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Aston Villa 3-0 West Ham United
Match Reports, 17:18, August 14, 2010 ,
Outbound midfielder James Milner was amongst the scorers as turmoil ridden Aston Villa secured an emphatic opening day victory.
The hosts showed no signs of unrest following the departure of Martin O'Neill this week and in the end embarrassed their visitors from East London.
Stewart Downing opened the scoring in the opening stages of the game. Rob Green, who was bereft of confidence all afternoon, failed to connect properly with a punch and the winger lapped up the opportunity inside the six-yard box.
Stiliyan Petrov doubled the tally on 40 minutes when he headed home an Ashley Young cross as caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald saw his side run riot.
Julien Faubert came closest for West Ham following the break after good build-up play from Carlton Cole but he bent a shot wide of the target from inside the box.
Milner, in what seems will be his last appearance in a Villa shirt, completed the rout after the hour mark when he coolly finished from 18-yards. He celebrated at the Holte End in adulation of the fans with youngster Marc Albrighton who ran the show in midfield.
It was a welcome end to the week for Aston Villa but not quite so for Avram Grant who appeared unfathomable at the dismal manner in which his side fell to defeat.