EPL: West Ham Sweep Aston Villa Aside To Put Forward Top 4 Claim

West Ham underlined their Premier League top-four credentials with a 4-1 win against 10-man Aston Villa on Sunday as they extended their impressive run on the road.

Ben Johnson scored early for the visitors only to see Ollie Watkins equalise but the Hammers reclaimed the lead before halftime through Declan Rice.

Villa's task was made all the harder early in the second half when defender Ezri Konsa was dismissed for denying a goalscoring opportunity.

Late goals from Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen sealed the three points for David Moyes' side and condemned Villa to a fourth straight Premier League defeat.

The victory lifts West Ham to 20 points after 10 games -- level on points with third-placed Manchester City.

"It's been a great week," Moyes told Sky Sports after his team's fifth consecutive away win in all competitions. "But you know what happens in football. It can turn around and bite you.

"We have another game on Thursday. I don't want West Ham to become that flaky inconsistent team a lot of people remember them as."

West Ham drew first blood in the seventh minute when Rice sprayed a pass out to the right flank for Johnson, who cut inside onto his left foot and curled a low shot into the far corner of the net.

Watkins levelled things up in the 34th minute, steering home Emiliano Buendia's low cross from close range.

But Villa's delight was short-lived as Rice restored the visitors' lead with a long-range shot that bobbled its way into the back of the net via a touch off the post just four minutes later.