CHERRIES were unable to return to winning ways at Villa Park, losing out 3-1 to Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa.

Dominic Solanke’s penalty had put Cherries into the lead, but goals from Morgan Rogers, Moussa Diaby, and Leon Bailey left Villa comfortable winners come the end of the game.

There was just one change to the side held 2-2 by Manchester United last time out; Luis Sinisterra ruled out by injury and replaced by Lloyd Kelly.

Early on a speculative Justin Kluivert effort from the corner of the box drew a fine stop out of Emi Martinez, the Argentine just about clawing the ball away from his net.

Villa demonstrated early signs of their proficiency on the counter, but Cherries were just about dealing with their threat.

A well-worked move saw Kelly find Dango Ouattara at the back stick, the winger firing into the side netting.

On the half-hour mark, Cherries would have the perfect opportunity to open scores.

Milos Kerkez burst into the box, Villa defender Matty Cash clumsily catching the Hungarian.

That left referee Tim Robinson no option but to point to the spot.

Whilst there could be no complaints about the decision, Villa were aggrieved over a perceived foul in the build-up on Diaby.

After a delay for the referee to intervene with the squabbling Lucas Digne and Ouattara, Solanke stuttered his run before rifling into the back of the net, Martinez guessing the right way but left with no chance.

Cherries gave Solanke another good chance shortly after, Kelly’s ball over the top seeing the striker through on goal.

However, a last-ditch tackle from Ezri Konsa denied Solanke before he could pull the trigger.

Another broken down Cherries counter would lead to Villa’s equaliser.

Ryan Christie had to wait too long for Kluivert to return to an onside position, allowing Villa to recover the ball and surge up the other end.

Former Cherries loanee Rogers entered the box and attacked Adam Smith, aiming towards the byline before swerving on to his right foot and blasting past Neto in the Bournemouth goal.      

Cherries entered the break with half of their defence on yellow cards, Smith for two shirt-pulls in quick succession, Marcos Senesi for ending a Villa counter with a clipping of Diaby’s heels.

Fearing the frequency and pace Villa were breaking at, head coach Andoni Iraola opted to introduce Max Aarons for Smith.

Early on in the second half Illia Zabarnyi joined Smith and Senesi in the book, fouling Ollie Watkins, and the England international got the better of the Cherries defender again for Villa’s next goal.

Breaking past Zabarnyi on the break, Watkins fed Diaby who cooly slotted past the onrushing Neto to put the hosts ahead.

Cherries looked to respond. After it appeared a move had finished prematurely, Lewis Cook running into a cul-de-sac, Christie’s cross from deep found Ouattara at the back post.

The Burkinabe’s header was steered on target, but well saved by Martinez to preserve Villa’s lead.

Iraola again turned to his bench for further reinforcement. First came Antoine Semenyo, back from a calf issue, replacing Senesi, before midfield duo Christie and Kluivert made way for Philip Billing and Alex Scott.

Despite the additional attacking talent, it would be the hosts that would score next.

Watkins was the provider again, rounding Neto and firing goalbound.

Bailey followed in and made sure the ball crossed the line, doubling his side’s advantage.

Enes Unal was next to be summoned off the bench, and the Turk thought he had made an instant impact when he turned home the rebound to Semenyo’s initial effort.

However, the striker was clearly offside, leaving Cherries chasing a two-goal deficit with seven minutes remaining.

Unal went close again in stoppage time.

Scott found the Getafe loanee but Martinez was Unal's equal twice, parrying the initial effort before blocking the follow-up for a corner.

Villa: Martinez; Cash (Kesler-Hayden 90+6), Konsa, Torres, Digne; Tielemens, McGinn; Bailey (Carlos, 87), Rogers, Diaby (Duran, 90+3); Watkins.

Unused subs: Chambers, Lenglet, Iroegbunam, Munroe, Kellyman, Olsen (g/k).

Cherries: Neto; Smith (Aarons, 45), Zabarnyi, Senesi (Semenyo, 64), Kelly; Cook, Christie (Billing, 75), Kluivert (Scott, 75); Ouattara (Unal, 82), Kerkez, Solanke.

Unused subs: Hill, Gonzalez, McKenna (g/k), Travers (g/k).

Booked: Smith, Senesi, Zabarnyi.