Aston Villa 1-1 Bournemouth: Evanilson heads in a 96th-minute equaliser after Ross Barkley nets his first goal since returning to Villa Park as THIRTEEN yellow cards are shown by the referee

Jhon Duran is the proud and rightful purveyor of the tag as the Premier League‘s super sub. But, for this afternoon at least, he will have to hand that title to Bournemouth‘s Evanilson.

The visitors had barely threatened Emiliano Martinez‘s goal all afternoon. But with the very last kick of the game, Evanilson found some space in the Aston Villa box and his glancing header from a free-kick left the Argentinian goalkeeper with no chance. It is somewhat ironic that it was Duran who had lost the Brazilian in the lead-up to the goal.

There was a nervy moment early on when his moment of indecision almost allowed Watkins to set up Jacob Ramsey. Put that one down to blowing off the cobwebs.

Minutes later, the same pair combined at the end of a slick, one-touch move, but Rogers fired over.

Villa continued to pile on the pressure. Only a full-stretch save from Travers denied Amadou Onana from a well-worked free-kick. Watkins, waiting to feat on any scraps left behind by the keeper, could barely believe what he had seen.

Bournemouth’s players pictured celebrating after scoring a late equaliser at Aston Villa

Evanilson (left) headed his side level in the 96th minute to earn a 1-1 draw at Villa Park

Midfielder Ross Barkley had earlier scored his first Aston Villa goal since January 2021

Barkley (No 6) found the net with an unconventional volleyed finish inside the six-yard box

The visitors were almost made to pay for failing to play to the whistle after they stopped when it looked like the ball had run out of play. It looked as though Watkins had rescued it before finding McGinn who finished quite brilliantly.

VAR Matthew Donohue, though, ruled the ball had run out of play. If so, it was by the barest of margins. ‘It is tight, very tight, you would not want to be in Stockley Park right now!’ said former referee Mike Dean on Sky Sports.

Martinez had largely been a bystander but launched himself to his right to repel the rocket fired by Justin Kluivert’s right foot on 32 minutes.

Then came an even better save from Travers to deny Ezri Konsa’s sweetly struck shot.

Villa began the second-half where they left off: on the front foot. Barkley fluffed his lines when a corner unexpectedly landed at his feet from a corner. So did Duran, much to the amazement of Villa Park.

John McGinn (front right) fired a shot into the net in the first half but his goal was disallowed

McGinn’s goal was ruled out after a VAR review ruled that the ball had earlier gone out of play

Ref Chris Kavanagh pictured signalling that his decision to award McGinn’s goal had changed

But when Watkins’ dummy allowed Ian Maatsen to cross for Leon Bailey, who headed down towards Barkley, there was no reprieve this time for Bournemouth.

The celebrations from Emery were wild as he leapt up and down and fired fist pumps to those sat behind the dugouts. Travers’ resistance had finally been broken.

There was a nervy moment for Villa when Antoine Semenyo went down inside the box under a challenge from Matty Cash. Referee Chris Kavanagh, though, called it spot on and booked the Bournemouth attacker for simulation – one of 13 yellow cards issued during a game of 26 fouls.

But then came Evanilson, whose brilliant header kick-started the pandemonium in the away end.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery pictured with his hand on his chin during Saturday’s game

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola pictured directing his players during the match at Villa Park

Villa’s Matty Cash (right) and Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo pictured battling for the ball