Abraham proves net asset again for Smith
TAMMY ABRAHAM kept up his amazing scoring streak as Villa maintained their push for a play-off place – and a remarkable Riverside run.
Skipper James Chester handed his side a deserved 20th-minute lead and on-loan Chelsea striker Abraham grabbed his seventh goal in four games after 64 minutes.
Boro keeper Darren Randolph was then guilty of a calamitous mistake seven minutes from time when he allowed sub Glenn Whelan’s shot to squirm through his hands and over the line.
That secured Villa boss Dean Smith a fifth win in eight games since replacing Steve Bruce in October.
And Villa are now unbeaten in their last seven matches at this ground – winning six.
This was the sixth meeting between the sides in 15 months and their first since Villa beat Boro over two legs in last season’s play-off semi-finals before losing to Fulham at Wembley.
Yannick Bolasie, was making only his second start for Villa on a season-long deal and the DR Congo wideman soon made an impression with a dangerous ball that Abraham turned goalward only for Randolph to pull off a fine one-handed save at the far post.
Abraham then saw a close-range effort blocked from a Jack Grealish delivery.
The breakthrough came when Grealish swung over a left-wing corner and when Randolph missed his punch, Chester bundled in the ball after losing two defenders.
Boro wasted a great chance to draw level in the 37th minute when keeper Orjan Nyland flapped at George Friend’s centre but Stewart Downing somehow headed away from goal.
And when his follow-up shot struck Jordan Hugill, the offside flag went up.
In the second half, Bolasie provided the ball for Abraham tp score Villa’s second.
He slid in on the end of a low diagonal ball from the right before angling in.
Hugill crashed a shot against the bar 10 minutes from time as Boro tried to rally – but it was all in vain as Whelan’s lucky strike sealed all the points for Villa.
RAHEEM STERLING underlined his world-class status as Manchester City opened up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
In the absence of Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva – who was a late sub – Sterling took on the role of City’s game breaker.
The England winger has been in sublime form and continued his heroics by hauling the champions to a hard-fought and vital win.
With his ninth goal of the season, Sterling became the first player in Premier League history to score in his first six appearances against a single opponent, finding the net in all six of his games for City against the South Coast side.
And with two goals against the Cherries for former club Liverpool, Sterling has plundered a total of 10 in seven games against them.
Eddie Howe and his Bournemouth players must be sick of the sight of him.
Boss Pep Guardiola said: “In the first half Raheem was not there but then he made that slalom run.
“I don’t know what he ate at half-time but maybe it will be on the menu for everyone because he changed the game.
“I’m glad today more than any other game we have played that we did it the way we did in the second half.”
The champions had to dig deep to see off stubborn Bournemouth, the visitors deserving huge credit for their refusal to roll over against Guardiola’s formidable side.
The City boss made five changes to the team that drew 2-2 with Lyon in the Champions League on Tuesday, with star striker Aguero, suffering from muscle fatigue, rested.
Bournemouth came to The Etihad more in hope than expectation, having lost all six of their Premier League meetings with City, conceding 21 goals in the process and scoring just two.
Predictably enough, the hosts dominated from the start, with Howe’s men forced into an immediate and sustained policy of containment. Gabriel Jesus, leading City’s attack in the absence of Aguero, had a chance to open the scoring after 11 minutes but was unable to get on the end of an Oleksandr Zinchenko cross.
The opener came in the 16th minute, courtesy of Bernardo Silva, with his sixth of the season. A long ball over the top from Zinchenko, intended for winger Leroy Sane – who like Sterling was in irresistible form – was met by the advancing Asmir Begovic but the keeper was unable to keep hold of the ball and Bernardo reacted quickest to steer an unstoppable shot into the net.
The Cherries were restricted to few chances early on but City keeper Ederson was called into action in the 38th minute to tip away a Callum Wilson effort from a Josh King cross.
Bournemouth took heart from that and levelled a minute before the break when captain Simon Francis crossed for Wilson to head in his ninth goal of the season.
Wilson, whose goalscoring exploits earned him an England call-up, had to contend with Nicolas Otamendi and Danilo, but still managed to beat both and send a looping header beyond Ederson.
But Guardiola’s men reacted by picking up the pace after the break. Sterling went on a dazzling solo run in the 54th minute, beating five players before watching his deflected shot bounce back off a post.
But he was not to be denied when, two minutes later, Begovic was unable to keep hold of Danilo’s low drive and he pounced to restore City’s lead.
The win was sealed with 10 minutes left. David Silva found Sane, who in turn found Ilkay Gundogan and he finished from close range.