AFC Bournemouth
Goals from Jefferson Lerma and Kieffer Moore earned AFC Bournemouth a 2-0 win over Aston Villa as the Cherries made a stunning start to life back in the Premier League.
Lerma, who formed part of a three-man central defence, gave Scott Parker’s team a great start when he drew first blood with fewer than two minutes on the clock.
And Midas man Moore, who plundered four goals in the Championship run-in, added his fifth for the club with a towering header ten minutes from time.
Head coach Parker handed Premier League debuts to four players with Jordan Zemura, Ben Pearson, Moore and Marcus Tavernier named in the starting line-up.
Zemura became the sixth Cherries academy graduate to represent the club in the top flight, following in the footsteps of Baily Cargill, Matt Worthington, Jack Simpson, Sam Surridge and Mark Travers.
Goalkeeper Mark Travers, who kept a clean sheet on his Premier League debut against Tottenham in May 2019, made his 50th league appearance for the club.
The Cherries, bidding to avenge an opening-day defeat by Villa in 2015/16, made the perfect start and raced into the lead with just one minute and 52 seconds on the clock.
Tavernier’s corner was met at the far post by Lloyd Kelly, the Cherries skipper outjumping the Villa defence and heading it back across goal.
And after it had fallen invitingly for Lerma, the Colombia international drilled the loose ball past Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez from around eight yards.
As Villa looked for a quick response, Ings skied a speculative effort high over the crossbar before the Cherries defended a couple of Lucas Digne corners.
A sharp turn on the edge of the box by Ings created an opening for the former Cherries youngster, but Travers was equal to his strike and saved low down to his right.
Martinez had to be at his best to prevent Dom Solanke doubling the Cherries’ lead, the Argentine beating away the striker’s ferocious shot in the eighth minute.
Ings nipped ahead of Kelly to meet Digne’s cross from the left but his header at the near post failed to trouble Travers as it sailed over the crossbar.
A well-worked corner routine from the visitors ended with Jacob Ramsey seeing his first-time effort parried by Travers, with an offside flag preventing Villa from recycling the ball.
Tavernier’s pass picked out Adam Smith in space on the right flank but after the defender had fizzed a centre across the face of the goal, Moore was unable to get the final touch.
Ings collected the first booking of the contest for scything down Tavernier midway through the first half before John McGinn’s low drive was blocked.
Smith was unfortunate to receive a yellow card after Digne had gone to ground rather theatrically under his challenge.
Chris Mepham earned a warm round of applause for his brave tackle on Ramsey, the Wales international also getting a free kick for his efforts.
Ramsey blazed over the crossbar from the edge of the box before Ben Pearson was booked for a late tackle on Boubacar Kamara and Ramsey was cautioned for a foul on the Cherries midfielder.
Ramsey made way for Emi Buendia at the interval as Villa head coach Steven Gerrard looked for a little more creativity from his team.
Despite his introduction, the Cherries continued to defend solidly and restricted Villa to few chances during the early stages of the second half.
A flowing move involving Smith, Phil Billing and Moore ended with Martinez snaffling Tavernier’s low cross as Solanke looked to pounce.
Quick thinking by Villa at a free-kick saw the ball worked to Kamara who tried his luck from 30 yards, his effort flashing past the upright.
Lewis Cook replaced Pearson in the 71st minute, the former Leeds midfielder bringing up his 150th appearance for the Cherries.
Philippe Coutinho’s speculative shot from distance sailed wide of the post before the Cherries doubled their lead ten minutes from time.
Cherries captain Kelly did superbly to pick up the loose ball after Tavernier had swung a free kick into the 18-yard box.
And his precision cross from the byline picked out Moore who planted a firm header past the outstretched arm of Villa goalkeeper Martinez.
Tavernier received a deserved standing ovation when he was replaced by Ryan Christie, another Premier League debutant, four minutes from time.
AFC Bournemouth: Travers, Smith, Mepham, Lerma, Kelly, Zemura, Pearson (Cook, 71), Billing, Tavernier (Christie, 86), Solanke (Stanislas, 90), Moore.
Unused subs: Marcondes, Stacey, Hill, Anthony, Dembele, Dennis (g/k).
Booked: Smith, Pearson, Billing.
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Carlos, Konsa, Digne, McGinn, Ings (Watkins, 64), Coutinho (Archer, 82), Bailey, Ramsey (Buendia, h/t) Kamara (Luiz, 83).
Unused subs: Mings, Chambers, Augustinsson, Young, Olsen (g/k).
Booked: Ings, Ramsey, Luiz.
Referee: Peter Bankes.
