Rayan shines as Bournemouth draw with Aston Villa

Whatever the Euskara is for hoodoo, Unai Emery still holds it over Andoni Iraola. This one got away from the younger Basque who is yet to prevail over Emery in eight meetings. With Aston Villa’s hopes of an unlikely Premier League title faded, time to protect a Champions League place; they ought to be grateful for a point on the south coast.

“Before the game maybe you’d take a point,” said Bournemouth’s manager. “After the game I cannot be completely satisfied. We were the better team today.” After 20 Bournemouth shots against Villa’s seven had rained on Emi Martínez’s goal, the keeper’s shaky handling reflected a difficult afternoon for his team.

Villa still took the lead through Morgan Rogers’ brilliantly executed finish. Rayan’s second-half equaliser was no less impressive, a solo goal to further the gathering hype surrounding the young Brazilian, and Bournemouth’s dealmaking prowess. An eye-catching cameo at Wolves had convinced Iraola to start Rayan on the right of an attack full of youthful zest.

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