Graham Potter beaten on West Ham bow as Aston Villa fight back for FA Cup win
Share:
Graham Potter’s spell as West Ham manager began with defeat as Aston Villa celebrated their 150th anniversary by fighting back to claim a 2-1 FA Cup third-round win. Potter was in the dugout just a day after being named as sacked Julen Lopetegui’s successor and it looked like he would bring instant success as Lucas Paqueta fired West Ham into an early lead at Villa Park.
But this was a special night for Villa and they overcame a woeful first hour with goals from Andre Onana and Morgan Rogers in the space of two second-half minutes earning just their second FA Cup win in nine years. On a night of celebration, where seven trophy successes in the famous cup competition were remembered, boss Unai Emery knows his side will have to improve if they have any chance of making that eight this season – a target he publicly set before the match.
Potter was on a learning mission and as impressed as he will have been by West Ham’s controlled opening, he will have been equally alarmed by their capitulation which could have seen the hosts win by a bigger margin. Villa had designated this fixture as their 150th anniversary match, donning a vintage kit with black shirts and white shorts and treating fans to a pre-match firework display.
But it was Potter’s reign that started with a bang as the Hammers enjoyed a dream start under their new manager. Paqueta fired a warning after just 41 seconds when he arrowed a 20-yard effort which whistled just past the post, but he went one better in the ninth minute.
