BIRMINGHAM, England — Aston Villa’s efforts to secure Champions League qualification were boosted by a 3-1 win over Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday.
Trailing Dominic Solanke’s 31st-minute penalty, Villa turned things around with Morgan Rogers equalizing in first-half injury time, Moussa Diaby putting the hosts ahead just before the hour mark and Leon Bailey adding a third in the 78th minute.
Ollie Watkins set up Diaby and Bailey’s finishes as he became the Premier League’s leading passer this season with 12, to go along with his 19 goals which put him just one behind joint leaders Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer in the race for the Golden Shoe.
The result strengthens Villa’s grip on fourth place, the final Champions League qualifying spot. Villa are six points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, who have two games in hand.
It also capped an excellent few days for Villa following last weekend’s 2-0 win at Arsenal and Thursday’s penalty shootout triumph at Lille that took the team to the Europa Conference League semi-finals.