Villans take huge step towards Champions League with comeback days after Lille heroics
Villa are now six points clear of Spurs in the Premier League
VILLA’S shattered stars ended the day on their knees, exhausted following their heroics here and in Lille.
But by full-time every Villa fan inside Villa Park was on their feet, roaring their appreciation of their weary wonders!
Take a bow Unai Emery and his battling heroes, who summoned the strength to come from behind and snatch three crucial points to go six clear of Spurs.
Things looked bleak for the Conference League semi-finalists when Dominic Solanke fired the Cherries in front from the penalty spot.
But Morgan Rogers levelled in first-half stoppage-time to breathe new life into Emery’s men and Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey finished Bournemouth off after the break.
It means if Villa can beat Chelsea next Saturday they will open up a nine-point gap over Ange Postecoglou’s men, who face Arsenal the following day.
Emery’s boys were always going to be weary and leggy following their 120 minutes plus penalties drama in Lille, which would have sucked the life out of most teams.
So it was a smart move on the part of the club to change the first team coach’s usual route to Villa Park.
This took it down Trinity Road where thousands of cheering Villa fans had converged to give their heroes a rowdy welcome – flares and all – to inject fresh life into those weary limbs.
Once inside the ground those in Villa’s Holte End really did try to live up to the banner they proudly display at every home game.
