Steven Gerrard says West Ham taught him a lesson and wants Aston Villa to be more like the Hammers going forward.
An injury-hit West Ham showed great character to beat in-form Villa 2-1 at the London Stadium.
Key players Michail Antonio and Aaron Cresswell joined a growing West Ham injury list which includes other star men like Angelo Ogbonna, Vladimir Coufal and Jarrod Bowen.
After a goalless first half and a huge double injury blow in the second, West Ham rallied with an emotional strike from Andriy Yarmolenko followed by a lovely team goal finished off by Pablo Fornals.
The seriously impressive Jacob Ramsey made for a nervous finish with a goal from outside the box on 90 minutes.
West Ham could and should have had goals from the aerial threat of Craig Dawson, Kurt Zouma and Tomas Soucek before the eventual opener.
And when it counted at the other end, the Hammers dug in and won their battles to secure all three points.
David Moyes was delighted with his players after the game.
But classy Villa boss Steven Gerrard says West Ham taught him a lesson and admitted he wants Aston Villa to be more like the Hammers going forward (Birmingham Live).
Steven Gerrard says West Ham taught him a lesson and wants Aston Villa to be more like the Hammers
“Looking at both teams, there’s a few areas where I thought West Ham had a bit more than us,” Villa boss Gerrard told Birmingham Live after the game.
“I don’t think they did have more technically or in possession or creativity, but in terms of stature. How they defend, i.e. set plays and crosses, I think there was a gap today…
“About certain individuals,” Gerrard added when asked what he learned in the defeat to Moyes’s side.
“But I have learned a lot from West Ham.
“They are very different in terms of the teams we have faced. They are a strong team with a lot of power.
“I have learned a lot from the opposition but that is always the case. Every game you are analysing, especially when you are new into the job.”
We shouldn’t be surprised by Gerrard’s comments.
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