6 Ups & 4 Downs From Premier League 2019/20 Week 2

Downs...

4. Villa Continue To Struggle

Maybe take the word 'fun' out of the intro's final sentence for Aston Villa.

Any Villa fans who left Spurs' new stadium with a sense of optimism last week must've been crying claret over the opening 15 minutes against Bournemouth. Within 12 brutal mins, the Birmingham side found themselves two goals down thanks to Josh King's penalty and a debut wonder strike from new Cherries signing Harry Wilson.

It's perhaps harsh to say, but Villa already have the look of a plucky Championship side who are weirdly incapable of defending at a higher level. They're struggling to do the basics correctly, and that should worry fans hoping for Premier League consolidation after years away. Things are not looking rosy for Dean Smith.

Indeed, the Villa boss admitted his side were taught a "harsh lesson" by Eddie Howe's perennially solid Bournemouth troops. There was a consolation for Villa by way of Douglas Luiz on the 71st minute, but one gets the feeling they have to win at home to Everton on Friday night if this return season has any chance of recovering.

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