Aston Villa 3-1 Bournemouth: Come-from-behind win keeps Villa’s top-four bid on track

Aston Villa got here from behind to beat Bournemouth and hold their bid for a top-four end and Champions League soccer on observe.

It didn’t start properly, although, as Bournemouth have been handed the possibility to take the lead from the penalty spot when Matty Money introduced down Milos Kerkez, and top-scorer Dominic Solanke made no mistake from 12 yards.

However Villa remained optimistic and bought their reward on the stroke of half-time when January signing Morgan Rogers fired into the roof of the web.

Regardless of taking part in 120 minutes in Europe on Thursday, Villa confirmed no indicators of fatigue and really appeared to get stronger as the sport went on.

Winger Moussa Diaby put Villa in entrance within the 57th minute to cap a beautiful staff transfer earlier than Leon Bailey gave the hosts respiratory house 20 minutes later.

Villa keep fourth and have opened up a six-point hole to Tottenham in fifth, though Spurs have two video games in hand, whereas Bournemouth are thirteenth.

What a distinction every week makes

It has been a celebratory seven days for Aston Villa, after the month began with only one level from two league outings.

Final Sunday they beat Premier League title hopefuls Arsenal, on Thursday they noticed off Lille on penalties to achieve a primary main European semi-final since 1982 and it was one other routine efficiency at Villa Park to remain within the driving seat for a top-four berth.

Villa have been calm and composed from the outset, controlling possession and making regular progress up the sector, though they struggled to create any significant openings.

It was not till Rogers’ equaliser as the primary half ticked into injury-time that Villa registered a shot on track.

Rogers has settled properly at Villa Park since signing for £8m from Middlesbrough in January and he grabbed his second league objective for the membership in very mature style, coolly evading the problem of Adam Smith earlier than fastidiously choosing his spot excessive above the top of goalkeeper Neto.

Villa settled into their groove because the second half started, with Ollie Watkins trying two pictures at objective however he was the supplier, teeing up Diaby, to get the hosts in entrance.

Unai Emery’s facet continued to press for a 3rd and their endeavour paid off within the 78th minute when Watkins, who leads the best way for assists within the Premier League with 12, broke into the realm, squared the ball and Bailey had a easy end.

Chatting with BBC Match of the Day after the sport, Emery mentioned: “Huge effort as a result of fifth place will not be Champions League, as a result of English groups misplaced it. Now we have to get fourth. Now we have to be demanding and put together in addition to carry out.

“Now we have to be centered greater than earlier than as a result of we thought fifth was Champions League, however now it’s not. Tottenham have two video games in hand after which in fact we’ve got to be in Convention League [semi-finals].”

Emery was referring to the truth that England’s hopes of securing a fifth Champions League spot are all however over – with exits for 4 of the 5 remaining English golf equipment in European competitions this week leaving them trailing Italy and Germany in Uefa’s coefficient rankings.

Unhealthy day on the workplace for Bournemouth

Regardless of being with out the ball for lengthy intervals within the first half, Bournemouth have been environment friendly after they did get possession.

Justin Kluivert examined Emiliano Martinez with a stinging effort from the sting of the field, earlier than Dango Ouattara threatened the Argentina worldwide’s objective when he met a cross on the far put up – however the angle was too acute and he may solely discover the side-netting.

Bournemouth’s penalty was as clear-cut because it comes, with Money wrong-footed by a turning Kerkez, and Solanke fired past Martinez with the boldness of a person who now has 18 league objectives to his title.

Shortly after Villa had taken the lead Ouattara was denied from point-blank vary by Martinez, in a second that might have turned the sport again in Bournemouth’s favour.

Substitute Enes Unal had the ball behind the web for the guests, after Bailey had given Villa a two-goal cushion, however that was swiftly dominated out for offside.

It might not have been an pleasant journey to the Midlands for the south coast membership however their season, which has 5 video games left to run, may nonetheless finish on a optimistic notice.

Bournemouth are simply 5 factors shy of attaining a membership file tally within the Premier League, regardless of failing to win any of their opening 9 video games below Andoni Iraola.

Chatting with BBC Match of the Day about Bournemouth’s need to set a brand new membership file for factors within the Premier League, Iraola mentioned: “That is what we are attempting to do. Now we have a extremely troublesome schedule to finish the season. Now we have to be at our greatest. Must hold focus, depth. You can’t make errors in opposition to these kind of groups.”