AFC Bournemouth's start to life in the Barclays Premier League ended in a harsh lesson in taking your chances for the top-flight newboys as Rudy Gestede came off the bench to snatch all three points for Aston Villa at the Vitality Stadium. The Cherries - in their first-ever match in England's top tier - dominated possession for long periods of the game and they enjoyed more chances than the visitors, but Villa's clinical finishing saw Tim Sherwood's side head back to Birmingham with the victory. Eddie Howe has worked wonders to get the south coast club into the Premier League, but now it's all about turning them into a side who can compete with England's big boys, and there is still work to do as far as that is concerned. And yet it all started so brightly for Bournemouth, with ex-Newcastle United and Everton midfielder Dan Gosling enjoying the first opportunity of the game. Finding himself free on the edge of the box, Gosling smashed an effort over the bar when he should have hit the target. Unfortunately for the club who have come within touching distance of going out of business twice within the past decade, it summed up their first-ever Premier League match. As the game progressed, Bournemouth managed to claim the lion's share of possession - 58% to 42% - but Villa were set up well to counter by Sherwood. Callum Wilson and Marc Pugh were also guilty of missing chances for the home side, while only an Idrissa Gueye effort testing Artur Boruc before Gestede's winner. Bournemouth's record signing Max Gradel came off the bench with 21 minutes to go and looked lively, but it was Villa' 59th-minute substitute who really made the difference. Brought into the Midlands club this summer in order to net headers, Gestede did just that after 72 minutes - rising highest at a corner to power home the winner. In truth, very little was offered by Bournemouth once they fell behind, and Villa comfortably held on for all three points. Howe's men need to learn how to finish chances - and quickly.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
