Kevin Macdonald’s first game in charge of Aston Villa launched a new era with a thrilling 3-0 victory over an almost bewildered West Ham side with goals from Stewart Downing, Stiliyan Petrov and, of course, James Milner. New Hammers manager, Avram Grant, will head back down the M40 grateful it was only three, it really could have been six.

Villa were firing on all cylinders from the opening whistle, attacking down both flanks, winning 3 corners in the opening 2 minutes, Dunne heading the third over the bar while Rob Green was flapping in the wind, a theme for the rest of the half.

Villa continued the pressure with some quite beautiful football at times, the movement superb, the passing crisp and accurate, Marc Albrighton proving he’s very much ready for first team action. By the time Stewart Downing scored the first goal of the 2010/11 Premiership season, West Ham had barely had a sniff.

Rob Green had punched Ash’s left sided cross, but only as far as Albrighton who shot to the far post. Green parried, but it fell to Stewart Downing who couldn’t miss, although he was probably a shade offside in all honesty.

When West Ham finally threatened enough to win their first corner of the match, on the half hour mark, Villa were already in double figures, such was the dominance of Albrighton and Downing on the wings, with Warnock and Luke Young provided committed over lapping runs.

Stiliyan Petrov scored an unlikely and highly impressive second, five minutes from the break, charging into the box to nod in Albrighton’s Ashley Young’s right sided cross, giving the hapless Green no chance.

West Ham closed out the half with a little possession, but never looked likely of threatening. Special mention for Petrov and Milner playing with composure and discipline in the middle, Ashley Young just ahead, putting himself everywhere, and John Carew leading from the front, definitely having one of his “on” days.

West Ham came out for the second half much brighter and looked to stretch Villa at the back as a torrential down pour engulfed Villa Park. It worked for a short while, they certainly looked to have some intent about their play, but Villa were soon able to respond, demonstrating that we’re still as lethal on the break as we always were.

The almost inevitable happened in the 66th minute when some determined and skillful play from Marc Albrighton down the left resulted in the winger emerging in the box with the opportunity to shoot from a tight angle with his right boot, but he intelligently cut the ball back to James Milner who fired in a low screamer from the edge of the box, just to the left of the D. It had to happen, didn’t it?

John Carew will wonder how he didn’t grab himself a hat-trick, going close in the first half in a one-on-one with Green that replays revealed a possible foul, a gilt edged chance with his head that he somehow managed to steer yards wide and he also struck the woodwork with an effort that he probably should have been awarded a penalty with a defender climbing all over him.

Kevin MacDonald showed some excellent stage management skills supplementing his football management, bringing Nigel Reo-Coker on for James Milner with 5 minutes to go, the home crowd rising to their feet showing their appreciation for an excellent and extremely professional performance. He did the same two minutes later for Ash, Andreas Weimann stretching his legs and finally, Marc Albrighton also got his chance to take the plaudits with Barry Bannan coming on for the last minute.

Stewart Downing took the official Man of the Match, but it could easily have gone to any of the forward players, such was the all round level of performance.

Not going to get carried away just yet, West Ham were awful, but this was just the tonic we needed to lift the gloom. That was an excellent performance from every single player, even Friedel made a fine save when called upon to prove he was awake.

Time for some optimism again after a terrible week.

UTV!!

Starting XI: Friedel; L Young, Dunne, Clark, Warnock; Albrighton, Petrov, Milner, Downing; A Young, Carew.
Subs: Weimann, Bannan, Lichaj, Heskey, Guzan, Beye, Reo-Coker.