Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Graham Potter’s spell as West Ham manager has begun in defeat with Aston Villa celebrating 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 would have been by the Hammers’ controlled opening, he will have been equally alarmed by their capitulation which could have seen the hosts win by a bigger margin.
Villa 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.
Crysencio Summerville raced down the right and cut back to the Brazilian, who coolly slotted into the bottom corner from 14 yards.
Villa began knocking on the door in the second half and the equaliser came in the 71st minute, although it was contentious.
The hosts were awarded a corner after Onana’s skewed effort went straight out and Villa took advantage.
The delivery found its way to the back post where Maatsen’s drilled effort was fumbled by Fabianski and Onana poked home from close range.
Villa turned the tie around five minutes later when Ollie Watkins advanced down the left and teed up Rogers, who fired in from inside the six-yard box.
At Adams Park, former Portsmouth defender Sonny Bradley was on target against his old club as League One Wycombe caused an FA Cup third-round upset by beating their Championship opponents 2-0 thanks to two first-half goals.
Despite being separated by a division, there are only five places between the clubs in the English football pyramid as goals from Brandon Hanlan and Bradley resulted in the Chairboys eliminating the 2008 winners with ease.
