Hammers crash at Aston Villa (From Echo)

Hammers crash at Aston Villa

8:38pm Saturday 14th August 2010 in

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STEWART Downing, Stiliyan Petrov and James Milner ensured Aston Villa began life without Martin O'Neill with a resounding 3-0 win against West Ham.

The Hammers' defending was comical at times and Villa surged ahead in the 15th minute when Robert Green parried Ashley Young's fierce cross out to Marc Albrighton, who volleyed the rebound goalwards and forced the West Ham keeper into a diving save.

The hapless Green could only push the ball to Downing who scored from the six-yard line and he was beaten for a second time by an emphatic header from Petrov.