Jesse Lingard stuns Villa Park with a brace as West Ham remain in fifth place

Manchester United loanee, Jesse Lingard, starred in an impressive West Ham side, bagging a brace for the Hammers on his debut as they dusted off Aston Villa 3-1.

With the help of Tomas Soucek too, David Moyes’ side return to London with an all-important three points which congeals West Ham to fifth place going into the weekend.

Soucek broke the deadlock shortly after the restart, Said Benrahma unleashed the Czech midfielder through on goal, and calmly buried his effort past Emi Martinez who was left in disarray.

Moyes’ side doubled their lead five minutes later. They broke on the counter which saw Michael Antonio play an inch-perfect cross to an unmarked Lingard, who controlled the ball well and blast his half-volley into the Aston Villa net.

Antonio could’ve added his name to the score sheet shortly after if it wasn’t for Tyrone Mings, who cleared the striker’s chipped effort off of the line and clattered into the net for his troubles.

Villa’s Ollie Watkins was the next to add his name on the scoresheet, a well-timed pass from captain Jack Grealish gave the frontman the task of prodding home. It gave the home side some form of hope as we approached the 90^th minute but it simply wasn’t to be.

Almost instantly, the Hammer’s find themselves on the attack after a poor touch from Watkins. Adding a well deserved third goal to the scoreline as well as adding another to Lingard’s tally.

? A debut double for @JesseLingard
? One more for the Potato Salad King
❤️ Another performance to be proud of from our team

Highlights: Aston Villa 1-3 West Ham United ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/aMiTLliI0M

— West Ham United (@WestHam) February 4, 2021

Amongst those in the stand for West Ham’s dismantling of the Villans was the England manager, Gareth Southgate, who’d have been on watch for one of the many English players who featured in the affair. If Lingard continues to play the way he did for the Irons, a call-up for the European Championships may be on the way for the Man United loanee.

The 28-year-old hadn’t started in the Premier League since January 1^st, 2020, playing only 117 minutes prior to his arrival at the Hammers. Lingard has now scored more than he did last season in just one game under Moyes.

Following Liverpool’s shocking 1-0 home defeat to Brighton, Moyes’ men go within two points of the current champions of England. With the Reds hosting Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, West Ham have the possibility of over-taking them if they beat Fulham.

Meanwhile Aston Villa host a depleted Arsenal side, who return to the West Midlands following their defeat at Wolves without Bernd Leno and David Luiz in their squad. It’s an opportunity for the Villans to bounce back and equal their points tally from their previous campaign.

New signing Morgan Sanson played a cameo role for Smith’s side on his debut, replacing Douglas Luiz in the 80^th minute, but Villa fans will be expecting to see plenty more of the Frenchman over at B6.

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