A 2d half brace from Jesse Lingard and an eighth goal of the season from Tomas Soucek helped fire West Ham to a deserved 3-1 have at Aston Villa, closing the hole on Champions League qualification to correct two functions.
The Hammers made two modifications from the aspect that misplaced to Liverpool on the weekend, opting to impart in Lingard for a cumbersome debut and Ryan Fredericks to abet Vladimir Coufal nullify the probability of Jack Grealish.
The transfer grew to change into out to be a tactical masterstroke as Lingard seemed supremely though-provoking playing in the amount 10 feature, while Aston Villa captain Grealish struggled to wriggle freed from his shackles.
Jesse Lingard declares his arrival at West Ham with a debut goal ?
It is doubtless you’ll maybe presumably concept from the celebrations that one capacity loads to him! pic.twitter.com/wXSR4NwvpB
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 3, 2021
West Ham had the simpler of the first half, and made their superiority depend six minutes after the destroy when Soucek soundless Acknowledged Benrahma’s completely weighted by ball sooner than rifling dwelling previous Emi Martinez from an correct angle.
Lingard made it two rapidly after, firing dwelling with his passe foot after being played in on the left hand aspect, sooner than Tyrone Mings acrobatically zigzag an Antonio effort off the road.
Ollie Watkins diminished the arrears with correct below ten minutes to poke, sooner than Lingard wrapped issues up moments later – benefiting from an Martinez error to round off a dream debut.
Adequate of all that, eh, let’s enact some ratings!
1. Goalkeeper & Defenders
3. Forwards
West Ham player ratings
6. Midfielders
Michail Antonio (ST) – 7/10 – Two assists on the night for Antonio, who once more showed a willingness to conclude short and mosey in late. Shall be smarter with a couple of of his decision making, but additionally seemed as if it could maybe presumably possess good chemistry with Lingard.
