Ollie Watkins called Aston Villa’s win at home to West Ham “massive” after the striker scored for the first time in seven Premier League matches to help the fourth-placed side move a point behind Manchester United.
In a week when he was left out of England’s squad, Watkins slid in Villa’s second in the 68th minute after Mats Hermansen could not hold Morgan Rogers’s shot.
“All the teams around us played before and dropped points, so we knew the job at hand today,” Watkins said (via Villa’s website), referencing defeats for Liverpool and Chelsea immediately below the Villans and a draw for United at Bournemouth.
“We’ve taken that and maximised our opportunity to push on and get into those Champions League spots.”
Captain John McGinn continued his return to form following injury with the long-range opener in the 15th minute.
Watkins was initially awarded a penalty for a challenge from Konstantinos Mavropanos after the first goal, only for a Video Assistant Referee check to change the decision.
With fifth place in the Premier League likely to ensure Champions League qualification this season, Villa are six points above sixth-placed Chelsea with a 10-goal inferiority to the Blues.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GD | Points |
| 1 | Arsenal | 31 | 21 | 7 | 3 | +39 | 70 |
| 2 | Man City | 30 | 18 | 7 | 5 | +32 | 61 |
| 3 | Man United | 31 | 15 | 10 | 6 | +13 | 55 |
| 4 | Villa | 31 | 16 | 6 | 9 | +5 | 54 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 31 | 14 | 7 | 10 | +8 | 49 |
| 6 | Chelsea | 31 | 13 | 9 | 9 | +15 | 48 |
