Aston Villa 4-0 Bournemouth analysis: Good day for Emi Buendia but Ollie Watkins struggles

Aston Villa’s apparent attacking shortcomings – especially in the early part of the season – have been well documented.

Those sluggish early games, when they went four matches without scoring, now feel like a distant memory.

After a fourth consecutive home win, Villa Park looks to be back to the fortress Unai Emery made it last season, when they lost just once in the league.

Their biggest margin of victory this season was underpinned by an impressive display by Emiliano Buendia, as the revival of his Villa career continues.

Buendia’s future looked uncertain in the summer after he spent the second half of last season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen after struggling to break into the Villa side.

His performance against Bournemouth was purposeful, and was capped with a fine goal.

The 28-year-old Argentine won the Premier League’s goal of the month award for October for his winner against Tottenham.

He provided a contender for November with the opener on Sunday, getting his effort up and over the Bournemouth wall with goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic only able to watch it fly into the net.

While Bunedia enjoyed a good day – he is now Villa’s top scorer with three – it was one of frustration for Ollie Watkins.

Watkins has scored just once in 16 games in all competitions for the club this season.

Getting a tune out of the 29-year-old striker will be high on Emery’s to-do list.