Aston Villa continued their charge towards a top-four finish with a narrow but vital 1-0 win over Bournemouth, as Ollie Watkins became the club’s all-time top Premier League scorer on a night of drama at the Vitality Stadium.
The game began cautiously with both sides wary of the stakes, but it was Villa who eventually took control. Marco Asensio struck the post before Kepa Arrizabalaga was called into action to deny Boubacar Kamara and Matty Cash with sharp saves.
Villa’s pressure finally told in first-half stoppage time when Watkins delicately diverted Morgan Rogers’ delivery into the net, etching his name into club history and giving the visitors a deserved lead.
Kamara came close to adding a second just after the restart, but Villa’s task grew more complicated when Jacob Ramsey saw red for a second bookable offence. That opened the door for Bournemouth, who rallied late on.
Antoine Semenyo went inches wide and Evanilson tested Emiliano Martinez with a fierce drive, but the hosts were denied a late equaliser in remarkable fashion when Cash cleared Semenyo’s shot off the line deep into stoppage time.
The victory moves Unai Emery’s side level on points with Chelsea and Newcastle ahead of their Sunday clash, while Bournemouth’s five-match unbeaten run comes to an end, denting their own European aspirations.
