*Aston Villa shrugged off the loss of manager Martin O’Neill with a vibrant display as Avram Grant’s first game as West Ham boss ended in a dismal defeat.*

The hosts dominated from the the start and Stewart Downing pounced on Robert Green’s parry to secure an early lead.

Stiliyan Petrov’s header from an Ashley Young cross made it 2-0 before Julien Faubert fluffed a rare Hammers chance.

James Milner, tipped to leave Villa, slammed home a third from 18 yards after a fine run from Marc Albrighton.

It was a dazzling end to a turbulent week at Villa Park, which saw Kevin MacDonald take charge of the team after O’Neill’s shock exit five days ago.

The Northern Irishman reportedly walked out after a disagreement with Villa owner Randy Lerner - but it was the American’s name the home fans were chanting at the end of an emphatic win.

While it was a fine day for the Midlands club, it was a dreadful start to the new job for Grant, whose side looked disjointed and toothless as they were outplayed for most of the game by a young and committed Villa side.

MacDonald’s team showed no ill-effects from the events of the past week as they started the match in blistering fashion, with John Carew heading just wide from Downing’s cross after three minutes.

They went even closer to an opening goal moments later after some calamitous defending by James Tomkins.

The young centre-back’s woeful back pass allowed Carew a clear run at goal and after Green got a touch with his leg, the ball ricocheted off Tomkins and then bounced back off the post.

But the Hammers’ good fortune quickly evaporated and it was goalkeeper Green, mercilessly booed throughout by the Villa fans after his unfortunate World Cup exploits, who was at the centre of the action.

The keeper’s poor punch from a Young cross led to a shot from Albrighton and, although Green palmed it away, Downing followed up to tap in the rebound.

Referee Mike Dean waved away the protests from the Hammers defence, who thought Downing was in an offside position when the ball was fired in by Albrighton - with replays suggesting they had a case.

The busy West Ham keeper partially made amends when he acrobatically tipped over Young’s clever lob.

But Villa continued to excel and they soon doubled their lead when Young dinked in a cross, and Petrov beat Faubert in the air to power a header past the helpless Green from eight yards out.

The goal roused the lethargic visitors into creating their only chance of the half as Luis Boa Morte cut inside and forced a good save from Brad Friedel.

Manager Grant signalled his desire for more attacking intent in the second half as he sent on new signings Pablo Barrera and Frederic Piquionne.

The change almost paid off when the Frenchman teed up an unmarked Faubert in the box, only for the winger to scuff wide from 12 yards out.

The Hammers were left to rue the miss when Milner, possibly playing his last game for the club as he has been strongly linked with a big-money move to Manchester City, added an excellent third goal.

The 20-year-old Albrighton, who was outstanding on his first Premier League start, jinked past two defenders and cut the ball back for Milner, who swept the ball past Green from the edge of the box.

Villa should have extended their lead but Carew made a mess of a free header from six yards out and then saw a shot hit the inside of the post.

Milner, who had been booed by some supporters at the start of the game, received a standing ovation when he was substituted in the closing stages.

There was plenty here to suggest that if the midfielder does leave, Villa have the talent to thrive without him.