Villa 1 Bournemouth 2 - Report and pictures

Goals from Steve Cook and Josh King, which earned the Cherries victory before Jordan Ayew's late consolation, looked to have confirmed Villa's demotion to the Championship.

But Norwich City's defeat at Crystal Palace means the claret and blues, for at least 24 hours, still have a mathematical chance of beating the drop.

They will, however, have their relegation confirmed beyond doubt tomorrow if Sunderland beat Leicester.

Even if such a scenario does not materialise Villa, who sit 15 points behind Norwich with a far inferior goal difference and just five games left, need a miracle to avoid dropping out of the top flight for the first time in 29 years.

This defeat encompassed so many of the familiar failings which have dogged them all season.

For the third home game running they conceded the opening goal in first half stoppage, while the second came from a defensive mistake.

Ayew's goal with five minutes from time gave them hope which, ultimately, was unfulfilled.

Caretaker boss Eric Black made no fewer than five changes to the team which lost 4-0 to Chelsea last time out, handing surprise recalls to Kieran Richardson and Scott Sinclair, who both made their first starts since January.

Leandro Bacuna also returned to the starting line-up, with Jordan Lyden in place of the suspended Alan Hutton and Ciaran Clark back in the team following injury.

Micah Richards, Carlos Sanchez and Rudy Gestede all dropped to the bench, while Carles Gil was missing altogether from the matchday squad.

Lyden, making his first Premier League start, got the biggest cheer from supporters when his name was read out pre-match. A number of other players were booed and continued to be so during the game.

Idrissa Gana skewed an early half-chance over for Villa but they were lucky not fall behind in the fifth minute when Lewis Grabban took advantage of time and space to shoot from 20 yards out, only to see his shot pushed round the post by home keeper Brad Guzan.

The latter was one of several players booed every time he touched the ball by the home support, with Leandro Bacuna coming in for notable stick in the early stages.

Other than the treatment being dished out to home players, it was pretty low-key stuff.

Ashley Westwood struck a half-volley over the bar, while Dan Gosling dragged a shot wide for Bournemouth at the other end.

Richardson then should have done better approaching the half-hour mark when, after neat work from Gana down the left, he drove the midfielder's pull-back over the bar from the edge of the box.

Bournemouth had plenty of possession without creating chances but still went in ahead at the break, as Villa's stoppage time woes were repeated once again.

Gana and Lyden looked set to snuff out the Cherries short-corner routine but both were fooled by Matt Ritchie's flick, allowing Francis to drive in a low centre which Cook converted with an exquisite back-heel.

It was the cue for a chorus of 'You're not fit to wear the shirt' from home supporters.

Lyden was replaced at half-time by Gestede with Villa switching to 4-4-2, Clark heading an early second half corner wide of the target.

And the hosts should have equalised when Ayew beat two defenders to race along the goalline but Richardson somehow failed to convert his cross from two yards out, the ball passing through his legs.

Black introduced Adama Traore to try and find the leveller but instead Villa fell further behind with 16 minutes to go. Clark failed to control a pass and King pounced to dink the ball over Guzan.

Cook almost made it three when he headed a corner wide with Guzan in no man's land.

As it was, Ayew pulled one back with five minutes to go when he collected Gana's pass and turned inside Elphick before firing past Cherries keeper Artur Boruc.

Villa: Guzan, Bacuna, Lescott, Clark, Cissokho, Lyden (Gestede HT), Gana, Westwood, Richardson (Grealish 84), Ayew, Sinclair (Adama 71) Subs not used: Richards, Sanchez, Toner, Bunn (gk).

Bournemouth: Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie, Gosling, Surman, Gradel (Pugh 58), Grabban (MacDonald 87), King (Wilson 90+2) Subs not used: Iturbe, Wiggins, O'Kane, Federici (gk).