Ollie Watkins became Aston Villa’s record Premier League goal scorer as his winner at Bournemouth helped Unai Emery’s side boost their Champions League qualification hopes.
Villa were reduced to 10 men in the 80th minute when Jacob Ramsey was shown a second yellow card, but the visitors held on in sun-kissed Bournemouth to stay sixth in the Premier League table and maintain the pressure on the teams above.
In the final minute of first-half stoppage time Watkins guided Morgan Rogers’ low cross into the bottom corner with a delicate, deft touch.
It was the England striker’s 75th league goal for Villa and moved him one clear of Gabby Agbonlahor’s previous record haul.
Villa endured a nervy finish when Ramsey received a second yellow for tripping David Brooks on the halfway line.
Ramsey had been booked in the first half after he squared up to Adam Smith following a poor challenge by the Cherries captain.
A man to the good, Bournemouth came incredibly close to an equaliser in the final seconds when Emiliano Martinez made a fingertip save to deny Antoine Semenyo’s close-range header, and defender Matty Cash managed to nip in front of Daniel Jebbison to clear the ball off the line.
Top-five-chasing Villa are now level on points with fourth and fifth-placed Newcastle and Chelsea, who play each other on Sunday.
