Just as it seemed Aston Villa would succumb to the kind of defeat that would stick in the throat, Unai Emery’s side salvaged a point at a rejuvenated Bournemouth courtesy of a deft Ollie Watkins header. The fourth official, James Bell, promptly indicated five minutes of second-half stoppage time would follow what was a magnificent header. Watkins beat Ilia Zabarnyi to the substitute Moussa Diaby’s cross to earn a precious point and maintain Villa’s momentum.
Until that point Watkins had been very much on the periphery, his off-colour display symptomatic of a pale Villa performance all round. Emiliano Martinez played his part in ensuring Villa departed the south coast with something tangible, twice saving superbly from Dominic Solanke.