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West Ham climbed up to fifth as goals from Angelo Ogbonna and Jarrod Bowen sank Aston Villa 2-1.<\/p>\nWest Ham climbed up to fifth as goals from Angelo Ogbonna and Jarrod Bowen sank Aston Villa 2-1.<\/p>\n
The Hammers have made their best start to a season since they moved to the London Stadium four years ago.<\/p>\n
They rode their luck, though, as Villa equalized once through Jack Grealish and had the chance to snatch a point, only for Ollie Watkins to miss a penalty.<\/p>\n
And in stoppage time Watkins had the ball in the net only for an \u2018armpit offside\u2019 to come to West Ham\u2019s rescue.<\/p>\n
David Moyes\u2019 side held on to climb above Manchester City, Manchester United, Villa, Everton, Wolves and Southampton in the table.<\/p>\n
They took the lead with less than two minutes on the clock after forcing a corner when Tomas Soucek\u2019s shot was deflected behind by Matt Targett.<\/p>\n
Bowen swung in the cross and Italian center-half Ogbonna was unmarked at the far post to nod in his first goal of the season.<\/p>\n
Much had been made of the return of Michail Antonio to West Ham\u2019s attack but it seems Moyes has goals from all over the pitch \u2013 their last nine had been scored by nine different players.<\/p>\n
Villa had started sluggishly but gradually came to life and Ezri Konsa headed over before Conor Hourihane tested Lukasz Fabianski with a free-kick.<\/p>\n
Grealish drew them level after 25 minutes as West Ham backed off the England midfielder before allowing him to bury his shot, with the aid of a deflection, from 20 yards.<\/p>\n
With Antonio having little impact Moyes replaced him with Sebastien Haller and also sent on Said Benrahma at half-time.<\/p>\n
And within 30 seconds Benrahma, the \u00a330million signing from Brentford, crossed for Bowen to head West Ham into a 2-1 lead.<\/p>\n
Things were turning niggly on the pitch and tensions were simmering off it, with Villa boss Dean Smith and Hammers coach Kevin Nolan constantly chipping away at each other.<\/p>\n
Pablo Fornals was booked for a kick at Grealish before Villa assistant John Terry and a member of West Ham\u2019s backroom staff were also shown yellow cards.<\/p>\n
Villa could have equalized when Watkins crossed low into the path of Trezeguet but the forward\u2019s finish was weak and Fabianski was able to make the save.<\/p>\n
They should have equalized moments later after Declan Rice was adjudged to have tugged Trezeguet\u2019s shirt in the area.<\/p>\n
Trezeguet left the field with a nasty cut above the eye, a result of landing on Rice\u2019s studs as he threw himself to the ground, but a nervous looking Watkins lifted his spot-kick against the crossbar.<\/p>\n
Villa thought they had rescued a point when Watkins tapped in Targett\u2019s cross in stoppage time, but VAR decided otherwise and West Ham held out for a third straight win.<\/p>\n