Aston Villa vs Bournemouth preview
Watch match highlights from 5.15pm on skysports.com and Sky Sports app
Friday 16 August 2019 12:22, UK
Team news, stats and prediction ahead of Aston Villa vs Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Team news
Aston Villa will be without Jonathan Kodjia. The striker is expected to be sidelined for around 10 days while Kortney Hause is also missing with his own ankle problem.
James Chester remains absent for Dean Smith's side after picking up a hamstring injury during pre-season.
Bournemouth will again be without forward Arnaut Danjuma as the Dutch summer signing continues to be assessed for a foot problem.
Midfielders Andrew Surman and Harry Wilson are both available, but defender Lloyd Kelly (ankle) is not yet match-fit.
Lewis Cook is continuing the final stages of his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury with a visit to a specialist in the United States, while Dan Gosling (hip) and David Brooks (ankle) are also still recovering, along with Simon Francis and Junior Stanislas (both knee).
How to watch
Follow the action with our dedicated live blog. Highlights of the game will be published at 5.15pm on the Sky Sports website and app plus the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.
Opta stats
- In all competitions, this is just the eighth match between Aston Villa and Bournemouth, with Villa winning four of the previous seven (D1 L2).
- Aston Villa faced 31 shots in their first Premier League match of 2019-20 against Spurs - the most of any club on MD1 and the most they've faced in a league game since February 2010, also against Spurs (34 shots).
- Since joining the Premier League in 2015-16, Bournemouth have collected just eight points in 11 away matches against newly-promoted sides (W2 D2 L7).
- Bournemouth have scored at least three goals in each of their last three away league games, though have only gone on to win one of those (W1 D1 L1). There have been just six instances of a team scoring 3+ goals in 4+ consecutive Premier League away games, with Liverpool's run of five between November-December 2017 the most recent.
- Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has won three of his five league games against Bournemouth (W3 D1 L1) - all with Walsall in League One - including a victory in his only previous meeting with Eddie Howe in January 2013.
- Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson has been directly involved in eight goals in his last five away games in the Premier League (4 goals, 4 assists).
Charlie's prediction
I thought a lot of people got excited about the Aston Villa situation at Tottenham, hanging on and hanging on throughout. Are they going to be this team? I don't think that is the way they should play. Jack Grealish is a huge talent and I am a massive fan, but Villa need to play him higher. He is not a deep-lying player. It takes you two to three years to understand it at the top level.
I like what Dean Smith has done - Villa are not threatened by relegation but Grealish is the Duracell battery. You can play Grealish and John McGinn in front of a holding midfielder, and if you do that I believe they can make the top eight and threaten for Europe. If Smith gets this right, it could be that good.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 2-1 (Price Boost 10/1 with Sky Bet)
Fantasy Football Tip
In a game that may well be lit up with goals, Wesley (£7.2m) could announce himself to the Villa Park faithful, especially with Jack Grealish (£7.9m) playing behind him. Play here.
