West Ham marked their Premier League return with a win over Aston Villa, who were beaten in new manager Paul Lambert's first game in charge.

The Hammers went ahead when Ricardo Vaz Te pulled the ball across for Kevin Nolan to sidefoot home.

Analysis

Image of John Motson John Motson BBC Match of the Day commentator

"West Ham's win was secured by Kevin Nolan's goal shortly before half-time. Villa didn't have the inspiration or the drive up front to trouble a West Ham defence in which James Collins was outstanding against the club he left in the summer."

West Ham later had a penalty shout for a shove by Villa centre-back Ron Vlaar on striker Carlton Cole waved away.

Villa rarely troubled their hosts and Cole should have extended West Ham's lead but headed wide from close range.

Hammers substitute Modibo Maiga also came close in injury-time when he raced clear and rounded keeper Shay Given only to see his shot cleared from the goalmouth by backtracking defender Nathan Baker.

The miss did not prove crucial against a Villa side who started brightly but ultimately showed little improvement on the side that only avoided relegation by two points last season.

In contrast, West Ham's victory served to continue the feelgood factor around east London after London 2012.

Sam Allardyce on 'very pleasing' return for West Ham

The shadow of the Olympic Stadium - the Hammers' prospective new home - looms large over Upton Park and could yet provide inspiration in a campaign where Premier League safety remains the first target.

However, the home side began in a subdued and stuttering fashion, with Villa - in particular, central midfielder Fabian Delph - possessing the greater enterprise.

Lambert has promised Villa fans more of an attacking style but, while his side showed intent, they could not find the incisiveness to pierce the Hammers defence.

West Ham gradually shook off their apprehension and started to pose more of a threat, with the strength of striker Cole unsettling Villa's summer signing Vlaar.

West Ham v Aston Villa fast facts

  • The Hammers netted more goals from set pieces than any other side in the Championship in 2011-12 (33).
  • Kevin Nolan has scored more Premier League goals against Villa (5) than any other team.
  • Aston Villa have won none of their last nine Premier League away games.
  • Villa players did not find a single teammate with any of their 10 crosses in this match.

Nolan fizzed an 18-yard free-kick just wide after a foul by Vlaar on Cole before the Hammers breakthrough.

A floated Mark Noble free-kick was headed on to Vaz Te and he squared the ball for Nolan to provide the finishing touch.

The assistant's flag had gone up for offside against Vaz Te but referee Mike Dean awarded the goal after correctly ruling that Villa's Ciaran Clark had headed the ball on and not West Ham's James Collins.

Vlaar was being given a testing workout on his Premier League debut and cut a relieved figure when referee Dean waved away West Ham's penalty appeals for a shove on Cole.

A Vlaar shot, saved by Hammers keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, was Villa's only real effort on target as they surrendered tamely to defeat.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce:

"We grew into the game. We started to expose Aston Villa's defence and got the goal with a perfectly good goal and a perfectly good decision with the referee overruling the linesman.

I can't fault Aston Villa effort - Paul Lambert

"I think there was a definite penalty on Carlton Cole after half-time.

"It ended up as a very good day as we won 1-0 and kept a clean sheet. James Collins was back and solid in defence which gave us a platform to win the game and there were lots of good performances."

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert:

"We started the game really well but we just never really created as much as we wanted to.

"I couldn't fault the effort. We will pick ourselves up and go again. There is a long way to go and we'll see what happens.

"I have great belief in [the players]. They will do fine. If we can stick together and the fans stick with us we'll be OK."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

West Ham United

  • 22 Jaaskelainen
  • 02 Reid
  • 03 McCartney (O'Brien - 71' )
  • 19 Collins
  • 20 Demel
  • 04 Nolan (Tomkins - 73' )
  • 14 Taylor
  • 16 Noble
  • 21 Diame
  • 09 Cole (Maiga - 81' )
  • 12 Vaz Te

Substitutes

  • 13 Henderson
  • 05 Tomkins
  • 17 O'Brien
  • 23 Diarra
  • 32 O'Neil
  • 08 Maynard
  • 11 Maiga

Aston Villa

  • 01 Given
  • 04 Vlaar
  • 06 Clark Booked
  • 32 Baker
  • 34 Lowton
  • 07 Ireland
  • 08 El Ahmadi
  • 10 N'Zogbia (Gardner - 74' )
  • 16 Delph (Bannan - 77' )
  • 09 Bent
  • 14 Holman (Weimann - 61' )

Substitutes

  • 22 Guzan
  • 30 Lichaj
  • 25 Bannan
  • 31 Herd
  • 38 Gardner
  • 26 Weimann
  • 36 Burke
Ref: Dean
Att: 34,172

Match Stats

Shots

8 10

On target

4 6

Corners

6 4

Fouls

17 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:05 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +3:13

Short corner taken by Matthew Taylor.

90:00 +2:44

Modibo Maiga takes a shot. Blocked by Nathan Baker.

90:00 +0:36

Unfair challenge on Nathan Baker by Mark Noble results in a free kick. Barry Bannan takes the free kick.

89:55

The offside flag is raised against Andreas Weimann. Indirect free kick taken by Jussi Jaaskelainen.

88:55

Foul by Mohamed Diame on Karim El Ahmadi, free kick awarded. Barry Bannan takes the direct free kick.

88:55

Mohamed Diame concedes a free kick for a foul on Karim El Ahmadi. Andreas Weimann takes the direct free kick.

82:10

The ball is swung over by Matthew Lowton, Jussi Jaaskelainen makes a save.

80:06 Substitution

Substitution Modibo Maiga replaces Carlton Cole.

76:17

The ball is crossed by Matthew Taylor, Carlton Cole has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.

76:17 Substitution

Substitution Barry Bannan is brought on as a substitute for Fabian Delph.

76:17

Unfair challenge on Matthew Taylor by Fabian Delph results in a free kick.

75:52

Ron Vlaar takes a shot. Save by Jussi Jaaskelainen.

72:53 Substitution

Substitution Gary Gardner on for Charles N'Zogbia.

72:53 Substitution

Substitution James Tomkins joins the action as a substitute, replacing Kevin Nolan.

72:31

Corner taken by Stephen Ireland.

72:02

Centre by Charles N'Zogbia, Joey O'Brien manages to make a clearance.

71:33

Charles N'Zogbia produces a cross, blocked by Joey O'Brien.

70:15

Ciaran Clark takes the direct free kick.

70:15 Substitution

Substitution Joey O'Brien replaces George McCartney.

70:15

Ricardo Vaz Te concedes a free kick for a foul on Nathan Baker.

69:44

Corner taken right-footed by Stephen Ireland to the near post, clearance by Winston Reid.

69:26

Corner taken short by Matthew Lowton.

69:11

Fabian Delph takes a shot. Winston Reid gets a block in.

65:51

Matthew Taylor sends in a cross, Shay Given makes a save.

65:09

Effort from inside the area by Ricardo Vaz Te misses to the right of the goal.

64:44

Kevin Nolan takes a shot. Ron Vlaar gets a block in.

63:11

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Charles N'Zogbia from the left by-line, Close range headed effort by Ron Vlaar misses to the right of the goal.

62:34

Charles N'Zogbia takes a shot. Blocked by George McCartney.

60:30

Free kick crossed by Stephen Ireland, save made by Jussi Jaaskelainen.

60:30 Substitution

Substitution Andreas Weimann comes on in place of Brett Holman.

60:30

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Darren Bent by George McCartney.

58:24

The ball is swung over by George McCartney, save made by Shay Given.

52:48

Shot from outside the box by Mohamed Diame misses to the left of the goal.

51:49

Ron Vlaar has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide left of the goal.

50:58

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Stephen Ireland by Kevin Nolan. Charles N'Zogbia takes the free kick.

46:39

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Mark Noble.

46:03

Corner taken by Mark Noble from the left by-line played to the near post, Nathan Baker manages to make a clearance.

45:35

Stephen Ireland takes a shot. Save made by Jussi Jaaskelainen.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:00 +2:07 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +1:05

Ron Vlaar challenges Carlton Cole unfairly and gives away a free kick. Matthew Taylor takes the direct free kick.

44:00

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Charles N'Zogbia by George McCartney. Direct free kick taken by Charles N'Zogbia.

42:32

Matthew Taylor concedes a free kick for a foul on Charles N'Zogbia. Karim El Ahmadi takes the direct free kick.

42:13

Free kick awarded for a foul by Carlton Cole on Ciaran Clark. Ciaran Clark takes the free kick.

41:51

The offside flag is raised against Darren Bent. Jussi Jaaskelainen takes the indirect free kick.

39:03

Ricardo Vaz Te provided the assist for the goal.

39:03 Goal scored

Goal - Kevin Nolan - West Ham 1 - 0 A Villa Kevin Nolan gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. West Ham 1-0 Aston Villa.

38:29

Free kick taken by Mark Noble.

38:29 Booking

Booking Ciaran Clark is given a yellow card.

38:11

Foul by Ciaran Clark on Mohamed Diame, free kick awarded.

37:27

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mark Noble on Stephen Ireland. Free kick taken by Shay Given.

36:24

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Mark Noble, clearance by Charles N'Zogbia.

35:42

Fabian Delph challenges Ricardo Vaz Te unfairly and gives away a free kick. Mark Noble takes the direct free kick.

35:11

Kevin Nolan produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the target.

33:58

Unfair challenge on Carlton Cole by Ron Vlaar results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Mark Noble.

32:31

Matthew Taylor takes a shot. Blocked by Ron Vlaar.

31:08

Brett Holman challenges James Collins unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Kevin Nolan.

30:24

Corner taken left-footed by Matthew Taylor from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Karim El Ahmadi.

27:09

Charles N'Zogbia fouled by Winston Reid, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Stephen Ireland.

25:07

Matthew Lowton concedes a free kick for a foul on Matthew Taylor. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Mark Noble from left channel, save made by Shay Given.

23:13

Carlton Cole gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Fabian Delph. Free kick taken by Karim El Ahmadi.

22:05

Stephen Ireland takes a shot. Blocked by James Collins.

21:36

Karim El Ahmadi takes a shot. Blocked by James Collins.

18:58

Brett Holman delivers the ball.

17:10

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Matthew Taylor.

16:48

A cross is delivered by Carlton Cole, blocked by Ron Vlaar.

15:51

The ball is delivered by Ricardo Vaz Te.

15:14

Charles N'Zogbia fouled by Kevin Nolan, the ref awards a free kick. Karim El Ahmadi restarts play with the free kick.

10:39

Effort from 35 yards by Karim El Ahmadi went wide of the right-hand upright.

10:05

Stephen Ireland fouled by Mark Noble, the ref awards a free kick. Matthew Lowton takes the free kick.

8:58

Free kick awarded for a foul by Kevin Nolan on Charles N'Zogbia. Karim El Ahmadi restarts play with the free kick.

8:05

Fabian Delph fouled by Mohamed Diame, the ref awards a free kick. Ciaran Clark takes the direct free kick.

6:58

Free kick awarded for a foul by Karim El Ahmadi on Mark Noble. Free kick taken by Winston Reid.

4:45

Foul by George McCartney on Brett Holman, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Fabian Delph.

3:15

Matthew Lowton fouled by Mohamed Diame, the ref awards a free kick. Ron Vlaar takes the direct free kick.

2:34

Effort from outside the penalty box by Brett Holman goes wide right of the target.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association