Aston Villa face Bournemouth on Saturday, with relegation to the Championship set to be confirmed if Villa fail to pick up at least a point.
On the opening day of the season, a Rudy Gestede header was enough to give Villa a 1-0 win over the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium. Since then, Villa have only won two Premier League games, whilst Bournemouth are sitting comfortably in mid-table having won 10 Premier League games and have effectively secured their Premier League safety.
Villa’s last match came against Chelsea last weekend, when Villa put in a spineless performance against last season’s Premier League champions, eventually succumbing to a 4-0 defeat, which in truth was fairly kind on Villa. Alan Hutton’s sending off for two heavy challenges rather summed up Villa’s attitude and there is no reason to suggest that Villa could turn it around this weekend, despite long-term injury absentees Adama Traore and Jack Grealish looking likely to start.
If Villa do succumb to defeat against Bournemouth on Saturday, it will be Villa’s eight successive defeat, breaking the record of seven consecutive defeats set at the end of Tim Sherwood’s reign.
The visitors on Saturday, Bournemouth, have been a breath of fresh air in the Premier League so far this season. After an incredible rise through the English league structure, Eddie Howe’s side have beaten some of the biggest teams in the division in their first-ever season in the Premier League, having beat Manchester United at the Vitality stadium as well as beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. However, their 4-0 defeat at home to Manchester City last weekend isn’t a match the Bournemouth fans will remember too fondly.
Who knows, Villa may put in their best performance of the season against the Cherries at the weekend and avoid relegation for another week. But in reality, it looks to be the match which confirms Villa’s relegation to the second tier of English football, ending a 28-year stay in the top-flight.
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