Bournemouth 3 Aston Villa 0: Villa well beaten on south coast

For all that might have changed at Villa in recent months, Unai Emery’s indifference to the Carabao Cup seemingly remains strong as ever.

Wednesday night’s 3-0 defeat at Bournemouth ended another forgettable campaign in English football’s second domestic cup competition.

Victory at Coventry last month was just Villa’s second in the Carabao since Emery took charge four years ago. This loss means they have still not progressed beyond the fourth round during his reign.

That’s a shame because while this cup might not have the glamour of the Champions League, it does represent the quickest route to a trophy.

Victory would have put Villa just a couple of rounds from a Wembley final, in a competition which has already seen some big rivals exit.

Yet there was a marked difference in the way these sides approached the opportunity.

Bournemouth, with eight changes from the side which won 3-0 at Manchester United on Sunday, looked hungrier from the start against a Villa team in which Joao Gomes and Ian Maatsen were the only survivors from Saturday’s win over Manchester City.

On the touchline Emery wore a tracksuit, attire only ever reserved for this competition.

The Cherries led early through Amine Adli and while Villa did have their moments, it was the hosts who always looked more threatening.

A blunder by back-up goalkeeper Marco Bizot saw Lewis Cook double the lead early in the second half, before Lamare Bogarde’s mistake led to Alvaro Rodriguez killing the tie once and for all.

Bogarde, starting for the first time since the win at Coventry, endured a difficult night but was not the only one.

So too did fellow full-back Ian Maatsen. That is a concern, considering next Tuesday he will be faced with Barcelona’s Yamine Lamal.

All told, too many players failed to take their chance to stake a claim for more playing time. Maybe that squad isn’t quite so strong as advertised.

Defeats this will be forgotten should Villa defeat Fulham on Saturday in the Premier League. Even more so if they get a result in the Nou Camp next Tuesday.

Yet it still feels a bit of a shame, with a competition in which the club has a proud history reduced largely to irrelevance.

Marcus Tavernier was one of three players to remain in the Bournemouth side from their win at Manchester United and he played a key role in the opener.

His perfectly weight lofted pass found the run of Julio Soler, who had escaped the attentions of stand-in right-back Lamare Bogarde.

The cross, intended or not, fell perfectly into the path of Adli who finished past Bizot from eight yards.

Bizot was another player making his first start since the win at Coventry in the previous round.

He was busy in the early stages, preventing the hosts from doubling their lead when he tipped a rising Ben Gannon-Doak effort over the bar.

Bournemouth looked up for it. Villa less so but as the half wore on so they found a bit of rhythm. Gomes prodded a pass through to George Hemmings but the youngster pulled his finish wide of the far post.

Brian Madjo starting for the first time since the European Super Cup, then couldn’t react in time when a mis-hit Emi Buendia shot almost became the perfect assist.

Yet the home side were slicker. Tavernier was inches from doubling the lead when he curled wide, while goalscorer Adli should have at least got his effort on target after meeting a Juanlu Sanchez cross.

The left-hand side was a problem area for Villa and Bizot was forced to save from Gannon-Doak again in the opening seconds of the half.

It was the visitors who were then close to leveller when Mbaye’s shot hit Hemmings and flew just wide.

But the hosts were getting in too easily. Bizot saved impressively from Sanchez but then suffered embarrassment from the corner. Cook made a mess of the cross but it fooled the keeper, who could not recover in time. Both he and the ball ended up in the back of the net.

Emery turned to the bench with both Alysson and Garnacho introduced. The former almost made an instant impact with a strong run which ended with a blocked shot. Gomes then forced Cherries keeper Michele Di Gregorio into his first serious work of the night.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis then should have done better with a header from a Gomes cross but Villa’s chances of getting back into it were extinguished by another defensive blunder.

Lamare Bogarde, who had already got away with a few sloppy passes, didn’t when he tried to find Gomes but only picked out Rodriguez. The forward lashed his finish beyond Bizot.

Di Gregorio saved from Madjo and Alejandro Garnacho has Villa hunted a consolation which proved elusive.

Bournemouth De Gregorio, Sanchez, Diakite, Silva, Soler, Cook, Christie (Adams 63), Gannon-Doak (Brooks 63), Adli (Rayan HT), Tavernier (Kluivert HT), Rodriguez (Kroupi 80) Subs not used: Truffert, Hill, Smith, Petrovic (gk).

Villa (4-2-3-1): Bizot, Bogarde, Harwood-Bellis, Mings, Maatsen, Gomes, Goretzka (McGinn 70), Mbaye (Alysson 58), Buendia (Barkley 70), Hemmings (Garnacho 58), Madjo (Abraham 75) Subs: Cash, Kamara, Cisse, Suzuki (gk).