West Ham earned their first victory of the season at Villa Park, thanks to Pablo Fornals’ deflected second-half goal.
Villa had a goal disallowed in the first half after Lucas Digne’s corner went out of play before Ezri Konsa tapped the ball home.
West Ham improved in the second half and had a chance to score when Jarrod Bowen broke away on the counter, but he was denied by a well-timed Digne tackle.
But, with 16 minutes remaining, Fornals’ shot struck Konsa and looped over Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, kicking off the Hammers’ season.
The victory moves West Ham off the bottom of the table and into 17th place, level on points with Villa in 16th.
A third defeat of the season will only add to the pressure on Villa boss Steven Gerrard, whose side were booed at full-time.
Gerrard’s woes may be further deepened, too, if he finds himself without Philippe Coutinho’s services after the Brazilian was forced off with an injury.
