ASTON VILLA BOURNEMOUTH EMPTY VILLA
No points in a tough baptism for Smith’s new-look side
DEAN SMITH’S promoted side were gone in 60 seconds as their new era dawned disastrously at Villa Park.
The new-look hosts kicked off at their spruced up home with seven of their summer signings starting after a £130million spree.
But optimism among the club’s record 30,000 season ticket-holders was punctured inside a minute.
Experienced keeper Tom Heaton should have known better than to rashly foul Callum Wilson going away from goal on a tight angle.
It allowed Josh King to convert from the spot in just the second minute.
But it wasn’t the only crazy mistake of a costly half against a well-drilled Bournemouth side.
Harry Wilson made it 2-0 in the 12th minute with a deflected shot after full debutant Douglas Luiz recklessly dummied Trezeguet’s naive pass across the top of Villa’s own box.
Having lost at Tottenham previously, play-off winners Villa have now been given two harsh lessons back in the top flight after three seasons in the second tier.
Yet there is hope – Villa were much-improved in the second half and showed character to fight back.
Classy Brazilian playmaker Luiz made up for his earlier howler, the 21-year-old curling in a rightfoot peach from outside the box to halve the deficit in the
71st minute.
And Villa boss Dean Smith was left to rue Philip Billing staying on until he was substituted, after receiving just a yellow card from referee Martin
Atkinson.
Smith said:
“We were on the back foot straight away and then we make a mistake with a square pass that Douglas lets go.
“Their lad lets fly and we are 2-0 down. Bournemouth had a bit of fortune with the deflection off Tyrone Mings for the second goal and a massive amount of fortune with Philip Billing staying on.
“He should have been sent off, because he got booked early and then made some poor fouls. But we grew into the game after that.” Heaton was supposed to provide some much-needed top-flight nous but there was little evidence as he conceded a penalty.
King then sent the former Burnley shot - stopper the wrong way. I mpre s s i v e J ohn Mcginn tried to hit back with a rasping shot f rom l ongrange which ■ Aston Villa have lost 14 of their last 15 Premier League games.
■ Bournemouth have registered three wins in their last six Prem away games. keeper Aaron Ramsdale tipped over.
Harry Wilson, making his debut on loan from Liverpool, then seized on a ill-judged dummy from Luiz, with a left-foot 30-yarder that flew in off the post via a deflection.
When Villa did have chances through the lively Mcginn, Wesley and Trezeguet, they found rookie Cherries keeper Aaron Ramsdale alert and sharp.
Villa deservedly pulled a goal back from Luiz’s right-foot strike from 25 yards into the top corner after Jack Grealish teed him up.
Cherries boss Eddie Howe said: “It was a great start for us. That gave us a platform.”