
Try our newest merchandise
Key occasions
49 min: It’s truthful to say this match took some time to get going. However because the announcement of added time on the finish of the primary half, this has been nice enjoyable. Everybody all of a sudden remembering what’s at stake.
47 min: .. after which up the opposite finish, Semenyo makes good down the left, reaches the byline and cuts again for Kluivert, who twinkletoes his approach across the field and appears for area down the inside-left channel. He can’t discover the time to shoot, so elects to search for a penalty by leaving his leg close to the outstratched arm of Martinez. He goes over, however there’s no contact. He’s barely lucky to not get booked for diving.
46 min: Villa almost double their lead inside 30 seconds of the restart. Digne romps down the left and cuts again for Ramsey, who can’t work area to shoot. However he lays off to Kamara, who from the sting of the D sends a fierce whistler inches broad of the right-hand publish. Unsure Kepa had that lined.
Aston Villa get the second half underway. Bournemouth have made a change, sending on Kluivert for Scott, who copped that wild Mings elbow to the jaw, and was additionally on a reserving.
Half-time leisure. Now then, concerning that battle for a spot in subsequent 12 months’s Champions League, into which Villa have, because it stands, firmly inserted themselves (they’ll be sixth on 63 factors, degree with Newcastle and Chelsea, if it finishes like this) …
That objective places Ollie Watkins on high of Aston Villa’s all-time Premier League goalscoring chart. It’s his seventy fifth objective within the competitors, beating Gabriel Agbonlahor’s long-standing mark of 74. Dwight Yorke is subsequent up with 60, Dion Dublin with 48. Nevertheless it’s nonetheless a good distance in need of their all-time league checklist: that’s bought Harry Hampton in entrance with 215, Billy Walker subsequent with 214 and John Devey third with 169. For the document, the lately departed Peter McParland completed his Villa league profession in eighth place on that checklist with 97. However then his legend is extra constructed on the cup, anyway.
HALF TIME: Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
Forty-five minutes of just about nothing, earlier than issues escalated entertainingly throughout added time. That provides insult to harm for poor Alex Scott, as a result of all that further time was solely added on for the therapy he required because of Tyrone Mings knocking him on the jaw along with his elbow. Protected to say there’s now just a little little bit of an edge to this match.
GOAL! Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa (Watkins 45+6)
The ensuing free kick is half cleared down the Villa proper. Rogers sends it again into the mixer. Watkins extends a leg and feathers a intelligent contact throughout Kepa and into the underside left!
45 min +5: … as does Ramsey for his half within the stramash. It was a cynical Bournemouth foul, nevertheless it’s Villa who come out of it with two bookings to 1!
45 min +4: Smith cynically journeys an in-flight Ramsey. Straight into the e-book. Ramsey isn’t completely satisfied, and squares as much as Smith. Chests out, a little bit of shoving and shouting. Martinez races midway up the sphere to have his say, as a result of properly, this type of factor is nice enjoyable, isn’t it, and he goes into the e-book as properly.
45 min +2: Digne crosses lengthy from the left. Kamara, unmarked in acres, working down the inside-right channel, meets the cross with a downward header, six yards out. It’s straight at Kepa, who nonetheless kicks away adroitly. He most likely shouldn’t have been given the possibility of constructing the save, although; there was loads of area on the bottom-right nook.
45 min +1: It was the right resolution to not award a penalty. Rogers didn’t transfer his arm, it wasn’t in an unnatural place, and the gamers had been proper on high of one another.
45 min: That’s sparked Bournemouth into life. Semenyo dribbles down the left however runs out of street. Rogers brings the ball away, just for it to clank off Kerkez and again onto the highest of his left arm. The followers need a penalty; the gamers don’t make a lot of a fuss. Bournemouth aren’t getting one, both approach. There will probably be six added minutes.
43 min: Out of nowhere, one thing occurs! The ball falls to Asensio on the sting of the Bournemouth D. He doesn’t catch his shot notably properly, however scuffs a weak drive previous Kepa, in direction of the underside proper … and off the bottom of the publish and away.
41 min: Asensio falls on the ball and handles. He’s already been booked, however the referee waves play on. No deliberate motion. Then Kamara snaps at Evanilson’s ankle, lacking his tried reference to the ball. No card-shaped censure right here, both. Now it’s the Bournemouth followers’ flip to be sad with officialdom.
39 min: Kerkez, who has recurrently despatched in scrumptious crosses from his left flank all season, hoicks one straight into the stand behind Martinez’s objective. That form of sums up this surprisingly undercooked first half.
38 min: One other set piece, one other waste of time.
37 min: … and Ramsey momentarily threatens to tear clear down the left, just for Semenyo to carry him down earlier than he can hit his stride. A free kick, however no reserving, maybe as a result of Semenyo bought a little bit of the ball earlier than ploughing via his man. That appears a beneficiant interpretation, the Bournemouth participant getting away with one, and the Villa followers break into the You’re Not Match ditty.
36 min: Scott crosses from the left, Evanilson’s presence forcing Digne to concede a nook on the opposite facet. And but once more, the set piece is a waste of time. Villa counter …
34 min: Martinez tries to launch Watkins down the left with an extended punt upfield. Zabarnyi is on level to usher the ball out for a throw. This recreation is in peril of turning right into a little bit of a non-event, which is barely unusual given the European ambitions of each golf equipment, for whom a draw isn’t actually ok.
32 min: Bournemouth are actually properly on high by way of possession, passing and probing hither and yon. Villa completely satisfied sufficient to sit down again and allow them to stroke it about, as a result of in the intervening time there’s no approach via.
30 min: Barely higher from Bournemouth, with Huijsen sending a diagonal cross into the Villa field from the left, and almost discovering the toe of Tavernier, racing in from the appropriate. Not fairly. Purpose kick.
29 min: Zabarnyi lotions an extended cross down the within proper for Evanilson, whose presence forces Mings into the concession of a nook. Nothing comes of the set piece, although. That is all a bit frantic, with neither staff bringing their greatest stuff.
28 min: Asensio sends the ensuing free kick right into a crowded field. Scott makes good his earlier misdemeanour by clearing. Evanilson makes an attempt to counter however is tripped by Asensio, who turns into the second participant to enter the e-book in as many minutes.
27 min: Scott goes into the e-book right here, although, cynically tugging again Onana, who had simply completed him with a drop of the shoulder and a burst down the left. He can’t have any complaints about that.
26 min: Digne whacks the ball straight into the face of Onana from shut vary. Ouch. Then Scott high-kicks him within the chest, although with out an excessive amount of pressure. A bit clumsy, thoughts. He’s lucky not to enter the e-book. An terrible lot of bodily misfortune up to now.
24 min: Semenyo activates the jets and tries to burn his approach into area down the left. However Money and Rogers double up on him and usher the ball out for a objective kick. Neither keeper has had any critical work to do but.
22 min: Scott is shifting round OK, probing right here and there, scanning the motion eagerly, so at the very least concussion doesn’t seem to be an issue. He’s definitely bought a sore jaw, this a lot we all know.
20 min: … and he’s quickly within the thick of the motion once more, swiping a cross in from the appropriate to seek out Evanilson, who flicks a innocent header straight at Martinez.
18 min: Scott comes again on.
17 min: Scott is holding the facet of his jaw, fingering it gingerly, the place he was whacked by Mings. He walks off the sphere of play … however for now seems to be like he’s going to proceed.
16 min: Scott is down once more, having copped one other one within the face, this time from Onana, who was within the means of spinning away from him into area. This one’s far more harmless, nevertheless it doesn’t look good for the Bournemouth man, who seems out of kinds and in misery.
14 min: Onana barges his approach down the center of the park and appears for Watkins on the sting of the field. The ball breaks to Ramsey, who tries to dig out a roller in direction of the highest proper however will get all of it mistaken. Purpose kick.
13 min: These early stoppages have scuppered the move. Onwards and upwards.
11 min: Bournemouth are within the wars. An extended throw into their field. Semenyo is caught late by Asensio, and requires a fast look. As does Kepa, who has harm a finger whereas making an attempt to flap the throw away from the hazard zone.
9 min: Mings was swinging his arm there, and caught Scott on the facet of the pinnacle along with his elbow. VAR has had a glance, and cleared Mings of any ailing intent. One other day, one other referee, and that call won’t have gone within the Villa defender’s favour. Andoni Iraola, mimicking the problem with pointy elbows of his personal, clearly doesn’t agree with the officers. Fortunately Scott is nice to proceed.
7 min: It’s sunny on the south coast and there’s a slight end-of-season get together environment within the stands. No quarter given on the pitch, although, as Scott barges into the again of Mings and comes off worse. He stays down. On comes the physio.
5 min: Villa present within the Bournemouth closing third for the primary time, however Ramsey can’t discover sufficient area down the inside-left channel to take a shot.
3 min: Semenyo takes one other vicious swipe on the ball. This time it’s an overhit cross upon discovering himself in area down the left. Purpose kick.
2 min: It was a wierd kick-off routine, Cook dinner rolling the ball again to Semenyo, who juggled it within the air earlier than hoofing a Garryowen into the Villa field. Martinez claimed the excessive bouncing bomb with none drama.
Bournemouth get the ball rolling. Their captain Adam Smith making his four-hundredth look for the membership right this moment.
The groups are out! Bournemouth of their Milanese pink and black stripes, Villa in second-choice white shirts. We’ll be off in a few minutes. “I can’t assist however surprise how a lot of a lift Thursday’s Europa League semi-final outcomes will show to be for Aston Villa’s Champions League aspirations,” begins Eric Peterson. “After right this moment, Villa is at residence Friday towards Tottenham, who’re prone to viciously rotate their line-up in anticipation of their Europa League closing towards Manchester United. Then, on the final Sunday, it’s a visit to Outdated Trafford towards a house staff probably catatonic from both reduction or despair at how issues went in Bilbao 4 days earlier.”
Andoni Iraola talks to Sky, and begins with the most recent on the injured Dango Ouattara. “He felt a small harm within the adductor … it isn’t too massive however we’re speaking a few weeks from the tip of the season so it it going to be troublesome for him to play once more … let’s hope those beginning right this moment have good performances … he was in an incredible second … enjoying very properly … provides us plenty of power … nevertheless it occurs to all of the groups … if you happen to had been to ask Unai about Tielemans he’ll say the identical … so we’ve got to adapt … it’s about utilizing the gamers we’ve got obtainable … I’m assured and I belief the gamers … it’s all the time troublesome while you face Aston Villa … all the time properly organised … they may put you in bother … bodily … however we’re additionally in a great second … we’re two groups ending the season strongly.”
A charmingly expressive Unai Emery speaks to Sky Sports activities. “Good afternoon … [raises voice disconcertingly] Europe! Europe!! EUROPE!!! … [back to normal levels] it is rather vital to be in Europe … Champions League will not be in our palms … but when we win right this moment perhaps we will have extra possibilities to be there … we’re going to struggle for every little thing … we’ve got sufficient gamers able to play … OK, there is no such thing as a Rashford, however it’s time for Watkins! … there is no such thing as a Tielemans however there may be time for Barkley! … for Onana! … for Kamara! … we’ve got sufficient gamers to swimsuit and to play with our id.”
Meme potential of that “Europe!” triple yell: 9.5/10.
The 3pms have all completed, and it’s not the most effective information for Bournemouth. Massive wins for Brentford (1-0 at Ipswich) and Brighton (2-0 at Wolves) imply the Cherries have been nudged all the way down to tenth spot. It might have been worse, had Fulham not misplaced 3-1 at residence to Everton. Bournemouth can reclaim eighth place by profitable this night.
The one different outcome this afternoon brings hope for Aston Villa, although. If we settle for Arsenal are just about good for a Champions League spot, the remaining battle is between 5 groups for 3 remaining locations … and Manchester Metropolis’s shock failure to beat Southampton – it ended goalless at St Mary’s – raises the opportunity of this explicit race concertinaing up excitingly forward of the ultimate two matches. Villa will insert themselves snugly in the event that they declare all three factors tonight.
Bournemouth make three modifications to the staff that began the 2-1 win at Arsenal this time final weekend. Antoine Semenyo, Alex Scott and captain Adam Smith return to the beginning line-up; Julián Araujo and Justin Kluivert drop to the bench, whereas Dango Ouattara is injured.
Aston Villa make 4 modifications after their 1-0 victory over Fulham final Saturday. Tyrone Mings, Jacob Ramsey, Lucas Digne and Amadou Onana are again; Pau Torres, Ian Maatsen and captain John McGinn drop to the bench, whereas final weekend’s goalscoring hero Youri Tielemans is out for the season.
The groups
Bournemouth: Arrizabalaga, Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez, Adams, Cook dinner, Semenyo, Scott, Tavernier, Evanilson.
Subs: Dennis, Senesi, Brooks, Kluivert, Soler, Jebbison, Araujo, Hill, Winterburn.
Aston Villa: Martinez, Money, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Kamara, Onana, Rogers, Asensio, Ramsey, Watkins.
Subs: Olsen, Disasi, Barkley, McGinn, Torres, Garcia, Malen, Maatsen, Bailey.
Referee: Stuart Attwell.
VAR: Chris Kavanagh.
Preamble
This week we’ve seen the enjoyment† that European competitors can carry. So you possibly can guess your backside greenback that each of those golf equipment will fancy a slice of that candy Uefa pie subsequent season. As issues stood firstly of the day – and we’ll re-evaluate when the 3pms have completed – Aston Villa are good for the Convention League, whereas eighth-placed Bournemouth are out of the qualification spots. However Villa are nonetheless inside hanging distance of a spot within the Champions League subsequent season, whereas eighth could possibly be ok for the Cherries offering Manchester Metropolis win the FA Cup and Newcastle stay within the high six. So it’s all to play for this night at Dean Courtroom. Kick-off is at 5.30pm BST. It’s on!
† Properly, that and the gut-wrenching distress, however Arsenal have had it tough of late so let’s go away them to lick their wounds in peace.