Jefferson Lerma gave Bournemouth an early lead against Villa
Bournemouth marked their return to the Premier League with a confident opening-weekend victory over Aston Villa at the Vitality Stadium.
The Cherries took the lead on three minutes - with Villa temporarily down to 10 men as left-back Lucas Digne was off the pitch to remove jewellery. Debutant Marcus Tavernier's corner was headed down by Lloyd Kelly for Jefferson Lerma to fire home.
They should have taken a two-goal lead into the interval but Kieffer Moore was unable to meet Adam Smith's low ball into the box, which was played through by the excellent Dominic Solanke.
Wales international Moore, who at the age of 29 was making his debut in the top flight, eventually doubled the home side's lead with a commanding header on 80 minutes after Kelly played a dangerous cross back into Villa's area.
Danny Ings had a shot saved by Cherries keeper Mark Travers and new Villa captain John McGinn saw a long-range drive go high and wide, but it was debutant Boubacar Kamara who had gone closest to an equaliser for the visitors.
The French midfielder - a free transfer from Marseille - found himself in space and unleashed a right-footed effort from 30 yards that just went wide of Travers' post.
Championship runners-up Bournemouth visit defending Premier League champions Manchester City next, while Villa welcome Everton.
Cherries delight, Villa disappointed
Bournemouth are likely to face a tough task to avoid relegation in their first season back in the Premier League but for now, at least, boss Scott Parker can be pleased with the spirit shown by his team in front of their home supporters.
After signing a four-year extension to stay until the summer of 2026, Solanke offered the same physical presence up front that saw him contribute 29 goals to the Cherries' promotion campaign last season.
A promising debut by new recruit Tavernier should also satisfy Parker. The former Middlesbrough midfielder was described as "a big signing" by Parker after arriving for a fee reported to be about £10m, and he was an attacking threat in support of Solanke and former non-league striker Moore.
Conversely, there was little to impress Villa manager Steven Gerrard.
They were sluggish from the off and the likes of playmaker Philippe Coutinho, who made a permanent move to Villa Park in May after a successful loan spell from Barcelona, was largely anonymous.
The chances for Kamara and Ings gave the travelling supporters minor moments of excitement, but Gerrard will be hoping this is just a bump in the road and not a continuation of their poor run at the end of last season, which finished with only two wins from 11 games.
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Player of the match
MooreKieffer Moore
with an average of 7.64
- BournemouthAFC BournemouthAFC BournemouthAston VillaAston VillaAston Villa
AFC BournemouthAvgSquad number21Player nameMooreAverage rating
7.64
Squad number10Player nameChristieAverage rating
7.64
Squad number8Player nameLermaAverage rating
7.41
Squad number16Player nameTavernierAverage rating
7.10
Squad number33Player nameZemuraAverage rating
7.10
Squad number19Player nameStanislasAverage rating
7.09
Squad number4Player nameL CookAverage rating
7.08
Squad number5Player nameKellyAverage rating
7.05
Squad number6Player nameMephamAverage rating
6.99
Squad number9Player nameSolankeAverage rating
6.99
Squad number22Player namePearsonAverage rating
6.96
Squad number29Player nameBillingAverage rating
6.86
Squad number15Player nameA SmithAverage rating
6.74
Squad number1Player nameTraversAverage rating
6.72
Aston VillaAvgSquad number1Player nameMartÃnezAverage rating
4.48
Squad number31Player nameBaileyAverage rating
4.45
Squad number7Player nameMcGinnAverage rating
4.38
Squad number2Player nameCashAverage rating
4.25
Squad number23Player namePhilippe CoutinhoAverage rating
4.23
Squad number44Player nameKamaraAverage rating
4.15
Squad number3Player nameDiego CarlosAverage rating
4.00
Squad number10Player nameBuendÃaAverage rating
3.93
Squad number9Player nameIngsAverage rating
3.86
Squad number4Player nameKonsaAverage rating
3.84
Squad number41Player nameJ RamseyAverage rating
3.80
Squad number27Player nameDigneAverage rating
3.78
Squad number35Player nameArcherAverage rating
3.78
Squad number11Player nameWatkinsAverage rating
3.36
Squad number6Player nameDouglas LuizAverage rating
2.91
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsBournemouth
Formation 5-3-2
1Travers15A Smith8Lerma6Mepham5Kelly33Zemura22Pearson29Billing16Tavernier21Moore9Solanke
- 1Travers15A SmithBooked at 39mins8Lerma6Mepham5Kelly33Zemura22PearsonBooked at 45minsSubstituted forL Cookat 72'minutes29BillingBooked at 73mins16TavernierSubstituted forChristieat 86'minutes21Moore9SolankeSubstituted forStanislasat 90+5'minutes
Substitutes
- 4L Cook10Christie11Marcondes17Stacey19Stanislas20Dembélé23Hill32Anthony40Dennis
Aston Villa
Formation 4-3-3
1MartÃnez2Cash4Konsa3Santos Silva27Digne7McGinn44Kamara41J Ramsey31Bailey9Ings23Coutinho
- 1MartÃnez2Cash4Konsa3Santos Silva27Digne7McGinn44KamaraSubstituted forDouglas Luizat 82'minutesBooked at 90mins41J RamseyBooked at 45minsSubstituted forBuendÃaat 45'minutes31Bailey9IngsBooked at 23minsSubstituted forWatkinsat 66'minutes23CoutinhoSubstituted forArcherat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Mings6Douglas Luiz10BuendÃa11Watkins16Chambers17Augustinsson18Young25Olsen35Archer
Referee:Peter BankesMatch StatsHome TeamBournemouthAway TeamAston VillaPossessionHome34%Away66%ShotsHome7Away15Shots on TargetHome3Away2CornersHome5Away5FoulsHome18Away16Live TextPost update
Match ends, Bournemouth 2, Aston Villa 0.
90'+7'Full Time
Second Half ends, Bournemouth 2, Aston Villa 0.
90'+5'Substitution
Substitution, Bournemouth. Junior Stanislas replaces Dominic Solanke.
90'+4'Post update
Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Leon Bailey.
90'+3'Booking
Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+3'Post update
Foul by Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa).
90'+3'Post update
Ryan Christie (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+2'Post update
Foul by Matty Cash (Aston Villa).
90'+2'Post update
Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'Post update
Foul by Diego Carlos (Aston Villa).
89'Post update
Kieffer Moore (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'Post update
Lucas Digne (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'Post update
Foul by Ryan Christie (Bournemouth).
88'Post update
Emiliano BuendÃa (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
88'Post update
Foul by Jefferson Lerma (Bournemouth).
87'Post update
Matty Cash (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87'Post update
Foul by Jordan Zemura (Bournemouth).
86'Substitution
Substitution, Bournemouth. Ryan Christie replaces Marcus Tavernier because of an injury.
84'Post update
Foul by Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa).
84'Post update
Kieffer Moore (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Source: bbc.com