Cherries all out of luck as they lose at Burnley
Bournemouth had two goals disallowed by VAR as Burnley won 3-0 at Turf Moor to keep their hopes of a European spot alive.
The Cherries saw Josh King’s first-half effort chalked off for handball against Philip Billing, before Matej Vydra scored his second goal in as many games following the break to give the hosts the advantage.
Harry Wilson’s equaliser after a counterattack was then ruled out by VAR and a penalty to Burnley was awarded instead for Charlie Daniels’ handball.
Jay Rodriguez converted the spot-kick while Dwight McNeil added a sublime third before full-time.
Cherries boss Eddie Howe hopes the events at Turf Moor helps to create a siege mentality in their quest to beat the drop.
“I think it’s so difficult for the players,” he said.
“It was too much in the latter stage of the game once the VAR decision, the second one happened, I thought we fell apart a little bit mentally and then Burnley came into the game.
“The only positive I can give is we have to look at this as extra fuel, extra motivation that things can be perceived to be going against you, but we have to use it to create a siege mentality, to create a mentality that is everyone against us in our pursuit to stay in the division.”
Sheffield United had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Brighton as hopes of European football next season were dealt a minor reality check at Bramall Lane.
The Blades had spent their winter break in Dubai, while their rivals had failed to stamp any authority on or make any notable headway in their absence in the race for the top four.
Chris Wilder’s team were on their way to matching Chelsea’s win against Tottenham earlier in the day when Enda Stevens blasted them in front.
However, Neal Maupay, a summer transfer target for the Blades, quickly equalised.
Blades boss Wilder said: “It’s only a very, very slight tinge of disappointment, that’s all that is.
“The players couldn’t have given me anything more and couldn’t have done anything more. The drive was brilliant.”
Aston Villa’s relegation fears deepened after Shane Long and Stuart Armstrong fired Southampton to a comfortable 2-0 victory at St Mary’s.
Dean Smith’s side did not muster a single shot on target in a dismal display which will set more alarm bells ringing in the west midlands.
Smith said: “My feelings are embarrassment with the performance. The thing that hurts me the most is a lack of fight. I take full responsibility. It has to be the lowest of the low.”
Long’s eighth-minute strike and Armstrong’s stoppage-time breakaway, after Pepe Reina had gone up for a corner, eased a Saints side to the relative safety of 34 points.