Key events
34 min: Martinez tries to release Watkins down the left with a long punt upfield. Zabarnyi is on point to usher the ball out for a throw. This game is in danger of turning into a bit of a non-event, which is slightly strange given the European ambitions of both clubs, for whom a draw isn’t really good enough.
32 min: Bournemouth are now well on top in terms of possession, passing and probing hither and yon. Villa happy enough to sit back and let them stroke it about, because at the moment there’s no way through.
30 min: Slightly better from Bournemouth, with Huijsen sending a diagonal pass into the Villa box from the left, and nearly finding the toe of Tavernier, racing in from the right. Not quite. Goal kick.
29 min: Zabarnyi creams a long pass down the inside right for Evanilson, whose presence forces Mings into the concession of a corner. Nothing comes of the set piece, though. This is all a bit frantic, with neither team bringing their best stuff.
28 min: Asensio sends the resulting free kick into a crowded box. Scott makes good his earlier misdemeanour by clearing. Evanilson attempts to counter but is tripped by Asensio, who becomes the second player to go into the book in as many minutes.
27 min: Scott goes into the book here, though, cynically tugging back Onana, who had just done him with a drop of the shoulder and a burst down the left. He can’t have any complaints about that.
26 min: Digne whacks the ball straight into the face of Onana from close range. Ouch. Then Scott high-kicks him in the chest, though without too much force. A bit clumsy, mind. He’s fortunate not to go into the book. An awful lot of physical misfortune so far.
24 min: Semenyo turns on the jets and tries to burn his way into space down the left. But Cash and Rogers double up on him and usher the ball out for a goal kick. Neither keeper has had any serious work to do yet.
22 min: Scott is moving around OK, probing here and there, scanning the action eagerly, so at least concussion doesn’t appear to be a problem. He’s certainly got a sore jaw, this much we know.
20 min: … and he’s soon in the thick of the action again, swiping a cross in from the right to find Evanilson, who flicks a harmless header straight at Martinez.
18 min: Scott comes back on.
17 min: Scott is holding the side of his jaw, fingering it gingerly, where he was whacked by Mings. He walks off the field of play … but for now looks like he’s going to continue.
16 min: Scott is down again, having copped another one in the face, this time from Onana, who was in the process of spinning away from him into space. This one’s much more innocent, but it doesn’t look good for the Bournemouth man, who appears out of sorts and in distress.
14 min: Onana barges his way down the middle of the park and looks for Watkins on the edge of the box. The ball breaks to Ramsey, who tries to dig out a curler towards the top right but gets it all wrong. Goal kick.
13 min: Those early stoppages have scuppered the flow. Onwards and upwards.
11 min: Bournemouth are in the wars. A long throw into their box. Semenyo is caught late by Asensio, and requires a quick look. As does Kepa, who has hurt a finger while attempting to flap the throw clear of the danger zone.
9 min: Mings was swinging his arm there, and caught Scott on the side of the head with his elbow. VAR has had a look, and cleared Mings of any ill intent. Another day, another referee, and that decision might not have gone in the Villa defender’s favour. Andoni Iraola, mimicking the challenge with pointy elbows of his own, clearly doesn’t agree with the officials. Thankfully Scott is good to continue.
7 min: It’s sunny on the south coast and there’s a slight end-of-season party atmosphere in the stands. No quarter given on the pitch, though, as Scott barges into the back of Mings and comes off worse. He stays down. On comes the physio.
5 min: Villa show in the Bournemouth final third for the first time, but Ramsey can’t find enough space down the inside-left channel to take a shot.
3 min: Semenyo takes another vicious swipe at the ball. This time it’s an overhit cross upon finding himself in space down the left. Goal kick.
2 min: It was a strange kick-off routine, Cook rolling the ball back to Semenyo, who juggled it in the air before hoofing a Garryowen into the Villa box. Martinez claimed the high bouncing bomb without any drama.
Bournemouth get the ball rolling. Their captain Adam Smith making his 400th appearance for the club today.
The teams are out! Bournemouth in their Milanese red and black stripes, Villa in second-choice white shirts. We’ll be off in a couple of minutes. “I can’t help but wonder how much of a boost Thursday’s Europa League semi-final results will prove to be for Aston Villa’s Champions League aspirations,” begins Eric Peterson. “After today, Villa is at home Friday against Tottenham, who are likely to viciously rotate their line-up in anticipation of their Europa League final against Manchester United. Then, on the last Sunday, it’s a trip to Old Trafford against a home team likely catatonic from either relief or despair at how things went in Bilbao four days earlier.”
Andoni Iraola talks to Sky, and begins with the latest on the injured Dango Ouattara. “He felt a small injury in the adductor … it is not too big but we are talking a couple of weeks from the end of the season so it it going to be difficult for him to play again … let’s hope the ones starting today have good performances … he was in a great moment … playing very well … gives us a lot of energy … but it happens to all the teams … if you were to ask Unai about Tielemans he will say the same … so we have to adapt … it is about using the players we have available … I am confident and I trust the players … it is always difficult when you face Aston Villa … always well organised … they will put you in trouble … physical … but we are also in a good moment … we are two teams finishing the season strongly.”
A charmingly expressive Unai Emery speaks to Sky Sports. “Good afternoon … [raises voice disconcertingly] Europe! Europe!! EUROPE!!! … [back to normal levels] it is very important to be in Europe … Champions League is not in our hands … but if we win today maybe we can have more chances to be there … we are going to fight for everything … we have enough players ready to play … OK, there is no Rashford, but it is time for Watkins! … there is no Tielemans but there is time for Barkley! … for Onana! … for Kamara! … we have enough players to suit and to play with our identity.”
Meme potential of that “Europe!” triple yell: 9.5/10.
The 3pms have all finished, and it’s not the best news for Bournemouth. Big wins for Brentford (1-0 at Ipswich) and Brighton (2-0 at Wolves) mean the Cherries have been nudged down to tenth spot. It could have been worse, had Fulham not lost 3-1 at home to Everton. Bournemouth can reclaim eighth place by winning this evening.
The one other result this afternoon brings hope for Aston Villa, though. If we accept Arsenal are pretty much good for a Champions League spot, the remaining battle is between five teams for three remaining places … and Manchester City’s surprise failure to beat Southampton – it ended goalless at St Mary’s – raises the possibility of this particular race concertinaing up excitingly ahead of the final two matches. Villa will insert themselves snugly if they claim all three points tonight.
Bournemouth make three changes to the team that started the 2-1 win at Arsenal this time last weekend. Antoine Semenyo, Alex Scott and captain Adam Smith return to the starting line-up; Julián Araujo and Justin Kluivert drop to the bench, while Dango Ouattara is injured.
Aston Villa make four changes after their 1-0 victory over Fulham last Saturday. Tyrone Mings, Jacob Ramsey, Lucas Digne and Amadou Onana are back; Pau Torres, Ian Maatsen and captain John McGinn drop to the bench, while last weekend’s goalscoring hero Youri Tielemans is out for the season.
The teams
Bournemouth: Arrizabalaga, Smith, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez, Adams, Cook, Semenyo, Scott, Tavernier, Evanilson.
Subs: Dennis, Senesi, Brooks, Kluivert, Soler, Jebbison, Araujo, Hill, Winterburn.
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Kamara, Onana, Rogers, Asensio, Ramsey, Watkins.
Subs: Olsen, Disasi, Barkley, McGinn, Torres, Garcia, Malen, Maatsen, Bailey.
Referee: Stuart Attwell.
VAR: Chris Kavanagh.
Preamble
This week we’ve seen the joy† that European competition can bring. So you can bet your bottom dollar that both of these clubs will fancy a slice of that sweet Uefa pie next season. As things stood at the start of the day – and we’ll re-evaluate when the 3pms have finished – Aston Villa are good for the Conference League, while eighth-placed Bournemouth are out of the qualification spots. But Villa are still within striking distance of a place in the Champions League next season, while eighth could be good enough for the Cherries providing Manchester City win the FA Cup and Newcastle remain in the top six. So it’s all to play for this evening at Dean Court. Kick-off is at 5.30pm BST. It’s on!
† Well, that and the gut-wrenching misery, but Arsenal have had it rough of late so let’s leave them to lick their wounds in peace.
