A trip to the seaside, time to put things right and match facts from the BBC

The League table doesn't tell fibs. We are third in the table with a chance of going second this afternoon. And all the pressure is on us. It's meant to be also, this isn't an accident and if you want to play the game, you've got to take all it throws at you.

And with Manchester United playing before us, it could even add a little more pressure. And I'd like to think that would be good for us. You see if Spurs, United fans will be two points behind us and they'll probably give Carrick a long term contract. It could, in days gone by, impact on us. 

But I'd like to believe we've moved past that and today we do need a win. We've lost three of the last six and only won twice. If we are to believe we are going to finish in the top four, we can't really afford another defeat. Behaviour breeds behaviour. 

And that's why in the title of this post, I've written that we need to put things right and by that I mean, I guess, it's time to get things back on track and have everyone a little settled. Yes, we've lost a few players to injury and that would impact any side, but it's not about individuals, it's about the team. 

Today we need to show that and because I'm at home for what feels like the first time in a while, I'm thinking about heading to the pub and that's why this is a short post. I have things to do. Back in an hour or three.

Match facts from the BBC

• Having won four of their first five Premier League games against Aston Villa (L1), Bournemouth are now winless in their last six (D2 L4).

• Following their 4-0 win at Villa Park in November, Aston Villa are looking to complete the league double over Bournemouth for the first time.

• Bournemouth have won three of their last four Premier League games (D1), after a run of 11 without a win (D5 L6). Meanwhile, the Cherries have also won five of their last seven league games against sides starting the day in the top three of the table (L2).

• Aston Villa have lost three of their last six Premier League games (W2 D1), as many as they had in their first 18 this season (W12 D3 L3).

• Last season in the Premier League, only four teams’ games saw fewer goals scored than Bournemouth’s (104 – F58 A46). So far this season, the Cherries’ games have had more goals than any other side (83 – F40 A43).

• Aston Villa have conceded 26 goals from an xG against of 33.9, meaning they’ve conceded 7.9 goals fewer than expected. Only Everton (8) have a better figure so far this term (27 conceded, 35 xGA).

• Bournemouth have conceded more goals from set piece situations than any other side in the Premier League this season (16, excluding penalties). Only in 2022-23 (21) have the Cherries conceded more from set pieces in a single top-flight campaign.

• Only the top two scorers Erling Haaland (360) and Igor Thiago (314) have applied more pressures in the opposition penalty area than Bournemouth’s Evanilson (292) in the Premier League this season.

• Bournemouth teenager Junior Kroupi has the best shot conversion rate of any player to have 10 shots in the Premier League this season (38.1%), while he also the best minutes-per-goal ratio of anyone to score more than once this term (one every 98 minutes).

• Morgan Rogers’ seven Premier League goals have been worth 11 points to Aston Villa this season – no player’s strikes have been more valuable to their side so far (Igor Thiago also 11).