Aston Villa’s players soaked up the adulation of a pitch invasion in midweek but sunk to the turf at the final whistle here as Bournemouth earned back-to-back league victories for the first time since September to leapfrog Villa and climb out of the relegation zone. A goal from Mbwana Samatta on his full debut was insufficient for Villa, whose visions of Wembley are firmly on hold after Bournemouth, who were reduced to 10 men when Jefferson Lerma was sent off in the second half, toasted a priceless
Premier League victory.
This fixture provided Bournemouth’s first taste of life in the top flight almost five years ago and the outcome of this match was always likely to have significant implications as to whether this season may be their last. Reality bites for Aston Villa too, despite reaching the Carabao Cup final after victory over Leicester on Wednesday. There have been sea changes in both camps since that summer’s day, with Simon Francis and Callum Wilson the only survivors from the starting lineups here, while Tyrone Mings started in the Aston Villa defence following a summer move from Bournemouth. Mings was booked on his return for a foul on Ryan Fraser, who recently admitted to not being a team player this season.