Defeat all but relegates Aston Villa

Aston Villa have won once in 12 Premier League games

Aston Villa are all but relegated after a defeat by Bournemouth – their eighth in a row – left them 15 points from safety with five games left.

Steve Cook’s close-range finish set the visitors on their way before Joshua King scored after a defensive mix-up.

Jordan Ayew reduced the deficit with a powerful shot beyond Artur Boruc.

Villa need to win their remaining five games to have any chance of staying up, starting at Manchester United on 16 April.

Reaction from Villa Park and the rest of Saturday’s Premier League games

Relive the action from Villa Park

White handkerchiefs as Villa get it wrong again

For 23 minutes Villa were down but Jason Puncheon’s 68th-minute winner forCrystal Palace against Norwich earned the Premier League’s bottom club a temporary stay of execution.

Fans were in an unforgiving mood as the fractured relationship between home players and supporters continued.

There were thousands of empty seats at kick-off as some supporters chose to miss the first seven minutes in protest – seven being the number of times Villa have been champions of England.

Towards the end, other home fans were spotted waving white handkerchiefs – a sign of surrender – after another poor, careless performance.

Villa, who desperately needed a positive display to appease their disgruntled fans, set up to contain Bournemouth yet were picked off at ease.

BBC Sport