit the bar. Bowen wins a corner off Targett in the corner. Bowen takes it but Villa clear, before Young catches Lanzini on the edge of the box as he lined up a volley.

Jamie Braidwood31 October 2021 17:57

Aston Villa 1-2 West Ham

64 min: Benrahma is the first West Ham player to make way. He is replaced by Manuel Lanzini.

Jamie Braidwood31 October 2021 17:54

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