Holiday Hammers draw with Villa

West Ham and Aston Villa played out a 1-1 draw which saw the Hammers finish the season in 16th place.

Build-Up

David Moyes was forced to make one change to the West Ham side that drew against Manchester United. Aaron Cresswell pulled out with injury, this saw Ben Johnson shift to left-back and Ryan Fredericks return to the starting eleven at right-back.

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith named an unchanged side to the one that beat Arsenal 1-0. Villa needs to match or better the results of Watford in order to cement their place in the Premier League for next season.

Match Report

Villa came out of the blocks fastest, clearly playing with the purpose of staying in the Premier League. There were some early confrontations between Ryan Fredericks and Villa captain Jack Grealish as passions were high because of what was on the line.

The major chance of the game fell to the man on form Michail Antonio. A long ball from Issa Diop found Antonio clean through, but despite his current form, the 30-year-old snatched at the chance and sliced it wide.

West Ham United’s English midfielder Michail Antonio (C) runs through on goal during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Aston Villa at The London Stadium, in east London on July 26, 2020. (Photo by Andy Rain / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ANDY RAIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Villa started to create their own chances, Mbwana Samatta and John McGinn both had efforts at goal. They never really threatened the West Ham goal, however, McGinn’s went wide and Samatta’s was easily saved by Lukasz Fabianski.

With results going Villa’s way elsewhere, the information seemed to leek through to the players. This saw the game quieten down and West Ham force themselves into the ascendancy as Villa looked settled for a draw.

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Grealish spurned a great chance to put Villa in the lead before half-time. The ball was played out to him in the West Ham box in an acre of space. The 24-year-old’s effort, however, was weak and a routine stop for Fabianski.

David Moyes made some attacking changes for the second half, Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen were replaced by Sebastien Haller and Andriy Yarmolenko. Aston Villa kept the same side for the second forty-five minutes.

The second-half started in much the same vein. Both sides probing each other but both lacked that bit quality to create any clear-cut shooting opportunities at goal.

Yarmolenko almost put West Ham into the led from a free-kick in the edge of the box. The Ukrainian stepped and whipped the ball at the near post with his favoured left-foot, he was unlucky that the ball just went the other side of the post.

Aston Villa made their first substitution of the game during the drinks break. Samatta made way for Kenan Davis. Moyes countered this move by replacing Pablo Fornals with Manuel Lanzini who has not scored since the final day of last season.

Haller had a chance to put the Hammers in the lead. Mark Noble played a perfect cross in for the Frenchmen. the 26-year-old was unable to control his header and it sailed harmlessly over Pepe Reina‘s goal.

West Ham was left to rue that miss. Villa on the attack in the last ten minutes, McGinn fed the ball to Grealish who unleashed a powerful shot past Fabianski. The Polish goalkeeper will be disappointed to have been by that effort.

LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 26: Jack Grealish of Aston Villa scores his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Aston Villa at London Stadium on July 26, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

The lead didn’t last long though, West Ham equalised immediately. Yarmolenko got into his favourite cutting in position and fired a shot on against the Villa goalscorer Grealish. The deflection took the ball over the head of Reina and into the Villa goal.

That would be the last action in the match. Aston Villa did enough to survive relegation and West Ham sees themselves finish the season 16th position.

Man of the Match: Ben Johnson

LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 26: Ben Johnson of West Ham United competes for the ball with Frederic Guilbert of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Aston Villa at London Stadium on July 26, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Andy Rain/Pool via Getty Images)

The young right-back finished the season brilliant and was superb again today. Against Villa Johnson hardly put a foot wrong and was solid going forward and defending despite not playing in his natural positon. Johnson has put himself into the plan for next season as a first-team regular.