Sunday 6 November 2016

10-man Sunderland embarrass shoddy-shooting Cherries 1-2

Match Report
AFCB 1 v 2 Sunderland
5 November 2016
Attendance: 11,084
Sunderland's visit to Dean Court shows up weaknesses in AFCB's hooks on mid-table.
While David Moyes watched from the stands, it was Eddie Howe that would have more reason to want to be out of public sight after this outing. Nothing changes my opinion that Sunderland are a poor side. This was underlined as early as the 11th minute when Dan Gosling stuck out his chest to put the Cherries ahead, but what Sunderland have got is players that stick to their task, and after a quick turn from Anichebe in the box and a masterful strike, Sunderland suddenly found themselves in the game. The Cherries became robotic and predictable in their movement and even while Mike Dean did not referee well, the sending off of Pienaar for a second yellow after stamping on Junior Stanisals should have opened the flood doors for AFCB. Instead, they forgot to shut the back door and with Anichebe running in on goal Adam Smith brought him down, to give Jermain Defoe the perfect opportunity to put a smile back on David Moyes' face. While AFCB would bombard the Sunderland goal, an inspired  Jordan Pickford and some woeful shooting left home fans pretty despondent going into the international break.
Sunderland players warm up.
AFCB players get ready to respect the Rememberence.

The two captains.
Sunderland get ready for the minute's silence.
There are more pictures on Match Day Gallery

Bournemouth sprung a surprise in leaving out Callum Wilson, who was said to have a hamstring strain, while Andrew Surman was also out having hurt his hamstring in the last match. The good news was that Dan Gosling would play and Junior Stanislas was back, while Marc Pugh made the bench.

It did not take Mike Dean too many minutes to get his book out for Harry Arter for a foul on McNair, but the Cherries were fired up and the first corner was met by Simon Francis who headed wide.  While Sunderland's response was a shot from Watmore that Francis blocked.
Francis was again involved in tackling back to stop Jermain Defoe getting a strike in on goal. But it was Harry Arter that got the home supporters excited with a well driven shot that swerved and caused Pickford to palm away from 20 yards. While AFCB moved the ball from the left to the right side, it was Junior Stanislas that put in a perfect cross that Golsing gobbled up with a chested glance to put the Cherries 1-0 up on 11 minutes.

Simon Francis was again soon rushing back to keep Defoe in check, but Ibe was having problems keeping hold of the ball for long. It was Gosling that as impressing, bursting from midfield and picking out Josh King before Junior Stanislas came up on the overlap and smashed his shot into the side netting.

Duncan Watmore was the only Sunderland player that looked dangerous as he outstripped Daniels and put in a cross that no Black Cat had gambled on. Meanwhile, Boruc was prevented from a quick kick to his back four and promptly kicked the ball straight out. 

Jack Wilshere was getting close to sending King through but for an offside flag. Sunderland were struggling to keep any possession with Ndong not even able to find a team-mate with his wayward passing. Jordan Ibe was doing no better to be fair, running into players and losing the ball.

When King did get a break and a shot on the angle, Pickford saved well to his left - getting down early. A few minutes later though he blocked the keeper, who slipped, and Josh was branded a yellow card. While Gosling was doing his best to extend the lead by turning and shooting quickly, it flew over the bar.  

Who could have known that a minute later, Koné would pass to Defoe, who would spot Anichebe with his back to goal in AFCB's penalty area. His turn was even better and it left Smith and Francis on the ground, and created enough space for him to lash the ball past Boruc and into the roof of the net. It was 1-1 then after 33 minutes.

Junior Stanislas and Jordan Ibe switched wings, but it did not improve matters for AFCB. Boruc had to come out and make a save at the feet of McNair as Sunderland sensed an opportunity. 

A foul by Pienaar on Wilshere saw the Sunderland midfielder booked and even more annoyingly for them, Jones put in a sweeping cross for Watmore who stuck the ball away only for the goal to be disallowed for offside.

Just before half time, Ibe ran into another two Sunderland players and it was no surprise that after half time his game was run.

All to play for.
Jack and HArry get ready for the second half.

Benik Afobe comes onto the pitch.

Second half
Benik Afobe replaced Ibe at the start of the half and he got on to the ball early against Koné but the free kick was given against him. Then there was a stoppage for McNair who hurt his shoulder from a Golsing tackle. The stretcher was not needed in the end though.

A free kick won by Afobe gave Stanislas  a chance to try his luck, but his effort was turned over the bar by the keeper.

This was not such a one-sided game anymore, Boruc had to punch clear from an Ndong shot. Yet, AFCB were creating more chances. Afobe was guilty of not getting on the end of a King cross when he looked well place to score, before Wilshere had a great chance that he hit well, but drew the save from Pickford to his left.

If the screw was starting to turn, a second yellow for Pienaar for going over the top in the teackle on Stanislas put AFCB well in the driving seat as Sunderland would have to go down to 10 men with 59 minutes gone. Arter then inexplicably tried to take the leather off the ball by smashing a cross that almost took Afobe's head off as it went out for a throw. Even Arter seemed amazed at how wayward the cross was.

AFCB soon won the ball back though and in the move that could have won the Cherries the game. Gosling put Junior Stanislas in the clear on the angle with just Pickford to beat, but he pinged his shot off the foot of the post! The corners started to mount up now but a decisive shot on target just wouldn't come for AFCB. Wilshere came closest with a strong run that saw him pick his way through the centre of the box only for the shot to dribble just wide of the post - this was agonising.

Another cross from Gosling and Stanislas missed his volley completely! Another attempt by Stanislas and Pickford duly dropped on the shot to gather it up.

While Anichebe picked up a yellow card for a foul on Gosling, he was about to turn the whole game on its head. Sunderland's 4-5-0 formation with Defoe on the wing was actually working and frustrating the Cherries. McNair was subbed on 72 minutes for Denayer and, after a quick throw, Watmore sent Anichebe into the box and Adam Smith came across rather rashly and took the striker down. Mike Dean pointed to the spot and Defoe does what he usually does and made it 1-2. Sunderland were on for an incredible away win.

Of course they had to hold out for 17 minutes and added time, but they knew how to slow the game down and waste precious seconds. The first test for them came from Afobe who was just on the penalty spot and managed to fire wide.

Arter was subbed for Lys Mousset to come on after 76 minutes. Ryan Fraser would also replace Stanislas on 81 minutes. While Afobe would see another effort go wide, Steve Cook almost put himself in the right place when a high ball came off his back, but it also fell wide. Josh King came closer still with a terrific volley that Pickford somehow kept out by pushing it over the bar.

Love replaced Watmore for Sunderland in the last few minutes. The handshake Watmore gave to the referee was surely designed just to annoy the home fans and slow down his substitution a little more. This was followed by an almighty amount of touches by AFCB players right in front of the Sunderland goal that had to end in a goal, but - no, the ball some how ran wide for a corner.

The last major talking point as seeing Gooch replace Defoe in time added on and then go straight in the ref's book for fouling King. Still, who cares? It was three points to Sunderland on a day when AFCB had more than enough chances to win.
A great day for Sunderland

Sunderland get thier first win.
Summary
Shoddy-shooting and poor concentration cost AFCB this game. They had more than enough talent and opportunities to get the goals but they got wrapped up in a battle of free kicks and small arguments and right from Arter's early booking the scene was set for a performance that was again unpicked by a side that probably will find it harder than most to get wins this season. AFCB created their own problems and when Sunderland got into shooting positions the Cherries defence just didn't manage the situations well enough. It was a snatch and grab that was well carried out by Sunderland, but must have even surprised their fans.   
A frustrating second home defeat for the Cherries.
AFCB
Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Gosling, Arter (Mousset 76), Stanislas (Fraser 82), Wilshere, Ibe (Afobe 46), King


AFCB Substitutes
Aké, Pugh, Afobe, Federici, Fraser, Mings, Mousset

AFCB Ratings
Boruc 6, Smith 5, Francis 7, Cook 7, Daniels 6, Gosling 8, Arter 6 (Mousset 5), Stanislas 6 (Fraser 5), Wilshere 7, Ibe 4 (Afobe 4), King 7

Referee Rating: Mike Dean 3/10 - got carried away with his own self importance and wound players up pretty well.

Sunderland
Pickford, Jones, Koné, Djilobodji, van Aanholt, Watmore (Love 90), Pienaar (sent off), Ndong, McNair (Denayer 72), Anichebe, Defoe (Gooch 94)

Sunderland Substitutes
Denayer, Khazri, Mika, Manquillo, Love, Januzaj, Gooch

4 comments:

  1. Seems to me that we are destined for a real struggle...these are the salient issues:-

    1..We have only scored more than one goal in two games this season

    2..We are on average conceding more than that

    3.In reality we have a squad of 14 players and others who might make a difference do not get a sustained chance.

    4.The defence has not changed at all...despite it seems an improvement is needed


    5.Too much hype is given to Wiltshire..he should be barred from giving any interviews whatsoever...


    6.Seems to me the manager chooses from fourteen players as starters ..and fringe players have no chance whatsoever...they may as well ask for transfers...as for the treatment of Ake it seems ridiculous..he played 28 times for Watford last season..yet he can't get a start..or even as a substitute appearance....what was the point in taking him on loan....

    It seems a shame that Lewis Cook is injured...but suspect he would not start either.....

    Personally I think we are in for a big struggle..and whilst we may survive we need to take a long hard look at player and recruitment policy

    ReplyDelete
  2. 1 Rest Ibe, needs time to rethink his game, when to pass, weight of control. Pugh to start.
    2 Change captain, Francis is not driving the team, possbily Arter as captain
    3 Bring in Ake for the Surman role

    4 Bring in Mings or Wilson when fit for Francis.

    5 Play through Wilshire not around him

    ReplyDelete
  3. Too much emphasis is made about Wilshere....both on and off the field and it must disrupt the team ethic...he should be told that whilst he plays for Bournemoth that he gives no interviews to newspapers/television he should not post anything on social media whatsoever....

    I keep going on about Ake ..and he may improve the team or not...until he plays we will never know and the what is the point of taking a player on loan and not play him other than in cup games.....its not fair on the player..its not fair on Chelsea and its unfair on Bournemouth...this player played 28 times for Watford last season so he must be able to play at this level....

    Is it not time to reshuffle the defence..there are three options..Wilson..Smith and Mings...ahh Mings now there is another player ready to see first team action...but we may have a very long wait...

    There are about 14 players that the manager will play and the rest will just get frustrated....we have lost two games against teams we should be capable of beating..so the manager should now look to change the team and formation....but you can guess now who will start against Stoke..and I would put money that it will be out of those 14 who will make the starting line up.

    I think its going to be a tough few months

    ReplyDelete

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