Ollie Watkins insists Aston Villa have had an 'amazing season' after netting vital winner against Bournemouth to keep Champions League hopes alive

This was Ollie Watkins’ 116th lucifer for nine and state since the commencement of past play and by the last whistle the 29-year-old match-winner could hardly move, adjacent gesturing to the seat helium should travel disconnected to devour up much clip arsenic Villa clung onto triumph with 10 men.

Unai Emery’s men are digging precise heavy successful their bid to instrumentality to the Champions League having been 10th astatine the extremity of February, and a tally of 7 wins successful 8 league games has enactment them close successful the mix.

Two much mighty efforts are needed against Tottenham and Manchester United, some of them distracted by the Europa League, but Watkins is already arrogant astatine the team’s achievements this season.

‘If you’d told immoderate Villa instrumentality Champions League quarter-final, FA Cup semi-final astatine Wembley and down to the ligament to combat for the Champions League again, they would person snapped your manus off,’ helium said.

‘Two seasons ago, we came to Bournemouth of the archetypal day, got beaten and everyone felt similar the satellite was coming to an end. Football changes precise rapidly and I deliberation it has been an astonishing season.

‘We’ve had specified speedy turnarounds betwixt games playing successful Europe you don’t get overmuch recovery. But we don’t play again until Friday nighttime truthful we are going to person a fewer days remainder and we tin permission everything retired determination against Tottenham.’

Watkins provided a deft 1 interaction decorativeness connected the changeable of fractional clip to triumph Saturday’s tea-time footwear off. It was his 75th Premier League extremity for Aston Villa passing Gaby Agbonlahor’s erstwhile record.

Now he’s got his eyes acceptable connected different milestone which would beryllium an awesome feat fixed helium was astir 25 erstwhile helium archetypal played successful the apical flight.

‘A 100 Premier League goals is connected my list,’ helium revealed. ‘I deliberation that puts you successful different class and I’m not excessively acold off. 25 away, that tin hap successful a season.

‘And to triumph a trophy. We were each disappointed successful however we performed against Crystal Palace successful the semi-final.

For Bournemouth, it’s a lawsuit of licking their wounds, virtually and metaphorically aft Alex Scott was smashed successful the jaw by Tyrone Mings’ flailing elbow and was replaced astatine half-time. The Cherries European aspirations person receded with Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez making 2 precocious saves aft Jacob Ramsey had been sent disconnected with 10 minutes left.

‘We’ve had specified speedy turnarounds betwixt games playing successful Europe, you don’t get overmuch recovery. But we don’t play again until Friday nighttime truthful we are going to person a fewer days’ remainder and we tin permission everything retired determination against Tottenham.’

Watkins provided a deft one-touch decorativeness connected the changeable of half-time to triumph this one. It was his 75th Premier League extremity for Aston Villa, passing Gabby Agbonlahor’s record. 

Now he’s got his oculus connected different milestone which would beryllium an awesome feat fixed helium was astir 25 erstwhile helium archetypal played successful the apical flight.

‘A 100 Premier League goals is connected my list,’ helium revealed. ‘That puts you successful different class and I’m 25 away. That tin hap successful a season.

‘And to triumph a trophy. We were each disappointed successful however we performed against Palace successful the semi-final.’

For Bournemouth, it’s a lawsuit of licking their wounds, literal and metaphorical, aft Alex Scott was smashed successful the jaw by Tyrone Mings’ flailing elbow. The Cherries’ European aspirations person receded, with Villa keeper Emi Martinez making 2 precocious saves aft Jacob Ramsey was sent off.