Aston Villa strengthened their ambitions of qualifying for the Uefa Champions League with a comeback win over Bournemouth at Villa Park to secure a second Premier League victory in seven days.
Cherries top scorer Dominic Solanke’s 31st-minute penalty gave his side the lead until Morgan Rogers equalised on the stroke of half-time.
Moussa Diaby put Villa in front 13 minutes after the break and Leon Bailey, who scored their first goal in their 2-0 win at Arsenal last Sunday, made it 3-1 with 12 minutes remaining, Ollie Watkins setting up both goals.
Villa are six points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham with two fewer games to play, while Bournemouth remain 13th and have collected one point from their last nine.
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Despite conceding the opening goal, this was a more routine win for Villa than their victory on penalties at Lille in the Uefa Europa Conference League quarter-finals on Thursday.
While Villa have Liverpool still to play, their chances of beating Spurs to fourth place are perhaps strengthened by the fact that Ange Postecoglou’s side face the Reds, Arsenal and Manchester City in a daunting-looking run-in.
Villa v Bournemouth: Villans in form
Villa’s 4-0 defeat at home to Spurs on March 10 started a run of one win in five league matches but their deserved late victory at Arsenal put them back on track, with Spurs struggling for consistency.
Tottenham have taken one away point from nine since that win at Villa Park and were beaten 4-0 at Newcastle eight days ago.
“It’s been a big effort and a really, really good week,” Villa manager Unai Emery said. “Now we have to try to get fourth in the table, fighting against Tottenham.
Unai Emery: “It was a fantastic match.” 👏
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 21, 2024
“It will be very difficult but we have to try to achieve this challenge. We have to do it in our way from now until the end of the season.”
“We are very motivated to get something in Europe and we are in the semi-finals. We are very motivated for the end of the season.”
Villa will meet Olympiacos in the Europa Conference League final four, playing for a place in a final against Club Brugge or Fiorentina.
