Bournemouth

Bobbie Jackson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Reuters

After a run of five games unbeaten, including four wins to pull clear of any relegation danger, Bournemouth's season is in danger of fizzling out.

But another campaign in the top-flight is assured and that's a positive for the south coast side, who failed to win any of their opening nine games of the term under new boss Andoni Iraola.

They have still got something to play for with a further five points sealing their highest-ever haul in the Premier League.

However, any more performances like the one at Villa Park will not yield anything other than defeats for what remains.

There's was a feeling that Villa would be leggy after playing 120 minutes and going through a penalty shootout in the Europa Conference League on Thursday, but Bournemouth allowed the hosts to control the game and play at their own pace.

The Cherries did break the deadlock when Dominic Solanke scored from the penalty spot, taking his season tally to 18, after Milos Kerkez had been fouled by Matty Cash in the box.

Iraola's side failed to kick on, though, with Villa levelling on the stroke of half-time and going on to show their quality with two additional goals in the second half.

The club has undoubtedly moved on under Iraola's stewardship, picking up more points and scoring more goals than last season with five games still left to play.

• Aston Villa have won 20 Premier League matches this season, the first time they’ve done so since the first ever campaign in 1992-93 (won 21).

• Bournemouth have scored first and lost five Premier League matches this season, their most ever in a single campaign. Only Brentford (six) have lost more such matches this campaign.

• Aston Villa have scored 71 Premier League goals this season - their joint most in a campaign in the competition, also scoring 71 in 2007-08.

• Ollie Watkins now has 31 Premier League goal contributions for Aston Villa this season (19 goals, 12 assists) – he’s only the ninth English player to score or assist 30+ goals in a 38-game season. His 12 assists have been bettered by just one Villa player in a single season – Ashley Young in 2007-08 (14).

• Dominic Solanke has scored 18 Premier League goals this season, the most ever by a Bournemouth player in a top-flight campaign. He has scored to give them the lead on 12 occasions this season, the most of any player in the division. He’s lost three games in 2023-24 when netting the opener, with only Dion Dublin in 1995-96 ever losing more often in a season when scoring first (four times).

• Leon Bailey has been directly involved in 26 goals in all competitions for Aston Villa this season (14 goals, 12 assists), with today the fourth time this season he has scored and assisted in a game in 2023-24.

Aston Villa came from behind to beat Bournemouth and keep their bid for a top-four finish and Champions League football on track..

It did not begin well, though, as Bournemouth were handed the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot when Matty Cash brought down Milos Kerkez, and top-scorer Dominic Solanke made no mistake from 12 yards.

But Villa remained positive and got their reward on the stroke of half-time when January signing Morgan Rogers fired into the roof of the net.

Despite playing 120 minutes in Europe on Thursday, Villa showed no signs of fatigue and actually seemed to get stronger as the game went on.

Winger Moussa Diaby put Villa in front in the 57th minute to cap a lovely team move before Leon Bailey gave the hosts breathing space 20 minutes later.

Villa stay fourth and have opened up a six-point gap to Tottenham in fifth, although Spurs have two games in hand, while Bournemouth are 13th.

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There are four Premier League games on Sunday, and we will bring you every moment.

All times are in BST

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Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's games, he takes on singer-songwriter and Arsenal fan Sam Tompkins.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Aston Villa's battle with Tottenham for fourth place is one to keep an eye on and Unai Emery's side could take another big step towards Champions League qualification here.

Bournemouth drew 2-2 with Villa earlier in the season and I am expecting another close game this time but, after what they did to Arsenal last week, I cannot back against Villa.

Confidence must be through the roof for Unai Emery's side, and they have home advantage too. Bournemouth are a good team who have proved me wrong this season, but Villa will create enough chances to win.

Sam's prediction: 3-0

Dominic Solanke is class for Bournemouth - what a striker he is - but Villa are winning this and I can see them getting a top-four finish too.

Read the rest of their predictions here

Here are the key facts and figures before Aston Villa host Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday (15:00 BST).

• Bournemouth have won four of their seven Premier League meetings with Aston Villa (D1 L2); of sides they’ve faced at least five times, only against Swansea (67%) do they have a higher win rate than they do against the Villains (57%).

• Aston Villa have recorded 63 points so far in the Premier League this season, already surpassing their final points tally in each of their past 10 top-flight campaigns; only in 1992-93 (74 in 42 games) and 2009-10 (64) have the Villains won more points by the end of the season.

• Since November 11th, only the Premier League’s top four teams have won more points than Bournemouth (36 – W10 D6 L5).

• Aston Villa have 19 Premier League wins this season, only winning 20+ in one previous season (21 in 1992-93). In a 38-game top-flight season, Villa last won 20 games back in 1989-90 under Graham Taylor (21), finishing 2nd.

• Dominic Solanke has netted 17 Premier League goals this season, the most ever by a Bournemouth player in a top-flight campaign. His eight away goals are also the most by a player since Callum Wilson in 2018-19 (nine).

• Ollie Watkins has scored 19 Premier League goals and assisted 10 times for Aston Villa this season. A goal in this match will see him become just the third English player to score 20 or more goals and assist 10 or more goals in a 38-game season, along with Frank Lampard in 2009-10 (22 goals, 14 assists) and Harry Kane in 2020-21 (23 goals, 14 assists).

Listen to the full match commentary on BBC Radio Solent (UK only)

Image source, Getty Images

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Andoni Iraola has been speaking to BBC Radio Solent before Bournemouth travel to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Iraola is "hoping" Bournemouth can recover Antoine Semenyo for the weekend's match, but confirmed that Luis Sinisterra will miss out through injury so the team will be "quite similar" to their previous game.

• On playing Aston Villa: "You have to play really, really well - probably the same way we did against Manchester United. We need to be more clinical in front of goal, take chances because they have top level up front. Even if they are not playing at their best they find ways to get the results and especially at their stadium it is going to be even more difficult because they are having a great season there."

• He added: "They are really calm and composed. Even against Lille they were heading out but they carried on playing the same way, didn't rush anything and found a way to win. You have to keep pushing every minute because the moment they feel your weaknesses, and with the players they have on the day, it makes the difference."

• On deciding whether to start Enes Unal and Dominic Solanke together: "Enes is playing very well from the bench. He hasn't started any game. We never want to lose Dom and he is in such good form we want to find ways they can compliment each other. It is something we have in our mind yes."

• He said it is "not easy" for Philip Billing to playing less minutes, but added: "It is difficult in these positions. It is a position I feel like is loaded and is difficult for me to give minutes to everyone."

• On Lloyd Kelly's future: "No I don't have any more [information]. It is more difficult every week that goes. We have to wait and we still have our hopes. I see him performing really well. The other week he came on first half without warming up and did really well. His performances have been good."

• He said Tyler Adams is still "not feeling 100%" and added: "Not a bad injury and feeling pain in his muscle, but after so much time out we have to be careful with these decisions. The medical department are dealing with it. I hope he will be back early but definitely not for Villa."

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport journalist

Bournemouth learned before kick-off on Saturday that they were mathematically safe from relegation with seven league games still to play (courtesy of Luton’s defeat by Manchester City) – a feat worth mentioning in a campaign where many pundits tipped the Cherries for relegation while questioning the appointment of Andoni Iraola as boss.

Having already surpassed last season’s totals (37 goals and 39 points) with room to spare (47 goals and 42 points, with six games left), added to Iraola’s exciting brand of attacking football, the Spaniard has more than justified his hiring.

While the club record of 46 points from 2016-17 remains firmly in Bournemouth’s sights, an unfathomable European tilt looks out of reach now.

Fans of any team can reel off a list of “if only” moments from every season, and the Cherries are no different. Take away 90th-minute equalisers or winners conceded to Brentford, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Luton, and an extra seven points would have made a world of difference to their league placing.

However, to take the opposite view, Iraola’s side have not been averse to late shows of their own – scoring stoppage-time winners against Nottingham Forest and Everton, scraping a point against Sheffield United in the 91st minute, and having to mount a comeback for the ages to beat Luton 4-3 having trailed 3-0.

Looking at the season in context, then, helps to defuse the raw emotion in evidence on Saturday when a dominant performance against Manchester United brought only a 2-2 draw following controversial – and much-debated – penalty decisions at both ends.

If the Cherries felt harshly treated by the officials, it also should be recognised that they had the chances to have buried United before half-time if a more clinical edge could be found.

And taking four points from six – with an aggregate 5-2 scoreline – against a would-be European Super League founder member is an outcome for which everyone at the Dorset club would have settled before the season.

Tom Jordan
Fan writer

On a weekend when Bournemouth mathematically sealed their place in next season's Premier League, talisman Dom Solanke added his 17th goal of the league campaign.

Should Solanke be on the plane as part of Gareth Southgate's England squad? Most Cherries fans believe so.

Even the most ardent Bournemouth supporter is fully aware that Harry Kane is England's main man in attack - but cover is needed. Although there are seemingly a few options at Southgate's disposal, I - and many down on the south coast - believe Dominic should be rewarded with that spot.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa probably provides the main competition, having scored 19 Premier League goals so far but, respectfully, he is playing for a Villa side in a Champions League place - a side littered with quality - and has just two more goals to his name. I would argue Dom would be doing the same numbers.

The other potential competitor is Ivan Toney. With only four league goals after being suspended for the first half of the season, I cannot get my head around him being ahead of Solanke in the pecking order, despite Toney's clear qualities as a forward.

As certain pundits this weekend alluded to, is Dom suffering from playing for 'little old Bournemouth'? It sometimes feels that way.

Does this season's output mean Solanke should go to the Euros? Probably. Will he? Probably not.

Tom Jordan can be found at Back of the Net, external

Newcastle United are looking into the possibility of signing Bournemouth centre-back Lloyd Kelly, who is out of contract this summer. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

We asked for your views on Bournemouth's draw with Manchester United on Saturday.

Here are some of your answers:

Bournemouth fans

Matt: In general a great display from Bournemouth with lots of energy, pressure and neat passing. We just need to be more clinical. The United penalty was a complete joke. I can’t believe I feel so gutted at not doing the double over United but it’s a sign of how far we’ve come this season.

Andrew: The Man Utd penalty was never a handball and the Bournemouth penalty definitely was a foul on the line, which is classed as in the box. The real score should have been 3-1 to Bournemouth.

Charl: An excellent performance marred only by poor finishing. Defensively we were organised, compact, and direct. Not sure why Iraola persists with Dango Ouattara but overall a very good team performance.

Manchester United fans

Nigel: Headless chickens springs to mind. Ten Hag clearly lost the plot, with substitutions continue to be strange. Mount left on the bench until it's too late. Ten Hag was desperate to buy him in the summer but now he is fit he doesn't want to play him. Casemiro is now hopeless but still gets to start, crazy. Sack Ten Hag now.

Paul: Pretty poor once again. Not a team at all. Reliant on individual moments to get anything. Look like a bunch of blokes who just met in the pub this morning and decided to play football in afternoon. Only Bruno can hold his head up. Rashford and Casemiro awful. Should have lost 5-1 but somehow scraped a draw. How we are still seventh is beyond me.

Sylvia: Passing was poor… easily frequently intercepted by Bournemouth players. Always hesitant when attacking, giving time for the opposition to get into defensive positions.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Brentford and Nottingham Forest manager Mark Warburton spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast after Bournemouth's 2-2 draw against Manchester United on Saturday: "The Bournemouth manager will be disappointed at dropping two points. They were dominant for long periods.

"Individually [Manchester] United had the better quality but Bournemouth showed collective togetherness, teamwork and desire. They were so impressive with and without the ball. I think it's two points dropped. Bournemouth were the better team and United will be quite happy with the one point."

On Manchester United captain and goalscorer Bruno Fernandes: "He has to [step up] because the goals aren't coming from many other areas. Alejandro Garnacho was pulled off at half time and [Marcus] Rashford looked a shadow of what he was last season. The goals have to come and that's been a big problem area for Erik ten Hag."

On Bournemouth goalscorer Dominic Solanke: "From the first minute, he showed his physicality up against [Willy] Kambwala. Maguire came over to try and assist and Solanke showed the cleverness and movement.

"He was very impressive. That relationship with him and Justin Kluivert was again very dangerous."

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's six Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra match commentary in full:

Manchester City v Luton Town

Bournemouth v Manchester United

Harry Poole
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Andoni Iraola and his players will know they missed a huge opportunity to earn Bournemouth's first ever league double against Manchester United.

Bournemouth were the better team for significant periods of Saturday's 2-2 draw but they failed to make the most of several high-quality chances, particularly in the first half.

Still, the progress made under Iraola - this week named Premier League manager of the month - in the Spaniard's first season in charge is clear to see.

A strong finish to the season is providing Cherries fans with plenty of optimism as they close in on the club's record Premier League points tally.

While they should have taken all three points on Saturday evening, they require just five points from their remaining six games to beat the 46 achieved in 2016-17.

Andoni Iraola spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Bournemouth's draw with Manchester United: "We didn't take our chances, we had chances to finish with a better result. All the refereeing decisions were against us today.

"It's not bad luck, I complain about consistency. I can't understand the decisions. I did not think it was a penalty from Adam Smith. I disagree.

"These are important points, same way they are important for United they are important for us."

• Bournemouth have gone unbeaten home and away against Manchester United for the first time in a Premier League season (W1 D1), netting five goals across these two matches, as many as they’d scored against the Red Devils in their previous eight meetings.

• Manchester United are winless in their last four Premier League games (D3 L1), their longest such run within a season since October 2021 (also 4 games).

• Manchester United have both scored and conceded in their last eight Premier League away games, their longest such run since December 2018 (also 8 games).

• Dominic Solanke scored his 17th Premier League goal of the season, the most ever scored by a Bournemouth player in a campaign. Only Erling Haaland (20) and Ollie Watkins (18) have more in 2023-24.

• Bruno Fernandes has scored 18 of his 52 goals (35%) from the penalty spot in the Premier League, only Wayne Rooney (20) has ever scored more penalties for Manchester United.

Manchester United twice had to come from behind to deny Bournemouth victory as the Red Devils' winless Premier League run extended to four games.

Captain Bruno Fernandes scored both goals for the visitors, who first trailed to Dominic Solanke's opener before Justin Kluivert gave the Cherries a half-time lead.

Solanke ensured Bournemouth took reward for their positive start with an assured finish low into the corner after getting the better of Willy Kambwala in the 16th minute.

That breakthrough only served to further motivate the home side and Andre Onana was required to deny Milos Kerkez at his near post shortly after, before Luis Sinisterra shot narrowly wide and Ryan Christie twice went close.

Bournemouth were punished for their wastefulness in front of goal when Fernandes levelled from Alejandro Garnacho's cut-back.

But Kluivert restored the hosts' lead five minutes later as a simple ball from Marcos Senesi exposed the generous amount of space between Diogo Dalot and Kambwala.

Bournemouth should have been out of sight before the interval, with wing-back Kerkez heading against the crossbar and Kluivert failing to beat Onana at close range, although Fernandes struck the bar with a superb attempt in response.

With the Cherries unable to extend their advantage, Fernandes equalised again midway through the second half - this time stepping up to convert a penalty awarded after Kobbie Mainoo's shot deflected on to the unfortunate Adam Smith.

United, whose hopes of securing European football were further dented, dropped one place to seventh following Newcastle United's 4-0 win over Tottenham earlier on Saturday.

Bournemouth, who remain 12th, thought they had been awarded a late penalty but, following a lengthy video assistant referee (VAR) review, Kambwala's foul on Christie was determined to have taken place outside the box.

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