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2023/24 English Premier League
Matchday 34
Aston Villa v Bournemouth
Villa Park
Birmingham, England
Sunday, 21 April 2024
Kick-off is at 14h00
Aston Villa will be targeting only their third win of the
Premier League era against Bournemouth when the two teams clash at Villa Park on Sunday, April 21.
The Villans don't have a good record against the Cherries, who beat them four times in a row before Unai Emery's side halted that poor run with a 3-0 victory in Birmingham on 18 March 2023.
Villa had to settle for a share of the spoils in the reverse fixture after being held to a 2-2 draw at the Vitality Stadium on 3 December 2023, while they climbed back into the UEFA Champions League places courtesy of a surprise 2-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates last time out.
Tottenham's top-four challenge suffered a damaging blow after they slipped to a disappointing 4-0 defeat to Newcastle at St James' Park which left them three points adrift of the West Midlands giants in fifth spot with a game in hand.
The south coast club are still harbouring hopes of finishing in the top 10 for only the second time in their history, having gone through the month of March unbeaten before losing 2-1 to Luton at Kenilworth Road on April 6.
Andoni Iraola's side led twice against Manchester United at the Vitality Stadium on April 13, but only came away with a 2-2 draw as they dropped down to 13th spot, two points shy of Brighton (10th).
Fulham ran out 2-0 victors against West Ham at the London Stadium on April 14 to move above the Cherries into 12th place on goal difference, with Wolves (11th) just one point better off following a 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest.
In team news, Douglas Luiz misses out for the hosts through suspension and he joins Boubacar Kamara, Emiliano Buendia, Tyrone Mings (all knee) and Jacob Ramsey (ankle) on the sidelines. Chris Mepham (illness), Antoine Semenyo (calf) and Tyler Adams (back) could come back into contention for the visitors, but Ryan Fredericks (calf), Marcus Tavernier and Luis Sinisterra (both thigh) remain unavailable.
Emery believes VIlla can challenge the teams around them as long as they keep adopting a positive approach, as evidenced in the win over the Gunners.
"We have very good players, we have our positioning and our idea and style, and when we are imposing our game we can face teams like Arsenal," the Spaniard said.
"It's really fantastic. It was very difficult but we did it and we keep going, move on and be positive."
Iraola was left to rue missed opportunities against the Red Devils, but also refereeing decisions which he felt went against Bournemouth, citing Ryan Christie's booking for simulation as an example after Kobbie Mainoo escaped a yellow card for a similar offence.
"We cannot be happy with the point. We were the team that deserved three points," the Spaniard told Sky Sports.
"We missed chances, especially in the first half. But the reason we didn't win is because we missed the chances and all the refereeing decisions went against us.
"In the first half, Kobbie Mainoo dives and it is not a yellow card. In the second half, there is contact on Christie and it is a yellow card for diving. What's the reason?
"We need the same respect as other teams. All the teams are playing for important things and it's cost us a lot of hard work."
Head-to-Head (Last Five Premier League Meetings)
Matches - 5
Aston Villa wins - 1
Bournemouth wins - 3
Draws - 1
Premier League Matchday 34 fixtures:
Saturday, April 20
14h00: Luton Town v Brentford
14h00: Sheffield United v Burnley
18h30: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal
Sunday, April 21
12h30: Everton v Nottingham Forest
14h00: Aston Villa v Bournemouth
14h00: Crystal Palace v West Ham United
15h30: Fulham v Liverpool
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