Jordan Ayew sent off in disgrace as Aston Villa edge closer to the drop

West Ham 2 Aston Villa 0: Jordan Ayew was sent off in disgrace as Aston Villa were shoved a step closer to relegation following a 2-0 defeat at West Ham.

Ghana striker Ayew left his struggling side in the lurch when he was dismissed for a vicious elbow into the face of Aaron Cresswell after just 17 minutes. And it was Villa who ended up with a bloody nose after Michail Antonio and Cheikhou Kouyate struck in the second half to end the resistance.

Villa promptly retreated back into their own half after the sending-off, with their remaining nine outfield players camped behind the ball, as West Ham set about what proved to be a difficult task of breaking them down.