There was a touching tribute for Billy Bonds before kick-off, and his claret and blue army dealt the first blow in just 29 seconds. Mateus Fernandes pickpocketed Ezri Konsa before beating Marco Bizot from a tight angle for the PL’s quickest goal so far this season.
Villa remained unfazed by the early setback and were level nine minutes into proceedings, as Konstantinos Mavropanos challenged Ollie Watkins to meet John McGinn’s cross but headed it into his own net.
The visitors continued to control the game’s pace and dominate possession, yet the Hammers regained their lead in the 24th minute.
The hosts had a handball call turned down but kept the move alive and Jarrod Bowen reacted to turn Freddie Potts’ effort into the net, having been kept onside by Konsa.
After a period of end-to-end football, Crysencio Summerville provided the biggest threat with Boubacar Kamara and Matty Cash both receiving a booking for fouling him.
Morgan Rogers still came agonisingly close to picking out the top corner before the break and had his side level within five minutes of the restart, as he controlled Youri Tielemans’ cross and finished past Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the line.
Both teams continued to show intent with Tielemans and Kamara blocking an ambitious El Hadji Malick Diouf and Fernandes strike respectively, before Donyell Malen saw a venomous strike saved moments after being brought off the bench.
Bowen momentarily thought he had restored West Ham’s lead but strayed marginally offside before receiving the ball.
Summerville then fired wide after collecting the ball from a fortuitous bounce in the box, before Rogers smashed a superb strike from range past Alphonse Areola in the 80th minute.
Rogers came close to a hat-trick with a late strike that was dragged wide, but he had already done enough to earn Villa’s ninth consecutive win across all competitions, which keeps them within three points of PL leaders Arsenal. The Villans also left West Ham winless in five and stuck in the relegation zone.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)