Marmite goalkeeper Emi Martinez led the celebrations in front of Aston Villa’s travelling fans after a tactical masterclass by Unai Emery and record-breaking goal from Ollie Watkins boosted their Champions League hopes.
Villa’s seventh win in eight Premier League games has given them an excellent chance of returning to Europe’s elite competition having languished in mid-table at the end of February.
Emery deliberately set out to let Bournemouth’s whirlwind blow itself out and the visitors were completely passive as an attacking force until a surge at the end of the first half presented Ollie Watkins with his 18th goal of the season in stoppage time.
It also made him Villa’s highest Premier League scorer, going past Gaby Agbonlahor’s previous best of 74.
‘That record was something I’ve had my eyes on since I joined,’ admitted the 29-year-old afterwards.
The second half required a different type of effort from Villa with their backs to the wall, particularly when Jacob Ramsey was dismissed with 10 minutes left.
Ollie Watkins scored the only goal of the game to boost Aston Villa’s Champions League hopes against Bournemouth
Watkins turned in Morgan Rogers’ cross in the sixth minute of stoppage time, much to the dismay of the Bournemouth fans
Jacob Ramsey was sent off late on, but Unai Emery’s side leapfrogged Nottingham Forest into sixth in the table
But in Martinez, they have a colossal personality capable of not only making key saves but also commanding his penalty area as Bournemouth chucked in crosses from all angles.
The Argentine World Cup winner was also booked for getting needlessly involved in a melee – of course he was – and whistled for time-wasting but there is no doubting his influence and if he does leave the club this summer, nobody can question his contribution.
Certainly the way he kissed the club badge and pumped his fist at the final whistle showed he is fully committed to pushing Villa to a top-five finish.
They currently stand sixth with rivals Chelsea, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest all playing on Sunday but intriguingly their final two fixtures are against Tottenham and Manchester United who are putting all their energies into the Europa League final.
For Bournemouth however, dreams of a first-ever European campaign in the Conference League are receding, with victories for Brighton and Brentford earlier on Saturday compounding their own tea-time defeat.
It wasn’t for lack of effort and a mad late scramble saw Martinez produce a fingertip save to deny Antoine Semenyo and Daniel Jebbison failed to get the rebound past Matty Cash on the line.
But generally they struggled to break down Villa who were as organised as you’d expect from an Emery team, always in shape with substitutions made at the right times.
He allowed The Cherries 65 per cent possession knowing Andoni Iraola’s side prefer to let the other team have the ball so they can counter-attack with devastating effect.
Emiliano Martinez was excellent throughout to keep his side’s clean sheet – and lead – in tact
Antoine Semenyo came within inches of equalising for his team late on when his effort was cleared off the line
For 43 minutes, Bournemouth were the only side showing intent with Evanilson attempting a glancing header and Milos Kerkez a threat from left-back.
They also felt aggrieved when Alex Scott was elbowed in the face by Tyrone Mings and needed treatment but referee Stuart Attwell took no action against the Villa defender.
Iraola substituted scott, who took the impact on his jaw, at half-time. ‘He was not well, i think,’ said the manager. ‘it was a very dangerous challenge.’
Then, from nowhere, Villa went through the gears right at the end of the half.
Marco Asensio struck the post and Kepa Arrizabalaga had to make a double save from Boubacar Kamara and Matty Cash.
Right at the end of six minutes of added time, Morgan Rogers dispossessed Semenyo and delivered a first-time cross into the box.
Watkins ran across Illia Zabarnyi and got the deftest of touches for what turned out to be the winner, though the celebrations were temporarily put on hold for a VAR check for offside.
‘I saw Morgan look up and I just made my movement,’ said the scorer. ‘I was a little bit worried that I was going to be offside but yeah, it was a little guided touch. The pace was already on the ball, so just one touch.
Alex Scott was forced off at half-time after being on the end of a flailing elbow from Tyrone Mings
‘There are a lot of teams that are pushing for Champions League spots and I think it’s going to come down to the wire.’
Emery threw on John McGinn and Pau Torres to defend their lead as Bournemouth pressed for an equaliser.
Ramsey’s departure for a tug on David Brooks raised the volume at The Vitality. Martinez flung himself at an Evanilson header and kept out Semenyo at point-blank range. But Emery can feel vindicated for getting his plan spot on.
‘The clean sheet was very important — and we got it,’ said the Villa boss. ‘They had some chances, maybe the best chances, at the end. But, of course, we only had 10 players then.’
