Aston Villa’s push to secure Champions League football continued as Unai Emery’s men beat Bournemouth 3-1 at Villa Park.
After going a goal down through Dominic Solanke’s Thirty first-minute penalty, Villa turned things around with Morgan Rodgers’ first-half stoppage-time equaliser, Moussa Diaby netting them just before the hour mark and Lyon Bailey later added a 3rd within the 78th minute.
Ollie Watkins matched Diaby and Bailly’s finishes as he became the Premier League’s all-time leading assist-maker with 12 this season, only one behind joint leaders Erling Holland and Cole Palmer within the race for the Golden Boot with 19 goals. They are sitting behind. .
The result, which strengthened Villa’s grip on fourth place, capped a effective couple of days for the Midlands outfit after a 2-0 win at Arsenal last Sunday and a penalty shoot-out victory at Lille on Thursday that sent them into the Europa League. Made it to the league semi-finals.
With 4 league games in hand, they’re six points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, who’ve two games in hand. Antony Areola’s Bournemouth finished thirteenth.
A vibrant start from Villa saw Watkins’ shot deflected over Illia Zabarny, John McGann drove wide and Pau Torres just didn’t connect with Diaby’s delivery on the far post.
Bournemouth threatened just past the quarter mark as Justin Kluivert’s firm hit was well saved by Emiliano Martinez.
And when Diaby was off track from a very good position, the visitors piled on the pressure, with shots from Dengo Ouattara and Ryan Christie before Milos Kirkes was brought down by Matty Cash – a key late goal at Lille. Doer – and referee Tim. Robinson pointed to the chance.
Martinez had two saves in Thursday’s shootout, but didn’t make a single save as Solanke beat the Argentine for his 18th league goal of the season.
Cash, seeking to make quick amends, fired wide soon after, before Kluivert did the identical via a deflection.
Rodgers then leveled the sport again just before the break, latching on to a effective ball from Bailey, cutting inside Adam Smith and slotting into the online.
And the hosts then went ahead 12 minutes into the second half when Watkins fed Diaby the ball and the Frenchman finished from close range.
Martinez then did well when he blocked Ouattara’s header, and after Rodgers found the side-netting, Bournemouth substitute Antoine Seminou curled into the stands.
Watkins tried his luck within the seventy fifth minute, driving wide, and moments later he again ended up as provider when he sent the ball goalwards and Bailly available to tap in for 3-1. were on
Credit : www.independent.co.uk
