Douglas Luiz lays platform for Aston Villa to brush aside Bournemouth

Aston Villa registered a third win in four Premier League games as they saw off Bournemouth courtesy of goals from Douglas Luiz, Jacob Ramsey and Emiliano Buendía.

Douglas Luiz finished from close range to put Villa ahead in the seventh minute before Ramsey and Buendía added further goals in the last 10 minutes.

Bournemouth had gone close to equalising just past the hour mark through a Philip Billing free-kick that was saved in fine style by Emiliano Martínez.

Having extended their unbeaten run, adding to the wins over Everton and Crystal Palace and a draw at West Ham, Villa moved up to 10th in the Premier League table ahead of the late game involving Chelsea. Bournemouth slipped a place to 19th, a point adrift of the last safe spot, having failed to follow up their surprise win over Liverpool last weekend.

Something for Bournemouth fans to cheer was David Brooks coming on in the 79th minute for his first appearance since being diagnosed with cancer in October 2021, a moment that brought applause all around Villa Park.

Villa made a lively start and grabbed the lead when Ollie Watkins’ shot deflected off Jack Stephens to Leon Bailey, who delivered a cutback from the right for Douglas Luiz to send a simple finish past Neto from inside the six-yard box.

There was a scare for the hosts soon after as skipper John McGinn miscued an attempted pass to Ezri Konsa and Jaidon Anthony slid in to intercept, but he could not direct the ball on target, and the same applied to Billing with a headed effort moments later.

The goalkeepers were then called into action at both ends, Dominic Solanke’s low strike being turned behind by Martínez before Watkins, played in by Buendía, saw his dinked attempt well blocked by Neto.

As Villa