AFC Bournemouth vs Aston Villa Predictions

• Bournemouth have won three of their last four Premier League matches
• Both teams have scored in nine of Bournemouth’s last ten games
• Villa have won only two of their last six league fixtures

Villa could be picked off by Cherries

Two defeats in three Premier League outings has left Aston Villa seven points behind leaders Arsenal and there is danger that their stretched squad could suffer another setback at Bournemouth.

Unai Emery’s side have had a fantastic season, losing only six of their 24 Premier League outings, but they have endured 1-0 defeats to Brentford and Everton in their last two home league fixtures.

The Bees had been reduced to ten men in the first half last Sunday and, while Villa were unfortunate not to level having won the shot count 27 to six, their small squad may be starting to feel the effects of their Europa League campaign.

Emery’s midfield has been hit hard by the injuries to John McGinn, Youri Tielemans and Boubacar Kamara and this may be a bad time to be heading to Bournemouth following back-to-back wins over Liverpool and Wolves.

Bournemouth back on an upward trajectory

The Cherries have dealt well with losing star man Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City and they have been incredibly tough to beat at the Vitality Stadium, where they have lost only twice in 12 outings.

One of those defeats came in a 3-2 loss to Arsenal and they have responded with wins by that scoreline against Tottenham and Liverpool, while also beating Brighton and holding Chelsea and Newcastle to draws.

Bournemouth endured an 11-game winless run from the start of November until early January but in Andoni Iraola they have a tactically astute manager and are clearly more capable than their 12th-placed position implies.

Villa have won eight of their last ten on the road, so can clearly bounce back, but they will be desperate to have the services of Ollie Watkins who will face a late fitness test after missing the recent beating to Brentford.

It was 4-0 to the visitors when they met at Villa Park in November but Bournemouth have lost only one of the last four home meetings and are reaping the rewards from a much lighter schedule of late.

So the Cherries may be able to make it three straight home league wins, but both teams have scored in nine of their last ten matches and goals looks assured. A 2-1 victory for Iraolo’s side is the way to go.