Watkins the hero for Aston Villa

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Bournemouth 0 - 1 Aston Villa 

Ollie Watkins became Aston Villa’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer after his first-half strike secured a hard-fought victory over Bournemouth and kept Unai Emery’s side firmly in the hunt for Champions League qualification.

Author - Ajay

Stadium - Vitality Stadium

Premier League | Bournemouth v Villa

Watkins’ composed finish, delicately steering Morgan Rogers’ low cross into the far corner, was his 75th league goal for Villa, nudging him past Gabby Agbonlahor to claim the record outright.

The result guarantees Villa a top-seven finish and European football next season, at the very least in the form of a UEFA Conference League spot. Yet the ambitions at Villa Park are now clearly aimed higher. 

A closer look at what happened

Until the winner, there had been few clearcut chances. Marco Asensio hit the post with the game’s first notable effort on 43 minutes and then Arrizabalaga saved well from Boubacar Kamara and Cash. 

The home side struggled to test the Villa keeper Martínez at all until Villa went down to ten men when Ramsey was given a second yellow card for a trip on the substitute David Brooks.

Premier League | Bournemouth v Villa

The Bournemouth boss had suggested the incident did not merit a dismissal but Tyrone Mings’s early (seemingly inadvertent) elbow on Alex Scott did.

Villa clung on for a vital win in their pursuit of a top-five finish, the jubilant roar from the sun-soaked away end at full-time speaking volumes about the significance of the result.

Watkins leading from the front when his team need him

Ollie Watkins may still be some distance from matching Aston Villa's all-time top scorer Billy Walker, who found the net 244 times between 1920 and 1934, but he has now claimed the title of the club’s leading Premier League goalscorer. His tally of 75 goals in 182 league appearances puts him ahead of Gabby Agbonlahor, who scored 74 goals across 322 games.

READ MORE: Premier League news and stories

The contrast in appearances highlights not only Watkins’ efficiency but also Villa’s renewed momentum in recent years. Having recently made headlines with a dramatic winner for England in the Euro 2024 semi-final, Watkins appears to be entering a new phase of his career.

For Villa supporters, the hope is that he can now establish himself as a reliable presence in decisive moments. With the club’s final two league matches carrying significant weight, the stage is set for Watkins to show he can be the clinical finisher Villa need when it matters most.

Location: Bournemouth, UK

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