Speaking on The Football News Show, former Chelsea and Scotland winger Pat Nevin believes Aston Villa could miss out on Champions League qualification due to their inferior goal difference and exertions in other competitions this season.
David Michael
Fan writer
Image source, PA MediaWhile he's still some way off Aston Villa's all-time top scorer Billy Walker - who netted 244 goals between 1920 and 1934 - Ollie Watkins has now become the club's record Premier League goalscorer, with 75 goals in 182 league appearances.
Watkins reached the milestone in almost half the appearances it took the previous record holder, Gabby Agbonlahor, who managed 74 goals in 322 games - a stat that also reflects Villa's accelerated progress in recent seasons.
While Watkins grabbed headlines with his dramatic winner for England in the Euro 2024 semi-final, Villa fans will now be hoping the next step in his evolution is becoming the kind of clinical big-game finisher the club can rely on.
The stakes in Villa's final two league games are certainly on a similar level, giving the England striker an instant platform to make such a statement.
First up is a rare Friday night double-header, with Villa and their direct Champions League rivals Chelsea each taking on teams who have one eye on their own quest for a Champions League spot through winning the Europa League final.
Surely, both Spurs and Manchester United will prioritise resting players for next week's final, but will one be weaker than the other?
Villa will play both finalists in their last two league games, so a Watkins winner against Spurs and a legendary hat-trick at Old Trafford would be just the tonic to help Villa snatch a top-five place.
Not only would it also give Watkins his 20-goal target for this season, but it would set him up nicely in attempting to cross the 100 Premier League goals line next season.
Find more from David Michael at My Old Man Said, external
Image source, Getty ImagesThere were two words from Aston Villa boss Unai Emery when asked about record-breaker Ollie Watkins after their win over Bournemouth - "Fantastic. Brilliant."
The striker himself itted: "I said when I ed the club, that was what I had my eyes on."
Now it is official. He is Aston Villa's record Premier League goalscorer, scoring his 75th league goal for the club to see off the Cherries and move one clear of Gabby Agbonlahor's previous record haul.
When the England international guided Morgan Rogers' low cross into the bottom corner with a deft touch, it was also his 16th Premier League goal of the season - no other Englishman has more.
Longevity is key. Watkins has scored at least 10 league goals in all five of his seasons at Villa, helping him move ahead of Dwight Yorke, Dion Dublin and Juan Pablo Angel in the club's top-scorer charts.
It marks a dramatic return to favour for the 29-year-old, who ed from Brentford in 2020.
When he equalled Agbonlahor's record in April, Watkins said he was "fuming" with his lack of game time - calling out his manager Emery.
But, four matches later, he is once again Villa's main man with his boss calling his achievement "very fantastic".
The Spaniard said in his post-match interview: "We are here collectively achieving our objective and individuals are very important.
"We have to and help each individual player to get their objective as well.
"Ollie Watkins is very fantastic. How he plays consistently here and his career as a player, he is very humble and trying to improve every day. He is not relaxing - he is always trying to do his work. His work is fantastic.
"[It is] not just his scoring because he also played in the way we needed to stop them and he did a fantastic job."
Former Premier League defender Ashley Williams highlighted Amadou Onana as one of Aston Villa's standout performers in their victory against Bournemouth: "I was really impressed with him coming in for [Youri] Tielemans. It was a really strong and powerful midfield performance - as a centre back, that is exactly what you want in front of you.
"He just sat in the middle of the pitch all game, starting off attacks and breaking up play. He was big and strong on corners which is what they needed with Bournemouth having numerous corners. In a really big game for Villa, it was a strong performance."
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Bournemouth and Aston Villa.
Here are some of your comments:
Bournemouth fans
Sam: Credit to Villa - they kept us quiet, created chances and deserved to win in the end. I was hoping we might nick a goal but not to be. Here's hoping Europe is not a step too far as ultimately for all the good results, it would end up being a disappointing season considering where we have been in the table at times. Come on Cherries, let's attack these final two games with all we have got and then what will be will be. At least we could end the season knowing we have given it our all.
Peter: Just one question - how on arth did Tyrone Mings get away with that elbow? Blatant violent conduct - straight red card.
Kevin: Bournemouth couldn't get into any rhythm, Villa did a great job stopping Bournemouth attacking. They deserved the win.
Tim: Possibly Bournemouth's worst display of the season. es went astray, dead ball situations wasted and, until the final 10 minutes, an untypical lack of urgency.
Aston Villa fans
Jonny: Matty Cash stole man of the match with that goalline clearance at the death. He performed irably, shutting down Bournemouth's attack all game. Ollie Watkins taking Gabriel Agbonlahor's record is an achievement well earned by his time at Villa. One step closer to the Champions League!
Simon: Substance over style. The points are more important than the performances at this point of the season. So pleased for Ollie Watkins getting our Premier League goals record.
Ian: Great three points for the Villa after a very hard fought game against a very good Bournemouth side. We defended very well and could have had another couple of goals. A vital win and two more to go that hopefully will see us back in the Champions League.
Rob: Great three points for the Villa. Very hard fought game against a very good Bournemouth side. We defended very well and could have had another couple of goals. Vital win, two more to go, which hopefully will see us back in the Champions League.
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa can no longer finish lower than seventh, meaning they are guaranteed European football in at least the Conference League next season.
And with two games remaining, former Premier league midfielder Michael Brown and the Telegraph's Luke Edwards are backing Unai Emery's men to qualify for the Champions League for a successive season.
"It is an impressive achievement," said Edwards on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "They have rallied again.
"They have Manchester United and Tottenham left to play, who seemingly don't bother to play at weekends and just weekdays, so they have a real chance of sneaking into the Champions League."
Brown added: "I have fancied them to do it for a long time because I thought they would come up strong. Their recruitment in the January window was excellent and they have gone well since then.
"I expect them to win their final two games. They are a really consistent team now and the squad is really good.
"Villa are in their stride and here to stay."
Brazil midfielder Douglas Luiz says he misses playing for Aston Villa as he struggles for first-team football at Juventus, who signed the 27-year-old from the Midlands club last summer. (Twitch, via Birmingham Mail), external
On X on Monday, Fabrizio Romano posted some quotes, external from Luiz that clarified his position: "I spoke about Aston Villa as an happy place for me, I loved to be there and develop at that club but I never mentioned a return to Aston Villa. Don't misunderstand me."
Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column
Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesOllie Watkins became Aston Villa's record Premier League goalscorer as his winner at Bournemouth helped Unai Emery's side boost their Champions League qualification hopes.
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.
When Watkins equalled Agbonlahor's record in April he was resigned to sharing Villa's starting striker spot with Manchester United loan player Marcus Rashford.
At the time Watkins said he was "fuming" with his lack of game time.
With Rashford now out for the season with a hamstring injury, Watkins is once again Emery's main man.
The 29-year-old's importance cannot be understated. Each of his past four goals have put Villa into 1-0 leads.
Image source, Getty ImagesUnai Emery speaking to BBC Match of the Day after their 1-0 victory over Bournemouth: "I am very proud of the team and grateful for the owners and the way they are ing us and are ambitious. They are very focused in different competitions and achieving different objectives and the most important for us is the Premier League to once again get Europe.
"We are in the run for it and we are competing today with the demands set in the dressing room. The players, we try to get out of our pressure something positive.
"It is the best competition in the world, we are winning matches and we can be a good contender. We are winning to try and be there. The first objective is to try and play in Europe again and we are feeling comfortable with the pressure we are setting ourselves.
"We are fighting with Manchester City and Chelsea and we fight for Europe."
On Ollie Watkins: "Fantastic. Brilliant. We are here, collectively achieving our objective. Ollie Watkins is fantastic. He played consistently here and he is very humble. Trying to improve every day sand he is not relaxing. He played fantastic. We were very demanding how we we needed to press them and threaten them.
"We did it collectively and over 90 minutes very good work. We did not concede a lot of chances. But how we compete and defend, I am so proud of them."
Image source, Getty ImagesOllie Watkins scored his 75th Premier League goal for Aston Villa, overtaking Gabriel Agbonlahor (74) to become their highest ever goalscorer in the competition.
Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?
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This should be a cracking game. Aston Villa really need a win to boost their hopes of making the top five, but how can I back against a Bournemouth side that beat Arsenal last time out?
Part of my predictions strategy last week was to back the teams who are going for the Champions League places, but I don't think you can just ignore how well a team like Bournemouth are playing.
Sutton's prediction: 2-2
Five matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.
Fulham v Everton
Ipswich Town v Brentford
Southampton v Manchester City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
Wolves v Brighton
Bournemouth v Aston Villa (17:30 BST) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
All kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated
With the race for Champions League football reaching the final few hurdles, we asked our fan contributors of five clubs involved to let us know if their team will make the top five and if not, what happens next.
This is what Richard Sutherland from The Villa Park Podcast, external had to say...
Here is what the other four contenders' fans thought about the race for Champions League football...
Man City will make the top five because "simply, we are one of the best teams in the country"
Newcastle will make the top five because "we have the number one striker in world football"
Chelsea will make the top five because of "belief generated" by win over Liverpool
Nottingham Forest will make the top five because of a "more favourable" run-in
On the latest episode of his BBC Sounds podcast, Kyle Walker talks about Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool's title, the race for the Champions League and dealing with injury at AC Milan.
Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Bournemouth (kick-off 17:30 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Emery confirmed midfielder Youri Tielemans is injured with a "small issue" and will not be available for Saturday, however, they will "test him again" next week.
He could not say whether Marcus Rashford will play again this season but did confirm the forward will not be available this weekend.
On the importance of having their full focus on the race for Champions League: "Our objective is Europe. We played Conference League last year, Champions League this year, but of course Europe has three options - Champions League, Europa League and Conference League."
He added: "[I am] excited [for this match], but also responsible [for us] to play again in Europe. Of course, to play in the Champions League is the best you can do, but the most difficult. It is not in our hands - we have to win and wait for other results."
On whether this season still shows progress for the club if they miss out on top five: "Tomorrow we are not able to decide with our hand which competition we will play in next year if we are in Europe. Other teams have points in front of us. After 90 minutes tomorrow we will have an idea of how we are. Same as against Fulham last week. We can't keep speaking about the possibility to play in Champions League or not, but to play in Europe is in our hands."
Emery said it is "not a surprise" how Bournemouth are performing this year: "The coach is doing fantastic job. They have very, very good players - talented players."
He added: "They are now an opponent for Europe. Tomorrow is now the biggest test in the last matches we will play."
The Villa boss said "respect for our fans" is most important after the club's match with Tottenham was brought forward from a Sunday to Friday: "I can understand they prefer to play on a Saturday or Sunday. Of course, I am going to focus on the match on Friday and accept it, but I understand my ers and have to protect my ers."
Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
Listen to full commentary of Bournemouth v Aston Villa live on BBC Sounds from 17:30 BST on Saturday
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa has announced the club will travel to the USA for this summer's pre-season tour.
Unai Emery's side will take on MLS outfit St Louis City at Energizer Park on Wednesday, 30 July before facing Nashville SC at Geodis Park on Saturday, 2 August.
The US trip is expected to have an additional fixture added to the schedule, which will take place prior to these two matches.
Villa will open their pre-season with a game at Walsall on Wednesday, 16 July before travelling to to take on Hansa Rostock on Saturday, 19 July.
Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne is keen to stay in Europe when his contract expires this summer with and Aston Villa understood to be among a host of clubs keeping an eye on his situation. (i paper), external
Meanwhile, Villa do not want to lose £90m-rated England midfielder Morgan Rogers, who is attracting the interest of Chelsea, but the 22-year-old would be open to a move if the opportunity presented itself. (Teamtalk), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column
