Watkins breaks Aston Villa goal record in win over Bournemouth

Ollie Watkins became Aston Villa's all-time leading Premier League scorer after his first-half goal secured a 1-0 win against Bournemouth on Saturday to boost their hopes of playing in Europe again next season.

Watkins broke the deadlock in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time, after a VAR check for offside, with the lightest of touches to a Morgan Rogers cross for his 16th goal of the league campaign.

It was the England international's 75th goal in the competition for Villa, putting him one clear of Gabriel Agbonlahor.

"I've had eyes on breaking that record since joining the club; you need to celebrate wins like that as it's a great achievement," he said.

The visitors, who rose to sixth, had Jacob Ramsey sent off for a second yellow card in the 80th to set up a nervous finish at the Vitality Stadium as late-goal specialists Bournemouth finally came to life but could not find an equaliser.

Villa are level on 63 points with Newcastle United and Chelsea, fourth and fifth respectively before meeting at St James' Park on Sunday, and two clear of Nottingham Forest, who host Leicester City, in the battle for Champions League places.

Villa have played a game more than all three rivals, who are only two points behind third-placed Manchester City after Pep Guardiola's side dropped points in a 0-0 draw at already-relegated bottom side Southampton earlier on Saturday.

"We are in Europe; Conference League, Europa League or Champions League," said Villa manager Unai Emery, whose side are sure of finishing at least seventh with eighth placed Brentford unable to catch them.

"Of course, we try to get our best dreams in Europe, playing Champions League again, but still we have matches to play, and there are other teams in front of us.

"To play in Europe for the third year in a row, I am so happy."

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Bournemouth, who stunned second-placed Arsenal 2-1 last weekend and could have moved up to eighth, remain in 10th spot with their outside challenge for Europe running out of steam.

Should Manchester City defeat Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final this month, an eighth-place finish would secure qualification for the Conference League. 

"We are in a worse position than we were a couple of hours ago but we have to keep fighting," manager Andoni Iraola told Sky Sports.

Unai Emery's side, beaten by finalists Paris Saint-Germain in this year's Champions League quarter-finals, had two chances before Watkins' breakthrough, with Marco Asensio hitting the post in the 43rd with an effort that fired up his side.

Bournemouth goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga then had to make a double save from a Boubacar Kamara header and Matty Cash who nodded back the rebound.

Bournemouth, starting with three changes from the Arsenal game, had only one shot on target in a first half with only two more shots than yellow cards (five).

The response to the goal was tame for much of the second half but the hosts came alive after Ramsey walked.

Antoine Semenyo shot wide in the 81st and Evanilson had a header palmed away by Emiliano Martínez.

Semenyo then had an effort cleared off the line by Cash under pressure after a save from Martinez five minutes into stoppage time.

Information from Reuters was used in this report.