Aston Villa vs Bournemouth suspended as two team-mates suffer scary clash of heads

Aston Villa's Premier League match against Bournemouth was suspended for over five minutes after team-mates Adam Smith and Tyler Adams accidentally clashed heads early on. The ugly incident occurred just four minutes into the first half on Sunday afternoon following a Bournemouth long throw.

Players from both teams were visibly panicked and gestured to the medical staff to hurry on to the pitch to provide assistance. After some concern, both players eventually sat up and were seen to by paramedics while still sat up on the pitch.

Thankfully, neither had to be stretchered off. But while Adams managed to rise to his feet to play on, Smith's afternoon was brought to a premature end. He sustained a nasty cut on his forehead that left him covered in blood.

The Cherries captain was eventually replaced by Alex Jimenez and was visibly gutted on the sidelines when told that he would need to go off. Bournemouth said on X (formerly Twitter): "An early change here. After a collision, Adam Smith walks off the pitch and is substituted in the opening exchanges."

The visitors went into the game looking for a victory that would lift them at least temporarily up into second. Villa meanwhile have found form after failing to win any of their first five. But the Midlands side still lost their last outing - away to Liverpool - off the back of a four-match winning streak.

Yet it was Villa who took a 2-0 lead into half-time. Emi Buendia put the hosts in front with a stunning free-kick on the half-hour mark that Djordje Petrovic could do nothing to stop.

Petrovic somehow prevented Ollie Watkins from making it 2-0 with a fine save at close range but Amadou Onana then thumped in a low strike from range before half-time to double the home side's advantage.

Villans manager Unai Emery had said pre-match: "I think we can feel comfortable and we can feel in good balance, and now Sunday. Sunday is the next challenge for how we are finishing this break in the table and with the objective for the season how we can close game-week 11 on Sunday.

"After this victory we're going to focus the next match against Bournemouth - it will be very, very demanding. We're resting, working and preparing the match on Sunday."