Aston Villa secured their 11th consecutive home league victory, marking their lengthiest streak since a sequence of 13 wins concluding in October 1983. The triumph over West Ham United at Villa Park propelled them to fifth place in the Premier League (PL) standings, merely two points behind the leaders, Manchester City.
The teams kicked off with just a two-point gap, and the initial stages of the match were intense with little to differentiate between them. However, as the first half progressed, the hosts took control, dictating possession and creating a prime opportunity that the in-form Ollie Watkins narrowly missed. Thirty minutes in, Watkins redeemed himself by assisting Douglas Luiz, who expertly placed his shot into the bottom corner, becoming the first player to score in six consecutive PL appearances at Villa Park.
Entering the second half trailing for the first time in the PL this season, West Ham needed to elevate their performance. Unfortunately for them, matters worsened when a careless pass from Lucas Paquetá resulted in a clumsy foul by Edson Álvarez on Ezri Konsa.
This handed Luiz the opportunity to score his second from the penalty spot, a chance he capitalized on by confidently striking the ball down the middle. However, the jubilation of the home fans was short-lived as, just four minutes later, Jarrod Bowen, who recently signed a contract extension, showcased his value by netting a deflected shot, making him the third player in PL history to score in each of his first five away league games.
Bowen’s goal ensured that both teams found the net in each of West Ham’s last six PL away matches. The scoring continued with John McGinn delivering a precise ball that allowed Watkins to unleash a powerful shot at the near post, extending the lead. Coming off the bench, Leon Bailey added the finishing touch with a spectacular display of agility in the penalty area, sealing a comprehensive victory for Villa. This result also halted a 10-match winless streak in head-to-head encounters for Villa and marked a significant moment for West Ham manager David Moyes, who suffered his first league defeat against Villa after previously going 14 PL head-to-heads without a loss (eight wins, six draws), leaving West Ham in 9th place.