rewrite this title Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa: Watkins breaks club record to bolster Villa’s top-five hopes

Ollie Watkins became Aston Villa’s all-time record Premier League goalscorer after scoring the only goal of the game as Unai Emery’s side emerged 1-0 winners against Bournemouth.

Watkins netted his 75th Premier League goal for Villa in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time to move above Gabriel Agbonlahor and move his side level on points with Chelsea and Newcastle.

Bournemouth piled on the pressure late on after Jacob Ramsey had been sent off for a second bookable offence for the visitors but Emery’s side held on to keep their top-five hopes firmly alive.

For the Cherries, defeat leaves them in 10th spot, two points behind Brentford and Bournemouth after both sides picked up wins in the battle for a potential Conference League place.

⁠Getting the job done 👊 #BOUAVL pic.twitter.com/W6xU6V8S49

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 10, 2025

A closely-fought affair

It was a largely cagey first half on a sunny south coast, with neither goalkeeper really being tested during the opening exchanges.

For the hosts, who enjoyed the majority of the early possession, it seemed patience was the name of the game. Villa, meanwhile, appeared happy to bide their time and catch Bournemouth on the break.

It took until the 24th minute for either side to register a shot on target, Evanilson’s header doing little to trouble Emi Martinez in the visitors’ goal.

From there, little could separate the two teams. But shortly before half-time, Villa began to have a spell. Marco Asensio’s low effort cannoned off the post before Kepa saved well from Boubacar Kamara’s fierce header.

Then, in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time, Villa broke the deadlock when Watkins applied the deftest of touches to Morgan Rogers’ cross and the ball nestled into the far corner.

OLLIE WATKINS! 🔥

The scenes for Aston Villa! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/l2eAS9ZTeh

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 10, 2025

The second-half began somewhat livelier but mostly played out in much the same fashion as the first, with very little to separate the two teams.

Both managers rang the changes as the half wore on but the replacements offered little impact.

However, with 10 minutes remaining, Ramsey picked up his second yellow card for a foul on David Brooks and Villa were forced to end the game a player down.

It sparked a Bournemouth revival. Antoine Semenyo flashed a shot narrowly wide shortly before Martinez was called into action to palm away Evanilson’s goal-bound header.

Illia Zabarnyi headed straight at Martinez and then, in injury time, Semenyo’s header across goal was scrambled away by Matty Cash on the line when an equaliser looked the most likely outcome.

The Cherries failed to make the late pressure pay leaving the 10-man of Villa to take all three points and move level with Chelsea and Newcastle.

Emery’s side have now qualified for Europe for the third successive season. But their eyes will firmly be on securing a top-five finish and a place in the continent’s elite club competition.