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

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:

Aston Villa vs West Ham

• 7 mins: Johnson fires West Ham in front with low shot past Martinez
• 34 mins: Watkins steers Villa level from Buendia cut-back
• 39 mins: Rice beats Martinez from range to restore West Ham’s lead
• 51 mins: Villa reduced to 10 men after last-man Konsa is sent off for challenge on Bowen
• 81 mins: Fornals finishes off West Ham counter after Bowen’s shot is saved
• 84 mins: Bowen scores West Ham’s fourth to add to Villa’s misery

[31 October 2021 12:23 · Jamie Braidwood]

Aston Villa host high-flying West Ham

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage as Aston Villa host West Ham in the Premier League this afternoon.

Dean Smith is starting to feel the pressure after a disappointing start to Villa’s season, leaving the club languishing in 15th, and needs a positive performance from his side ahead of what could be a decisive month for his tenure.

The mood could hardly be more contrasting for West Ham, who are enjoying a spectacular run of form. David Moyes’s side can go three points clear of Manchester United in fourth with a win this afternoon, have all but secured their place in the Europa League knockout stages and dumped holders Manchester City out of the Carabao Cup during the week.