Morgan Rogers bags brace as Aston Villa earn comeback win at West Ham

Morgan Rogers scored a brace to keep Aston Villa firmly in the Premier League title chase with a 3-2 comeback win at West Ham.

Villa fell behind twice, to Mateus Fernandes’ goal after just 29 seconds and a poacher’s strike from Jarrod Bowen.

But a Konstantinos Mavropanos own-goal cancelled out the opener and Rogers hauled Villa level at 2-2, before the England midfielder capped a sparkling performance with a stunning 25-yarder.

A 10th victory from 11 matches – Villa’s best run in more than a century – keeps them three points behind leaders Arsenal, while West Ham remain stuck in the relegation zone.

Before kick-off the hosts paid an emotional tribute to their former captain, manager and record-appearance holder Billy Bonds, who died two weeks ago.

Ex-Hammers team-mates including Sir Trevor Brooking and Alvin Martin were on the pitch while, in front of the stand named after Bonds hung an image of him lifting the FA Cup.

This was a fitting fixture, evoking memories of a First Division match at Upton Park in April 1983 when Bonds was fouled by Peter Withe and leapt up to confront the uncompromising Villa striker.

But instead of lashing out, Bonds – having seen referee Clive Thomas approaching – diffused the situation by grabbing Withe’s hands and proceeding to dance with him.

Both avoided a booking and Bonds had the last laugh when his goal wrapped up a 2-0 West Ham win.

Sadly for the hosts, this time it was Villa who waltzed away with the points, despite the Hammers getting off to a dream start.

Ezri Konsa dawdled on the ball near the byline and was robbed by Fernandes, who swept an angled shot past stand-in Villa goalkeeper Marco Bizot and into the roof of the net.

It was the quickest goal of the Premier League season so