Douglas Luiz gets two as Villa close in on top four again

6 months ago 106
Douglas Luiz celebrates scoring his second goal against West HamDouglas Luiz's penalty made it six goals this season in all competitions for the Brazil midfielder

Aston Villa continued their fine form under manager Unai Emery by holding off West Ham to move back to the brink of the Premier League's top four.

Tuesday marks the anniversary of Emery's appointment as Villa boss and the Spaniard has transformed the team since taking over from Steven Gerrard.

An entertaining first half, typical of the free-flowing football Emery has encouraged at Villa Park, saw Douglas Luiz open the scoring and the Brazil midfielder converted a penalty just after half-time.

A deflected shot by Jarrod Bowen led to a nervy spell for the hosts, but England striker Ollie Watkins then fired in his eighth goal of the season for Villa.

Substitute Leon Bailey struck late on to wrap up an 11th straight league win at home for Villa, their best run since winning 13 in a row when they were reigning European champions in 1983.

Before Emery's first game in charge, Villa were 16th in the Premier League - one point off the relegation zone. But he steered them to European qualification last season and now they are back within a point of the Champions League places.

More to follow.

How did you rate Aston Villa's performance? Have your say hereWhat did you make of West Ham's display? Send us your views here

Line-ups

Aston Villa

Formation 4-4-2

1E Martínez2Cash4Konsa14P Torres12Digne7McGinn44Kamara6Douglas Luiz22ZanioloSubstituted forBaileyat 76'minutes19DiabySubstituted forTielemansat 85'minutes11Watkins

Substitutes

3Diego Carlos8Tielemans9Traoré16Chambers17Lenglet25Olsen31Bailey32Dendoncker71Kellyman

West Ham

Formation 4-2-3-1

23Areola5Coufal4Zouma27Aguerd33EmersonBooked at 54mins7Ward-Prowse19Álvarez20Bowen28SoucekSubstituted forKudusat 67'minutes10Lucas PaquetáSubstituted forIngsat 86'minutes9AntonioSubstituted forFornalsat 90'minutes

Substitutes

1Fabianski8Fornals14Kudus15Mavropanos18Ings21Ogbonna22Benrahma24Kehrer45Mubama

Referee:David Coote

Attendance:41,734

Live Text

Match ends, Aston Villa 4, West Ham United 1.

Second Half ends, Aston Villa 4, West Ham United 1.

Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Nayef Aguerd (West Ham United).

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Delay in match because of an injury Vladimír Coufal (West Ham United).

Attempt saved. Mohammed Kudus (West Ham United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Pablo Fornals.

Foul by Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa).

Emerson (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Lucas Digne (Aston Villa).

Vladimír Coufal (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution, West Ham United. Pablo Fornals replaces Michail Antonio.

Goal! Aston Villa 4, West Ham United 1. Leon Bailey (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Youri Tielemans.

Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Alphonse Areola.

Attempt missed. Leon Bailey (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Boubacar Kamara.

Substitution, West Ham United. Danny Ings replaces Lucas Paquetá.

Substitution, Aston Villa. Youri Tielemans replaces Moussa Diaby.

Foul by John McGinn (Aston Villa).

Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Offside, West Ham United. Alphonse Areola tries a through ball, but Lucas Paquetá is caught offside.

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Aston Villa

Squad number1Player nameE Martínez

Squad number2Player nameCash

Squad number4Player nameKonsa

Squad number14Player nameP Torres

Squad number12Player nameDigne

Squad number7Player nameMcGinn

Squad number44Player nameKamara

Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz

Squad number22Player nameZaniolo

Squad number19Player nameDiaby

Squad number11Player nameWatkins

Squad number8Player nameTielemans

Squad number31Player nameBailey

West Ham United

Squad number23Player nameAreola

Squad number5Player nameCoufal

Squad number4Player nameZouma

Squad number27Player nameAguerd

Squad number33Player nameEmerson

Squad number7Player nameWard-Prowse

Squad number19Player nameÁlvarez

Squad number20Player nameBowen

Squad number28Player nameSoucek

Squad number10Player nameLucas Paquetá

Squad number9Player nameAntonio

Squad number8Player nameFornals

Squad number14Player nameKudus

Squad number18Player nameIngs

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