Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood has said that travelling to newly-promoted Bournemouth on the opening day of the season is the 'worst time' for his side.

Villa face the Cherries at Dean Court tomorrow afternoon in what is the home team's first ever match in the top flight of English football.

Sherwood is confident that Villa can get a result on the South Coast, but admits that the timing of the game will make it a more difficult task.

"If you had to pick a time not to play Bournemouth it would be the first game of the season," Sherwood told reporters.

"It's going to be a carnival atmosphere but we have to go there at some stage and we're going down confident that we can do the job."

Only four league places separated the two clubs at the end of last season, with Eddie Howe's side winning the Championship title while Villa narrowly avoided relegation by finishing in 17th place.

Written by
Tom Nightingale