2-1

*Carles Gil’s stunning goal helped Aston Villa avoid another FA Cup fourth-round giant-killing and see off the challenge of Championship leaders Bournemouth at Villa Park.*

Cherries boss Eddie Howe reduced their chances of following in the footsteps of Bradford City and Middlesbrough - who won at Chelsea and Manchester City respectively - by making wholesale changes to his side.

Villa’s abysmal goal record has seen them score only once since drawing with Manchester United at Villa Park on 20 December, but the shackles were lifted by a brilliant long-range finish from new signing Gil early in the second half.

And with the rising tension around Villa Park eased following a sequence that also included five scoreless Premier League games, Andreas Weimann added the second to secure their place in the fifth round.

Bournemouth substitute Callum Wilson offered them a moment of hope when he pulled a goal back in stoppage time but Villa survived without further alarms.

The result will come as a huge relief to Villa manager Paul Lambert, who was also lifted by the news that coveted England midfield man Fabian Delph signed a new four and a half deal before kick-off.

After a weekend that saw the tally of Premier League casualties in the FA Cup rise to 10, Villa’s meeting with the Cherries carried all the appearance of another potential upset - but once Gil had broken through it was a relatively comfortable win for Lambert’s side.

Despite making eight changes from the line-up that lost at Leeds United, Bournemouth showed quality and were the better side before the break but after this defeat manager Howe can concentrate all his efforts on his aim to take them into the top flight.

Villa went quickly in search of that elusive goal and almost claimed it inside the first 10 minutes when Weimann met Alan Hutton’s cross with a firm header, only to direct it inches wide with Bournemouth keeper Lee Camp struggling.

Bournemouth were playing with composure, despite the unfamiliar appearance of their team, and it needed a scrambling goal-line clearance from Kieran Richardson to stop them taking the lead after Shaun MacDonald rounded Villa keeper Shay Given.

And as Bournemouth established a measure of control, the veteran Given needed to dive sharply to his left to save from Eunan O’Kane, who was heavily bandaged to protect a head wound sustained earlier.

Villa needed a touch of class to exert some superiority and Gil - already a crowd favourite - provided it after 51 minutes, showing clever sleight of foot before curling a magnificent 25-yard finish high past Camp. It was their first goal for 233 minutes, the last coming with Christian Benteke’s 88th minute winner here in the FA Cup third round on 4 January.

The second came 19 minutes before the end, Leandro Bacuna releasing Hutton in the area, the Scot’s pass finding Weimann, who swept a low side-footed effort past Camp.

Wilson was on target for Bournemouth deep into stoppage time - but there was to be no late Villa Park drama to add to what had already gone before in this FA Cup fourth round.