AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa at Stadion.Core.ViewModels.Matchday.LocationViewModel

AFC Bournemouth

, Philip Billing ‘37' , Nathan Aké ‘44'

Aston Villa

, Mbwana Samatta ‘70'

FT 1st February 2020 3:00 PM

Vitality Stadium

#BOUAST

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Commentary By @

17:03

Eddie Howe gathers his side into a huddle on the pitch and delivers his team-talk in-front of the singing crowd.

They are cheered off the pitch, it's a tremendous reception.

90'+4'

That is sensational from the Cherries. They've put their bodies in front of everything, they have run their absolute socks off, they have put such heart into that performance.

Every player deserves to be highlighted and Eddie Howe looks delighted as he thanks the fans.

And finally, what an effort from the fans! Superb the whole time.

90'+3'

WE'VE DONE IT! WHAT A HUGE WIN FOR EDDIE HOWE'S SIDE!

90'+3'

We break free through Wilson, Fraser is free in the box but he can't reach the squared pass to wrap up the points. Seconds to go here!

90'

The away side win the ball back and try to work it into the box but the likes of Smith, Harry Wilson and Ryan Fraser are their bodies in front of everything!

90'

Callum Wilson wins a free-kick from Ramsdale's goal-kick and Kortney Hause is booked.

90'

The fourth official's board finally goes up with four added. Come on lads!

90'

They take the corner short before sending it in, and twice Billing clears from the near post.

87'

We're in the 88th minute as the Cherries divert a cross behind for a corner.

85'

Villa work the ball clear and push forward and it requires superb work-rate by Dan Gosling to clear the ball away.

Wee Man races away and earns a clever free-kick as the Cherries look to take time off the clock.

83'

Good work by Wilson, Billing and Smith to earn a corner on the right side.

Only two men in the box though as they work it short. Harry Wilson wins a throw.

83'

The Cherries skipper has been superb today, he makes a great interception at the near post to divert a good cross behind for a corner before making two important clearances.

78'

Trezeguet replaces Nakamba in midfield as Dean Smith chases an equaliser.

78'

Mings rises highest from the clipped in free-kick but his header floats over.

77'

Gosling bundles over Grealish around 30 yards from goal...

76'

It is a real team effort here and all the attackers are chipping in with the defensive efforts, Callum Wilson racing back to try and prevent a cross on left side of the box.

71'

Villa, as you would expect, dominating possession at this point and they work the ball into the path of Jack Grealish.

He touches out of his body and fires across goal with his left, bouncing past Ramsdale and the post.

Moments later, Davis races beyond the defence and fires straight at Ramsdale.

The Cherries holding on a little bit here.

70'

The visitors pull one back through new-boy Samatta.

A cross deflects in the air, Ramsdale races out to try and meet it up but the striker gets there first to head home.

Big 20 minutes left and a huge task for the 10-men to hold on.

64'

Dean Smith's side looks like they are trying to kill the tempo as much as possible as they hold the ball in defence and patiently try to build forward.

This suits the Cherries who allow all nine outfield players to drop behind the ball in that situation.

That doesn't mean they aren't chucking as much pressure as possible when the ball is deep in the Villa half.

62'

We drive up the other end and Billing picks up a good area on the left side of the box, he cuts across to Wilson who pokes wide.

Meanwhile, a similar opportunity for the visitors is blocked on the line by Smith before Francis and Gosling hack away the loose ball. The lads are throwing their bodies in-front of everything!

62'

The players are responding to the crowd as Diego Rico makes a huge block to stop a cross from Villa's right winger and receives a huge ovation for it!

59'

The atmosphere has really sparked into life as 'Eddie Howe's Barmy Army' rings around Vitality.

The crowd have been superb!

58'

The visitors look like they want to add some pace to their attack as Keinan Davis replaces Anwar El Ghazi.

54'

Following the red, the Cherries look like they've settled into a midfield four.

Gosling and Billing take the midfield, while Fraser and Harry Wilson take a more narrow starting position to offer some defensive support.

53'

The free-kick causes problems in the box and Ramsdale can't meet the loose ball as Engels heads over. He receives treatment after Rambo accidentally connected with him but looks to be okay.

50'

Huge blow for the Cherries.

He is adjudged to have brought down Grealish off the ball and receives a second yellow card. It looks harsh from the replay we've seen and the crowd stands up to sing his name.

Big moment in the game, however, early in the second half.

48'

The second half has continued in the same fashion as the first, the pressure from the Cherries not allowing the visitors to get set and a poor clearance drops to Jefferson Lerma on the edge of the box.

He takes his time set himself and takes aim, his dipping effort clipping off the top of the bar!

45'

A big second half for the Cherries is now underway!

Both sides have returned to the pitch ahead of the second half and Villa will make a change.

Bjorn Engels will replace Ezri Konsa for the second period.

It was at the essence of last week's victory over Brighton and Eddie Howe's side have worked their socks off in the first half.

That has been crucial in preventing Aston Villa from moving up the pitch and getting the ball to the front three while the visitors are in transition, so they can't drop into a back five.

Eddie Howe will be telling his players to keep up the good work in the second half - Villa have shown over the past week they never say die.

45'+1'

That's half-time at Vitality Stadium and Eddie Howe's side have a much deserved two goal lead.

Philip Billing opened the scoring with a cool finish from inside the box before Nathan Ake doubled our advantage just before the break.

Plenty to be pleased about for the Cherries!

45'+1'

Villa need a quick response and Grealish almost provides one, he drives down the left touchline and fires from a tight angle, Ramsdale deflects it wide with his feet.

Crazy few minutes!

44'

IT IS TWO-NIL!

Wilson's free-kick slams against the wall, it drops to Wee Man at the edge of the box and he looks to curl into the far corner.

Reina can only palm it straight to Nathan Ake who side-foots home.

VAR has a quick look but no offside and the goal stands!

42'

A Villa free-kick is well defended and the Cherries break away quickly, Fraser sending a superb ball across the field to Harry Wilson.

He touches it into Jefferson Lerma's path and Luiz bundles him over. Great area!

39'

It was only moments before that Francis was stopping a clear goalscoring opportunity at one end to his superb cross at the other end, the skipper has proved crucial in the last few minutes.

Also, Tyrone Mings was booked for the free-kick that led to the goal for a foul on Fraser.

36'

WE HAVE THE LEAD!

Harry Wilson's superb free-kick misses everybody and finds Francis at the back post, he turns to cross deep into the box where Dan Gosling is.

The midfielder heads across the box and Philip Billing is there to sweep home and send the home crowd mental!

Deserved!

33'

A terrific pass to cuts open our back-line and finds French full-back Frederic Guilbert in a superb area.

He cuts back and Ramsdale gets down to get a palm to it but it falls to new signing Samatta who looks set to apply the finish but for a tremendous block by Francis.

31'

The Cherries may be outnumbered in the middle portion of the pitch by VIlla's four men, but it doesn't look like it!

Gosling and Lerma in particular are making a great habit of picking up the second ball and with the attacking threat that Villa possess, it is essential they continue to do so.

29'

The visitors are starting to have more of an effect in the game led, unsurprisingly, by Grealish.

He ghosts to the left side of the box and cuts into the box, sending a delicious cross towards the back stick. It misses everyone and ever so gently clips the outside of the post.

26'

The best chance of the game without doubt as Gosling blasts over from inside the box.

Billing holds the ball with his back to goal and reverses it to Harry Wilson, who drives into the box. He cuts the ball back into a dangerous area and Goso looks set to apply the finish but pressure from the defender forces him to send it high and wide.

23'

Harry Wilson attempts to thread a wonderful ball in the direction of Ryan Fraser and the Scotsman races towards it.

For a moment it looks like Fraser might beat Reina to the ball but the experienced 'keeper does well to get there first.

We keep knocking on the door!

23'

21'

We win a free-kick around 20 yards from goal in a very central area, prime Harry Wilson territory.

The Liverpool-loanee lines up and looks to curl it into the corner, a nick from the wall guides it into Reina's hands.

20'

Jack Grealish picks the ball up on the left touchline after a loose pass by the Cherries, he cuts inside and attempts to guide the ball into the far corner.

His effort hits the back of Douglas Luiz to fly well wide, but Ramsdale dives anyway. Can never be too sure!

18'

It is the first-time that Villa have been able to put together a move, Samatta flicking the ball to El-Ghazi who finds Grealish in the middle.

With the imperious Villa captain bearing down on goal, Lerma has little choice but to bring him down, picking up the first yellow.

He'll miss the next two games as that is his 10th of the season.

15'

The visitors have struggled to cope with the early pace of play and have tried to disrupt momentum with a few niggly fouls, the most recent near the half-way line as the Cherries started to initiate an attack.

The birthday boy is picking up some superb areas between Villa's defence and midfield, causing havoc.

The latest area he picks up works the ball to Lerma, his drilled effort is deflected to Fraser and his curled effort is straight into Reina's arms.

The pressure from Eddie Howe's side in the opening 10 minutes is relentless!

The crowd are loving the effort! Jefferson Lerma comes out the better from a 50/50 challenge, Fraser finds Gosling who drives into the box. He bounces off Mings and the stadium erupts in cries for a penalty but Anthony Taylor shows no interest.

The threat of a breakaway is shut down by a superb sliding tackle by Lerma again.

It's a scrappy affair, the boys are throwing everything into every loose ball and good work opens up the opportunity for Billing to have a strike from the edge of the box.

The ball sits up nicely for him on his left foot, he guides it past the defender but Reina gets down comfortably enough.

The tempo is important right now, a quick throw-in from Smith to Billing works its way back the right-back and he drives between twp defenders and wins a free-kick on the right side of the box.

The delivery is flicked on by Wilson and Reina collects. The two players clash afterwards - it definitely looks like it will be a great battle between the pair!

The Cherries have started with a huge tempo - Fraser and Wilson busting a gut to apply pressure to the Villa back-three.

They almost win the ball back in a great area but Anthony Taylor blows the whistle. Good effort so far though!

Quick start from the Cherries as Adam Smith keeps the ball in and crosses the ball, with the outside of his foot, just missing Francis in the box!

The ball drops out to Harry Wilson at the edge of the box and his bouncing volley is deflected into the side-netting by Smith, the offside flag up at the far side.

Ryan Fraser gets us underway!