Bournemouth vs Aston Villa Report

Scorers: Watkins 45+6’

Red card: Ramsey 80’

Aston Villa strengthened their bid for a UEFA Champions League qualification spot with a hard-fought 1-0 victory away at Bournemouth. Ollie Watkins’ first-half strike proved decisive, as Unai Emery’s men claimed a seventh win in eight Premier League matches and climbed level on points with top-four rivals Newcastle United and Chelsea.

First Half – Villa Dominate After Cagey Opening

With both sides in European contention, the opening stages were tense and cautious. Jacob Ramsey and Evanilson had early sighters, but neither tested the goalkeepers. However, the visitors gradually began to exert control, with Marco Asensio rattling the post and Kepa Arrizabalaga twice called into action to deny headers from Boubacar Kamara and Matty Cash.

Just before the interval, Villa’s pressure paid off. A well-worked move saw Morgan Rogers swing a dangerous cross into the box, and Ollie Watkins provided a delicate flick to steer the ball beyond Kepa. The goal marked Watkins’ 50th in the Premier League for Villa, making him the club’s all-time leading scorer in the competition.

Second Half – Red Card Adds Drama, Cash to the Rescue

Villa nearly extended their advantage early in the second period through Kamara, whose low strike whistled past the far post. However, the complexion of the game changed when Ramsey received his marching orders for a second bookable offence after tripping David Brooks.

Bournemouth looked to capitalise on the numerical advantage, with Antoine Semenyo going close before Evanilson’s powerful effort forced a strong save from Emiliano Martínez. The home side continued to push in stoppage time and looked certain to score through Semenyo, but Matty Cash made a heroic goal-line clearance to preserve Villa’s slender lead.

Conclusion – Villa Keep UCL Dream Alive

Villa’s ability to hold firm despite going down to 10 men is a testament to their growing resilience under Unai Emery, who now boasts an unbeaten eight-game personal record against Bournemouth. With the win, the Midlands outfit stay firmly in the hunt for a top-five finish and Champions League football.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth’s five-match unbeaten run comes to an end. Andoni Iraola’s side remain in 10th place and now face an uphill task in their pursuit of European qualification with just a few games remaining.

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Bournemouth v Aston Villa, 2024/25 | Premier League