Aston Villa fought back twice to claim a thrilling 3-2 Premier League victory over West Ham United, securing successive away head-to-head wins against the Hammers for the first time since December 1996.

Following a moving pre-match tribute to club legend Billy Bonds, it was West Ham who struck almost immediately. Just 29 seconds after kick-off, Mateus Fernandes dispossessed Ezri Konsa and finished from a tight angle past Marco Bizot to score the fastest Premier League goal of the season so far.

Villa, however, were not rattled by the early setback. They drew level nine minutes later when Ollie Watkins challenged Konstantinos Mavropanos for John McGinn’s cross, prompting the defender to divert the ball into his own net.

The visitors continued to dictate the tempo and enjoy the lion’s share of possession, but West Ham restored their advantage in the 24th minute. A handball appeal was waved away, yet the hosts kept the attack alive, and Jarrod Bowen reacted quickest to turn Freddie Potts’ effort home, having been played onside by Konsa.

The contest then opened up, with Crysencio Summerville emerging as West Ham’s main attacking threat and drawing bookings from both Boubacar Kamara and Matty Cash. Villa went close before the break as Morgan Rogers narrowly missed the top corner.

Rogers would not be denied after the interval, though, bringing Villa level again within five minutes of the restart. He controlled Youri Tielemans’ cross and fired past Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the line to make it 2-2.

Both sides pushed for a winner, with Tielemans and Kamara producing important blocks to deny ambitious efforts from El Hadji Malick Diouf and Fernandes. Substitute Donyell Malen also tested Alphonse Areola with a powerful strike, while Bowen briefly thought he had scored his second, only to be flagged marginally offside.

Summerville later dragged a chance wide after a fortunate bounce in the box, and Villa soon made West Ham pay. In the 80th minute, Rogers unleashed a stunning long-range effort that flew past Areola to complete his brace and put the visitors ahead for the first time.

Rogers nearly claimed a hat-trick late on but pulled his effort wide. His contribution was more than enough, however, as Villa sealed a ninth consecutive win in all competitions to remain within three points of Premier League leaders Arsenal. For West Ham, the defeat extended their winless run to five matches and left them rooted in the relegation zone.