Premier League LIVE SCORES: 10-man Aston Villa beat Bournemouth, Man City held by Southampton, Everton and Brentford win
SATURDAY'S Premier League action featured some huge matches in the race for Europe.
10-man Aston Villa secured a massive three points at Bournemouth despite Jacob Ramsey's red card.
Ollie Watkins became Villa's record Premier League goalscorer with the only goal in the 1-0 win.
Manchester City were held to goalless draw by Southampton earlier today.
The point meant the Saints bettered Derby County's record-lowest total of 11 points, which they set in 2007/08.
Elsewhere, Everton picked up a 3-1 victory at Fulham, Brentford won 1-0 at Ipswich Town and Brighton beat Wolves 2-0 at Molineux.
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Cottagers rue missed opportunities
A season that promised so much is petering out for Fulham.
Another defeat this afternoon - their seventh in 11 games - again came despite the Cottagers taking the lead and dominating the opening half hour.
The upshot of the 3-1 loss at home to Everton is that Marco Silva's men have now dropped 28 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season.
It is the joint-most of any side along with Southampton, and the Londoners' most in a single campaign in the competition.
Danny hits double figures
At the ripe old age of 34, Danny Welbeck is proving himself the man for the big occasion.
The Brighton striker scored the opener in his side's crucial 2-0 win at Wolves to take his season total to 10 goals in the Premier League for the very first time, despite playing in his 17th campaign.
Meanwhile, each of Welbeck's last nine Premier League goals has either put the Seagulls ahead (7) or drawn them level (2).
City flop against rock-bottom Saints
Manchester City's goalless draw at already-relegated Southampton this afternoon meant that they failed to defeat the side starting the day bottom of the Premier League table for the first time since November 2015.
It was another 0-0 draw, that time against Aston Villa, and was also the last time they were unable to score against such an opponent.
Morgan and Ollie combine again
After Morgan Rogers crossed for Ollie Watkins to nudge in the winner at the Vitality Stadium, the pair have combined for seven Premier League goals this season.
As a duo, only Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak (8) have linked up for more goals this season.
The Premier League weekend
Gameweek 36 is half done in the Premier League after five games today, so it's time to turn attention to the five that take place tomorrow.
Champions League-chasing Newcastle and Chelsea meet in the noon kick-off at St James' Park before rivals Nottingham Forest host relegated Leicester later in the afternoon.
Europa League finalists Manchester United and Tottenham are in action against West Ham and Crystal Palace respectively, and the football is completed by champions Liverpool, who welcome second-placed Arsenal to Anfield.
Saturday's Results:
- Fulham 1-3 Everton
- Ipswich 0-1 Brentford
- Southampton 0-0 Man City
- Wolves 0-2 Brighton
- Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
Sunday's Fixtures:
- Newcastle v Chelsea (12:00)
- Man Utd v West Ham (2.15pm)
- Nott'm Forest v Leicester (2.15pm)
- Tottenham v Crystal Palace (2.15pm)
- Liverpool v Arsenal (4.30pm)
Match stats from Vitality Stadium
Aston Villa's 34.3% possession is their lowest in a Premier League game that they have ended up winning since April 2023 (31.1% vs Chelsea).
Full time - Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
Aston Villa get the job done, and a return to the Champions League is still very much on the cards.
It won't be a game remembered by many at the end of the season - or perhaps even by 10pm tonight - but it could prove crucial in the European race.
Ollie Watkins scored the only goal, becoming Aston Villa's record Premier League goalscorer in the process,
As a result, Villa move 6th, behind both Newcastle and Chelsea on goal difference.
Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
90+5. How has that stayed out?!
In the final seconds, Antoine Semenyo escapes at the far post to meet a left wing cross and head down.
Martinez gets an important hand to the ball but it loops up perfectly for substitute Daniel Jebbison to nod in.
Yet out of nowhere appears Matty Cash, and while he didn't connect with the ball, his presence alone is enough to make the Bournemouth forward head it over.
A huge, huge chance for Bournemouth. A last chance for Bournemouth.
Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
90+3. Cook tries to lift a pass into the path of Tavernier but it spins out of play and sums up Bournemouth's afternoon.
The away fans in the corner of the Vitality Stadium know they are nearly there.
Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
90. The clock hits the 90-minute mark but we're not done yet.
And a reminder that Bournemouth have scored the most goals in stoppage time at the end of games this season.
The Cherries have bagged eight beyond 90 minutes while Villa have conceded the same amount.
There will be five additional minutes here for that patten to continue.
Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
87. Antoine Semenyo has been a shining light in the Premier League this season, but his radar has been off today.
It's about the third time he's completely overcooked a delivery into the area, and Aston Villa can regroup and reset.
Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
85. Five to go.
After wins for Brighton and Brentford today, Bournemouth need something - anything - to continue harbouring hopes of Europe.
They have finally woken up, but is it too late?
Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
83. All of a sudden, Bournemouth have come to life.
Semenyo whistles one wide, their first attempt of the second half, and then moments later, Evanilson forces Martinez into a save.
And still the hosts keep on coming.
In their next attack, a Kerkez drive is charged down and it flicks off the hand of a defender.
The home fans scream for a penalty, but Stuart Attwell says no.
Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
80. Now then. Does this make things interesting?
David Brooks tries to dart his way down the right touchline in front of the dugouts, and is clipped by Jacob Ramsey.
It's a nothing foul in a nothing game - the only problem is Ramsey was booked in the first half.
Nobody is making a real fuss about it, but over comes Stuart Attwell to show a second yellow card, and then the red.
Will a game of football now break out in these final ten minutes?
Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
78. Things I've done while covering this game:
- Watched a wrestling video from the 1980s.
- Looked up a recipe for a Thai curry.
- Checked Sunday train times.
Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
75. With just quarter of an hour remaining, Bournemouth - as the home side - have had just two attempts (one on target) with a total xG of 0.07.
The lengths Andoni Iraola will go to in order to not be linked to the Tottenham job.
Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
70. Some fresh faces. Hopefully, they can inject some life into this game.
John McGinn and Pau Torres are on for Villa, replacing Marco Asensio and Tyrone Mings.
David Brooks is Bournemouth's latest switch. He replaces captain Adam Smith, who departs having made his 400th appearance for the club.
Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
65. Bournemouth have committed 15+ fouls in 15 different Premier League games this season, doing so in at least four more matches than any other side.
They do love a cynical one that stops the opposition in their tracks -or tactical fouls as we tend to call them these days.
Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
63. The long throw seems to be coming back into fashion.
In the past week, I've seen Thomas Partey, Michael Kayode and now Antoine Semenyo all hurling it into the box for Premier League sides.
I wonder if Liam Delap has it in his locker. Genetics and that.
Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
60. Mind you, it's not as if Villa are doing much from an attacking perspective either.
Their only attempt in this second period was through Kamara 30 seconds after the restart.
Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
57. It's now half hour of game time (plus the six minutes of stoppages in the first half) since Bournemouth last had an attempt at goal.
Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
55. There's a school of thought that some teams - who have had otherwise impressive seasons - are running out of steam at the campaign's end.
Given Bournemouth's aggressive press, it wouldn't be a surprise if that were the case.
Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
52. The hosts are certainly applying more pressure without creating anything as of yet.
Meanwhile, each of Ollie Watkins' last five Premier League goals have put Aston Villa in the lead; the last four have put them 1-0 ahead.
Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
49. The Cherries have been a bit more positive at the start of the second half.
Substitute Kluivert shows good footwork in the box to make room for himself, but Martinez is out quickly to clear the danger.
Kick-off - Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
46. Bournemouth make a change at the break - and it's probably should have been one made much earlier.
Alex Scott hasn't been right since taking that elbow to the face early on, and he's now replaced by Justin Kluivert.
Villa, meanwhile, start the second half n the way they finished the first, and Kamara almost doubles their lead with a shot that whistles across goal.