Saturday`s Premier League schedule featured several significant matches impacting the race for European qualification.
Despite finishing with ten men after Jacob Ramsey received a red card, Aston Villa secured a vital three points away at Bournemouth.
The decisive goal in their 1-0 win was scored by Ollie Watkins, establishing him as Aston Villa`s all-time leading goalscorer in the Premier League.
Earlier in the day, Manchester City were held to a goalless draw by Southampton.
This result meant Southampton surpassed Derby County`s record-low Premier League points total of 11, set during the 2007/08 season.
Elsewhere across the league, Everton triumphed 3-1 at Fulham, Brentford earned a 1-0 victory away to Ipswich Town, and Brighton defeated Wolves 2-0 at Molineux.
Fulham`s Season Fades After Costly Defeat
Fulham`s season, which began with considerable promise, appears to be ending disappointingly. Their latest loss was their seventh in the last eleven games, particularly frustrating as they initially took the lead and controlled the opening half-hour. The 3-1 home defeat to Everton means Marco Silva`s side has now dropped 28 points from winning positions this Premier League campaign. This statistic is shared with Southampton and marks Fulham`s highest tally in a single Premier League season.
Danny Welbeck Reaches Premier League Goal Milestone
At the age of 34 and in his 17th Premier League season, Danny Welbeck is proving to be a clutch player for Brighton. His opening goal in the crucial 2-0 win at Wolves brought his season`s Premier League tally to ten, a personal best. Remarkably, Welbeck`s last nine Premier League goals have all been critical, either putting Brighton ahead (7 times) or equalising (2 times).
Manchester City Drop Points Against Bottom-Ranked Saints
Manchester City`s unexpected goalless draw against already-relegated Southampton was the first time since November 2015 that City failed to beat a team positioned at the bottom of the Premier League table at the start of the day. The previous instance was also a 0-0 draw, occurring against Aston Villa, and remains the last time City were unable to score against such opposition.
Rogers and Watkins Prove Effective Partnership
The partnership between Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins continues to be fruitful. Rogers` cross leading to Watkins` winner at the Vitality Stadium means the pair have now combined for seven Premier League goals this season. Only the Newcastle duo of Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak have linked up for more goals (8) during the current campaign.
Premier League Weekend Ahead
With half of Gameweek 36 completed after today`s five matches, attention now shifts to Sunday`s remaining fixtures. The day begins with a noon kick-off between Champions League contenders Newcastle and Chelsea at St James` Park. Later in the afternoon, Nottingham Forest, battling against relegation, host already-relegated Leicester. Europa League finalists Manchester United and Tottenham are also in action, facing West Ham and Crystal Palace respectively. The weekend concludes with the highly anticipated match between champions Liverpool and second-placed Arsenal at Anfield.
Saturday`s Results:
- Fulham 1-3 Everton
- Ipswich 0-1 Brentford
- Southampton 0-0 Man City
- Wolves 0-2 Brighton
- Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa
Sunday`s Fixtures:
- Newcastle v Chelsea (12:00)
- Man Utd v West Ham (2.15pm)
- Nott`m Forest v Leicester (2.15pm)
- Tottenham v Crystal Palace (2.15pm)
- Liverpool v Arsenal (4.30pm)
Aston Villa Wins Despite Low Possession
Aston Villa`s 34.3% possession figure in their match against Bournemouth is their lowest in a Premier League game they have won since April 2023, when they secured victory against Chelsea with just 31.1% possession.
Bournemouth`s Late Push Fails
Despite Jacob Ramsey`s red card reducing Villa to ten men, Bournemouth struggled to create clear opportunities for most of the second half. They finally showed urgency in the closing minutes, with Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson forcing saves from Emiliano Martinez and a penalty appeal for a handball against Morgan Rogers was turned down. In the final seconds, Daniel Jebbison had a crucial header cleared off the line by Matty Cash, summing up Bournemouth`s frustration.
Aston Villa Secures Crucial Win
Aston Villa successfully held on for the win, keeping their push for a Champions League spot alive. While perhaps not a thrilling encounter, the three points gained at Bournemouth are immensely valuable in the competitive European race. The result moves Villa into 6th place, level on points with Newcastle and Chelsea, currently separated only by goal difference.
