Jesse Lingard scores twice on West Ham debut

A rejuvenated Jesse Lingard scored twice on his West Ham debut to fire David Moyes’ side to an impressive 3-1 win at Aston Villa in the Premier League on Wednesday night.

The one-time England international had been frozen out at Manchester United but looked sharp from the first whistle on his first Premier League start of the season, drilling in with his left and right feet (56 & 83) to take the visitors to victory at Villa Park.

Ollie Watkins had come close to opening the scoring in the first half, curling a shot onto the outside of the post, but West Ham were on top for long periods and Tomas Soucek (51) finished a fine team move for his eighth of the season to give them a deserved lead.

Lingard scored an impressive second himself five minutes later and although Watkins (81) pulled one back, it was the Hammers’ new boy who had the final say, shooting through Emiliano Martinez to make it three away wins on the spin for fifth-placed West Ham. Aston Villa stay ninth.

Player ratings

Aston Villa: Martinez (8), Cash (7), Konsa (7), Mings (7), Targett (6), Luiz (6), McGinn (6), El Ghazi (5), Barkley (6), Grealish (7), Watkins (7).

Subs: Traore (6), Trezeguet (n/a), Sanson (n/a)

West Ham: Fabianski (7), Coufal (8), Dawson (7), Ogbonna (6), Cresswell (7), Fredericks (8), Rice (7), Soucek (8), Lingard (9), Benrahma (8), Antonio (8).

Subs: Fornals (n/a), Johnson (n/a), Bowen (n/a)

Man of the Match: Jesse Lingard

NP/Mercy Chukwudiebere