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<\/p>\nWatkins cracked in Villa\u2019s third after West Ham came back <\/p>\n
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Aston Villa maintained their Champions League charge with a thumping 4-1 win over West Ham.<\/p>\n
Douglas Luiz\u2019s brace, including a second-half penalty, plus goals from Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey moved them to fifth in the Premier League, just two points off top spot.<\/p>\n
Jarrod Bowen\u2019s deflected effort made it 2-1 but the hosts recovered for Watkins to smash in a crucial third before Bailey wrapped things up late on.<\/p>\n
The Hammers, now five points adrift of Villa, slipped to just a third defeat of the season after struggling to match the hosts.<\/p>\n
Villa had waited long enough for a victory over the Hammers, their bogey side.<\/p>\n
They had recorded just one win in the last 10 years, a 1-0 victory when Villa were already on the slide in 2015, but under Unai Emery they are a different beast, having earned 10 straight home league wins for the first time in 30 years coming into this match.<\/p>\n
Emery put his faith in Nicolo Zaniolo, starting while he assists the Italian authorities in their investigation into alleged illegal betting activity.<\/p>\n
A Sunday afternoon slumber hung over Villa Park in the opening stages but it was roused when Alphonse Areola brilliantly turned Luiz\u2019s 25-yard effort wide.<\/p>\n
It was a stunning save from the West Ham goalkeeper but he should have been beaten five minutes later.<\/p>\n
Moussa Diaby\u2019s pass evaded Kurt Zouma for Watkins to turn Vladimir Coufal. The hard work done, the striker had just Areola to beat but dragged inches wide from 12 yards.<\/p>\n
The momentum was with Villa so there was little surprise when they went ahead after 30 minutes.<\/p>\n
Zaniolo and Watkins linked on the left with the England striker collecting a cute return pass to tee up Luiz on the edge of the box and he drilled low past Areola.<\/p>\n
In scoring, the midfielder became the first Villa player to net in six straight home matches in the Premier League.<\/p>\n
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Aston Villa\u2019s Douglas Luiz celebrates his second goal against West Ham<\/p>\n
The hosts deserved their lead, Watkins close to doubling it two minutes later when he grazed the side-netting, and West Ham were too compliant as Diaby, Watkins and Zaniolo caused problems.<\/p>\n
Villa were slicker than the Hammers, who waned in the last third with a final ball missing and Michail Antonio haphazard.<\/p>\n
Any hopes of a comeback rested on a strong start to the second half but, instead, the Hammers self-destructed after 51 minutes to gift Villa total control.<\/p>\n
There was little danger when the Hammers looked to play their way out in the corner but Lucas Paqueta\u2019s wretched pass put Edson Alvarez in trouble.<\/p>\n
Ezri Konsa darted ahead and Alvarez clattered the defender to concede a penalty which Luiz coolly converted.<\/p>\n
It looked like a Villa cruise but the visitors pulled a goal back out of the blue five minutes later when Bowen\u2019s shot from 25 yards clipped Pau Torres and rolled in the corner.<\/p>\n
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West Ham\u2019s Jarrod Bowen celebrates after scoring the team\u2019s first goal<\/p>\n
The rarely-seen jitters returned to Villa Park and Matty Cash headed Nayef Aguerd\u2019s strike over before turning Antonio\u2019s dangerous cross behind.<\/p>\n
Yet Villa ended any hopes of a recovery with 16 minutes left. The Hammers had the hosts on the ropes briefly but were caught out by John McGinn\u2019s long ball to Watkins.<\/p>\n
The striker, fresh from his winner for England against Australia during the international break, still had plenty to do but sold a dummy to Zouma before drilling into the roof of the net from an angle.<\/p>\n
Substitute Bailey then wrapped up the points with a minute left, collecting Youri Tielemans\u2019 pass, sidestepping Aguerd and finding the top corner.<\/p>\n