West Ham extend their unbeaten run with big win at Villa Park

West Ham crushed 10-man Aston Villa 4-1 at Villa Park on Sunday to draw level on points with third-placed Manchester City.

The visitors took the lead in the seventh minute when Ben Johnson's low drive found the bottom left corner from 18 yards after he was picked out by Declan Rice's cross-field pass.

The Hammers were close to doubling their lead after a quick counter-attack, but it was the hosts who struck next, Ollie Watkins squaring things up in the 34th minute when he steered home Emiliano Buendia's low cross from close range.

Captain for the day, Rice quickly restored West Ham's advantage, the England international drilled home a low shot from distance, which slammed in off the post.

Already up against it, the Villans made life even harder for themselves in the second-half when they were reduced to 10 men: Ezri Konsa shown a straight red card after a lengthy VAR review for a last-man challenge on Jarrod Bowen.

With one less, Dean Smith's men came close to an equaliser when Lukasz Fabianski got his fingertips to a thumping Watkins header to push it against the bar.

However, West Ham made the game safe in the final ten minutes and punished their hosts. Pablo Fornals and Bowen each finished off slick counter-attacking moves to put the game beyond Villa's reach.

The victory lifts David Moyes' Hammers to 20 points after 10 games - level on points with third-placed Manchester City. Villa are 10 points adrift of the Hammers in 15th.

The Villans will now travel to Southampton on Friday night, while West Ham host Liverpool at the London Stadium next Sunday. The Hammers first turn their attentions to their Europa League group stage clash away at Genk on Thursday.

Those smiles say it all! 😁pic.twitter.com/bIY2QgDJde

— West Ham United (@WestHam) October 31, 2021