OLLIE WATKINS salvaged a point for a poor Aston Villa and keeping their Champions League push rolling on.
The England striker was a doubt for the trip to the south coast, but lasted the whole game and was still going strong when it counted – sending a 90th minute header past Neto.
While most Villa fans will have made the trip sensing an easy victory, a point will feel precious.
Bournemouth looked to have beaten Unai Emery’s side with their frantic front-foot football, but some super saves by Emiliano Martinez kept Villa within striking distance and Watkins made sure his goalkeeper’s efforts weren’t in vain.
The Cherries are a much more impressive side than earlier in the campaign.
They have hit their stride under boss Andoni Iraola and were desperately close to a third straight Premier League win – something they’ve not done since the days of Eddie Howe in 2016.
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Dominic Solanke’s smart finish looked to have claimed three points, but the former Chelsea man will reflect on the two close range efforts Martinez managed to stop rather than his well taken seventh goal of the season.
Bournemouth were quick to exploit an early Villa slip-up for Antonie Semenyo’s opener.
The former Bristol City forward, a menace on either wing, drove in from the left but saw his ball inside cut out.
Villa looked to play out, but a lazy Diego Carlos ball was cut out by an alert Ryan Christie, who snapped it straight into the feet of Semenyo to finish low.
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Martinez was beaten easily there but saved well from Semenyo’s powerful effort moments later to keep the lead at one – something he managed all afternoon.
Villa were level four minutes later.
Watkins, passed fit having missed Thursday’s win over Legia Warsaw, fed the ball out to the right where Leon Bailey committed Milos Kerkez down the line before turning inside and walloping his fourth Premier League goal of the season past Neto.
Having started so impressively, Bournemouth were almost behind after 22 minutes, though a lengthy VAR check – which even the home fans were protesting – came to their rescue to rule out Carlos’ tap in.
Bournemouth looked to profit from the decision straight away. Martinez was celebrating a reflex save from Solanke’s close range effort before the Cherries striker came within a whisker of turning Semenyo’s cross into an empty net seconds later.
Iraola’s chaotic style leaves the door open at the back at all times but they will not compromise on attacking.
Almost every ball is played forward and they break at speed and in numbers.
That pace almost had Villa behind again on the brink of half time. Christie collected a long ball from Neto with a stunning touch and played Justin Kluivert through alone against Martinez only for Ezri Konsa to race back at the last moment with a crucial challenge.
Having started that move, Neto was stopping another at the other end when he denied Douglas Luiz in added time at the end of a frantic first half.
But Bournemouth were still far more alert than any in a Villa shirt after the restart.
Kerkez did well to cut out a Martinez ball forward, winning it in the air before racing down the left and crossing for Solanke.
Having fluffed his two first half chances the ex-Chelsea man swivelled on the spot and finished smartly – though Martinez stopped another from just yards shortly after.
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With a lead to defend Bournemouth started to sit off a touch more, allowing Villa to find some confidence.
Emery sensed a chance, sending on a trio of subs including Moussa Diaby, whose cross provided the assist for Watkins to send his late header looping in.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
