Ollie Watkins became Aston Villa’s record Premier League scorer after scoring the only goal of the game, as Unai Emery’s side faced Bournemouth with a 1-0 title.
Watkins scored a 75th Premier League goal for Villa in the sixth minute of the first half suspension to surpass Gabriel Agbonlahor and improved his position with Chelsea and Newcastle.
Bournemouth piled up under pressure after Jacob Ramsey was sent to tourists’ second booking attack, but Emery’s side insisted on keeping their top five hopes firm.
For Cherries, the defeat put them in 10th place, and both sides were two points behind Brentford and Bournemouth after winning a potential conference league match.
Done the job 👊 #bouavl pic.twitter.com/w6xu6v8s49
— Aston Villa (@avfcomial) May 10, 2025
A struggle thing
It was a largely cage first half on the sunny South Coast, and neither goalkeeper was actually tested during the opening exchange.
For owners who enjoyed the early days of possession, it seemed patience was the name of the game. Meanwhile, Villa seems happy to take the time and catch up with Bournemouth during the break.
Until the 24th minute, either side registered a shot on the target, and Evan Nelson’s header didn’t help with Emi Martinez’s visitor goal.
From there, few two teams can be separated. But shortly before halftime, Villa began to have a spell. Marco Asensio’s low effort took the shells off the post, and Kepa saved good efforts from Boubacar Kamara’s fierce header.
Then, in the sixth minute of the first half stop time, Villa broke the deadlock as Watkins played a clever touch to Morgan Rogers’s Cross, with the ball sitting in the distance.
Oly Watkins! 🔥
Aston Villa scene! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/l2eas9zteh
– Sky Sports Premier League (@skysportspl) May 10, 2025
The second half started a little vivid, but most were the same as the first game, with almost no two teams separated.
Half of the managers are making changes, but the replacement has little impact.
But with 10 minutes left, Ramsey picked up the second yellow card to foul, and was forced to end the game against David Brooks and Villa.
It triggered the revival of Bournemouth. Antoine Semenyo flashed a shot in a narrow range before Martinez was acted to beat Evanilson’s goal header.
Illia Zabarnyi headed straight for Martinez, and then Semenyo’s header crossed the goal and was eliminated online by Matty Cash during the injury time when the equalizer looked the most likely result.
The Cherries failed to make late stress pay, which gave Villa’s 10 all threes and moved levels along with Chelsea and Newcastle.
Emery’s side has now qualified for Europe for the third consecutive season. But their eyes will firmly ensure a top five and a place in the continent’s elite club competition.
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