Written by Matt Stevenson
Here is the xG timeline for the Villa game. The opening stages were cagey with the first real chance to Diaby on the 22nd minute (1 in 5) who shot wide. Immediately Bournemouth responded with a chance for Ouattara at the far post (1 in 6). There were no more chances until AFCB took the lead, with Kerkez clearly brought down allowing Solanke to strike it home (almost 4 in 5). We were seeing out the first half relatively comfortably until additional time when Villa broke with speed after Christie was dispossessed at the edge of the Villa box and with Smith caught forward. It was still a very good Villa move and finish from Rogers (1 in 5). At half time the xG was A Villa 0.61, AFCB 1.12. The second half started cautiously until Villa went 2-1 up, it was another well-worked counter-attack, leaving Diaby one-on-one to slot home (3 in 5). There was another period of inactivity with the only notable chance being an Ouattara header saved by Martinez (1 in 10) until Villa went 3-1 up. Watkins broke the offside trap, went around Neto and squared it for Bailey to have a tap-in (rated 99%!). After this Villa sat back, with two chances falling to Unal in additional time (one 1 in 4 and 1 in 6). The final xG was A Villa 2.51, AFCB 1.77. Understat had it closer but also thought A Villa had the higher value (2.63 vs 2.05).
Man of the match against Aston VillaChristie
Scott
Solanke
Zabarnyi
O. Dango
Someone else
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The average positions are below. Kerkez (3) started as left-wing / midfield in front of Kelly (5). Apart from this, the team was largely as normal with Semenyo (24) not deemed fit to start and Ouattara (11) playing right wing/midfield. As usual, Kluivert (19) played high with Solanke (9). The first sub was Aarons (37) coming on for Smith (15) as a like-for-like swap with Smith already booked. In the 63rd minute, with AFCB 2-1 down, Semenyo came on for Senesi (25) (who had also been booked) with Kelly switching to the centre, and Kerkez dropping to left back. Semenyo’s central average position may be because he switched flanks. On 76 minutes, Philip (29) replaced Kluivert, and Scott (14) replaced Christie (10). Villa made it 3-1 shortly after, prompting a final substitution with Unal (26) replacing Ouattara and playing very high as Villa sat back.
AFCB had 23 touches in the opposition’s penalty area. Solanke had the most (6) followed by Kluivert with 5.
Our players tried to take on a man 16 times being successful 8 times. Christie had the most successes, 3 from 4 attempts.