Villa Park is sparsely populated as home fans stage their latest protest as both teams walk out. David Bowie's Heroes has been played over the speakers. There's not been many of them in claret and blue this season.

Image source, Getty Images

It's not all about Aston Villa.

Bournemouth arrive knowing a win will all but secure a second successive season in the Premier League. 

The Cherries have had a fine season after winning promotion and start this game 13th in the table, 11 points above the relegation zone with six games to go.

Aston Villa's Callum Robinson, currently on loan at Preston, hopes his team-mates can maintain their Premier League status for another week...

Image source, Reuters

Another Villa Park game, another fan protest.

The famous old venue has staged several in recent weeks and another is planned, with supporters urged to stay out of the stands until seven minutes after the start.

Seven has been chosen as it is the number of times Villa have been crowned champions of England.

We're 15 minutes from kick-off and it's fair to say many home fans are taking part in the protest. There are more seats empty than occupied. The bars in the concourses must be doing a roaring trade.

Image source, PA

Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner, who many blame for the club's demise, is again missing.

Perhaps just as well judging by the mood at Villa Park in recent months.

Pat Murphy
BBC Midlands football reporter at Britannia Stadium for 5 live Sport

"Gabby Agbonlahor has not been included in the Aston Villa squad against Bournemouth that could see the club relegated. It's the second successive weekend that Agbonlahor misses a Villa match.

"Last Saturday he was left out after it was revealed he had been seen in Dubai smoking a shisha pipe over the Easter weekend, when Villa didn't have a game."

It's perhaps not surprising, but Aston Villa fans sound as if they want to fast-forward to the end of the season.

Gary Timms: Can people stop saying us Villa fans will be put out of our misery if we go down today. We still have to play the other five games.

Martin Harrison: Come on Bournemouth and Norwich - and just officially relegate us lol.

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Aston Villa caretaker boss Eric Black makes five changes for the game that could see the club relegated.

In come defenders Ciaran Clark and Kieran Richardson, midfielders Jordan Lyden, who makes his full Premier League debut, and Leandro Bacuna, with forward Scott Sinclair also starting.

Aston Villa XI: Guzan, Lyden, Clark, Lescott, Cissokho, Bacuna, Westwood, Gueye, Richardson, Sinclair, Ayew.

Image source, .

Bournemouth make two changes to the side that lost 4-0 at home to Manchester City on 2 April - defender Tommy Elphick and midfielder Dan Gosling are recalled.

Bournemouth XI: Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie, Gosling, Surman, Gradel, Grabban, King.

Image source, .

Image source, .

There are still another five games remaining for rock bottom Villa after today.

Yet they are so far behind the rest that their inevitable relegation to the Championship will be confirmed if 17th-placed Norwich City, who are at Crystal Palace, better their result.

We will bring you updates from Selhurst Park at regular intervals as Villa face relegation for the first time in 29 years.

Image source, Getty Images

Three top-flight wins all season. 

One manager sacked after eight months, another gone after 147 days in charge. 

No goals in the past six hours and 11 minutes.

Aston Villa's 2015-16 campaign has been a shambles. An embarrassment. A failure.

And a shocking tale of mismanagement is about the catch up with the seven-time champions of England, seven-time FA Cup winners and one-time European champions.