Saturday 23 January 2016

Afobe nets again but Sunderland find a reply 1-1

Match Description
Sunderland 1 v 1 AFCB
23 January 2016
Attendance: 41,367

It was a bottom half of the table clash that neither side could really afford to lose. When Benik Afobe put the Cherries ahead on 13 minutes it looked like the pattern had been set for the Cherries to cut the Black Cats adrift, but a late first half goal by Patrick van Aanholt earned Sunderland a draw and the first under Sam Allardyce. While the result was probably a better point for AFCB, the sight of Junior Stanislas limping off at the end of the match was another sorry blow for the team that still has a lot of injuries. 

The AFCB side remained unchanged for the starting line up which meant Ritchie only managed to make it on to the sub's bench along with Lewis Grabban who also missed out last week against Norwich City. There was no place for Lee Tomlin in the squad who has been the talk of much transfer speculation and Tommy Elphick has still not made the bench yet despite having been in full training last week.

Sunderland made a goalkeeper change by bringing in Veto for Pickford while Borini came in for Danny Graham who was sent out on loan this week to Blackburn Rovers until the end of the season.

 
Team news with Jason Tindall.



Match review as it happened - live stream
AFCB line up in their blue strip as they take on Sunderland. Adam Smith is caught by Lens but it's out for a throw. Afobe now fouls Wes Brown. Pugh and Daniels get early touches. 

Borini goes on a direct run and Smith covers and concedes a corner. Boruc makes a good catch. Lens and Stanislas get in a tangle but both get up okay. AFCB are pressing high up, but Sunderland find a way out with Johnson. 

AFCB win back possession. Pugh and Arter take control and Pugh wins a free kick from Billy Jones, five minutes gone. In it comes from Stanislas, it's high up in the box from a clearance and Daniels shot is weak and easy for the keeper.

Bournemouth come forward again. Arter and Daniels, now Pugh good cross but Gosling can't get a good head on it and Sunderland clear. Lens now is tackled by Daniels. Stanislas on the right, plays it too strong for Smith - goal kick.

Afobe is grounded by O'Shea but no free kick. Arter wins the ball. Cook now long to Stanislas and a throw. Both teams feeling each other out here. Jones puts in a good challenge on Arter. Stanislas weaves towards the box but is stopped. Gosling and Surman, Arter, Smith, Francis and Gosling crosses and Afobe can't quite reach it! Would have only needed a touch! 11 minutes gone, and that was the best chance so far.

Sunderland now at the back. Lens plays a ball for Defoe but he can't get to it.  AFCB at the back. Daniels and Arter, long to Stanislas and the cross bounces and is headed in by Afobe into the roof of the net! 13 minutes and 1-0 to the Cherries - fantastic ball in and finish by Afobe ahead of O'Shea. 

Surman and Gosling in midfield. Afobe out to Pugh and Daniels crosses and Stanislas puts it over! O'Shea got a head on it and it deflected onto Stanislas' thigh and over the bar! 

It's been a great start by the Cherries. Sunderland have a free kick near the centre circle.Gosling comes forward and Smith's shot is blocked. Surman gets a yellow card for a foul on Borini, 18 minutes gone. 

Sunderland have the ball. Pugh and Arter and Pugh again. Cut's back and wins a corner for the Cherries. It's the dummy from Arter and Surman shoots wide! AFCB are winning the middle of the park battle.

Pugh and Gosling, back to Pugh but Cattermole intercepts. Francis and Stanislas on the right back to Afobe and Stanislas tries to get a shot off by van Aanholt tackles. 

AFCB are well in control. The ball is being played around very calmly. Surman out to Pugh and Jones gets a tackle in. Arter and Gosling, Stanislas shoots but the Mannone keeps it out. 

Smith and Gosling in the right corner and O'Shea gets a clearance. Sunderland fans are booing. Constant pressure from AFCB. Sunderland just can't get the ball. Arter to Stanislas and Afobe shoots and Manonne makes a save.

AFCB have had five attempts and Sunderland nil. Arter wins a foul. Cattermole puts a punt up field but it's just coming back again. Surman and Francis. Smith to Cook and he hits a 25 yard shot over, 28 minutes gone.

Johnson and Cattermole, van Aanholt - it's back with O'Shea. Sunderland keeping the ball. Jones is tackled by Daniels who gives a corner away for Sunderland. AFCB put a few headers in to clear. Johnson wins a throw. Francis heads out as Sunderland come again. Cattermole to Johnson but he can't find Lens, 32 minutes gone.

AFCB need to get this second goal you feel. Sunderland have a free kick 10 yards outside the box. Surman makes the headed clearance. A deep cross to Jones who heads it to John O'Shea and O'Shea heads down and a Boruc makes a save with his left hand at full stretch! It looked like it might have been going just wide. That's the best Sunderland have come up with so far.

AFCB lose the ball. Sunderland have a free kick with Smith committing a foul. It goes over everyone and out for a goal kick. Cook plays the ball up. Pugh loses control. Arter wins a throw though. Francis out to Smith and Stanislas comes short. Stanislas back to Francis. Smith has run the ball out, 38 minutes gone.

AFCB's tempo has just slipped a bit. Sunderland looking the stronger now. Daniels gets a tackle in. Stanislas comes away with the ball. Cook and Daniels loses out to Johnson and Defoe. Stanislas and Arter, Afobe and Pugh cuts onto his right but hits a shot over.

Borini has a shot blocked. Pugh loses out.  Lens and Johnson but Gosling runs back and wins the ball. Gosling attacking now and O'Shea clears the danger. Wes Brown gets a free kick. There;s not enough movement about Sunderland. Lens is tackled by Daniels and the result is a goal kick to AFCB.

Defoe has a rare touch. Van Aanholt and Borini to Cattermole. Van Aanholt can't keep it in. AFCB doing some defending, Borini has a shot from distance which deflects off Francis but Boruc reacts well and makes the save!

Added on time now. One minute to add. Sunderland move the ball from left to right. Borini in space and looks to van Aanholt! It's 1-1. Great run on the left wing and hits his shot across Boruc's near post. A crucial goal right on half time. Not enough cover from AFCB on the right hand side. We go into the break all square.

Second half
AFCB had nine shots to four in the first half, but did not make that early dominance pay with a second goal so they need to find that intensity again this half. Afobe has a run but is very isolated. Smith and Stanislas. Arter plays a one two with Gosling, but he over runs it. 

AFCB are back on the ball but it's given away and van Aanholt then gives it back. Afobe and Arter. Wide to Pugh and Daniels crosses and van Aanholt clears. Stanislas to Afobe who wins a corner. M'Villa heads clear. 

Gosling to Stanislas who scoops his shot high and wide! He could have give that to Arter. Surman and Smith cuts in. Arter switches play to Stanislas. Smith and Arter skips away from a challenge. 

AFCB have possession but are not finding a killer pass at the moment. Arter and Stanislas, Francis now loses the ball. M'Villa and Johnson to Lens but it's out for a goal kick.

Sunderland are looking for Defoe on the break. Lens and Johnson to can Aanholt. Defoe shrugs off one challenge but loses out. Cook makes a clearance and Johnson's long shot is easily dealt with by Boruc.

Pugh and M'Villa to Lens but his pass goes straight to Boruc. Afobe is offside.Defoe comes inside and has a curling shot that is a yard wide of Boruc's left post.

AFCB sub. Matt Ritchie comes on for Pugh on 57 minutes. Borini and Lens comes forward and wins a corner. Johnson puts a ball in and it  is headed by Jones but right at Boruc - good save! 

Francis to Smith and Defoe puts in a good challenge to win a throw. Jones and M'Villa, Surman clears up. Ritchie to Afobe on the right. Sunderland have the throw. Afobe gets some treatment. 

Daniels puts in a low cross and O'Shea puts it out for a corner to AFCB.It's well defended by Sunderland. Ritchie gets a looping header in but it's easy for Menonne. Grabban is getting ready to come on.

Afobe is penalised and is being subbed for Lewis Grabban to come on, on 65 minutes. Van Aanholt gives away a free kick.  Daniels and Gosling a long shot from Arter from distance was always going over.

Sunderland take off Fabio Borini and bring on Duncan Watmore. Watmore puts in a cross and it's cleared. Ritchie, Cook and Daniels. Johnson and Cattermole. Lens loses out to Smith. Ritchie, Smith and Arter. 

Gosling on half way. Surman. Defoe on the break Boruc clears. Johnson and Lens put in right across the six yard box. Lemc cross is towards Defoe but it's well defended. Free kick to Sunderland won by Lens on Smith after a quick turn. M'Villa gets a shot in at the far post but Boruc blocks and a shot from Watmore is cleared. 

Arter is hobbling. Lens puts a ball in and Boruc catches. Smith puts in a cross and O"Shea clears, 75 minutes have gone. Sunderland are just starting to win the midfield tussles now. Francis gets a good tackle in on Defoe. 

Van Aanholt is down after Smith challenged him for a high ball. 10 minutes of normal time to go. AFCB lose the ball and Sunderland break. Watmore puts too much on it and it's a goal kick. Grabban has a side foot chance but it's wide!

Daniels and Stanislas loses the ball. Ritchie, Arter. Daniels now. Surman and Arter and Daniels just lost control when he made his run in the box.

Sunderland have a goal kick. Sunderland get a sub ready. Lens to Watmore but Smith clears and Surman gets some treatment. Rodwell comes on for Lens. Defoe goes for a shot that deflects straight to Boruc. 

O'Shea puts the ball out and Jones get a yellow for a foul on Stanislas. Junior looks in trouble. That tackle was right through the back of him on his left leg. It was two feet off the ground. Stanislas is helped off and Glenn Murray comes on. There are three minutes of extra time being played.


The ball is cleared from the free kick for a corner. Surman is beaten to the ball by M'Villa. Ritchie to Smith. Arter to Daniels. Grabban and Arter over to Smith. Block - Johnson might fall for Watmore but AFCB clear. M'Villa puts in a long ball and Daniels clears. Rodwell and O'Shea. Francis makes a long clearance. Full Time 1-1.
Summary
The Cherries played some sensational football for the first 25 minutes of this game and should have been out of sight. It was good that Afobe got on the end of a Stanislas cross to put them ahead, but the dominance was not turned into clear shooting opportunities and Sunderland gradually found their way into the game. While Boruc did not have a great deal to do, just one moment of quick play and a strong finish by van Aanholt put the game back level and the second half became a bit of a struggle for both sides to create clear chances. Sunderland deserved a draw. 

AFCB
Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Stanislas (Murray 91), Surman, Arter, Gosling, Pugh (Ritchie 57), Afobe (Grabban 65)

AFCB Subs
Federici, Distin, O'Kane, Ritchie, Iturbe, Grabban, Murray

AFCB Ratings
Boruc 6, Smith 6, Francis 7, Cook 6, Daniels 7, Stanislas 8, Surman 6, Arter 7, Gosling 6, Pugh 6, Afobe 7

Sunderland
Mannone, Jones, van Aanholt , O’Shea, Brown, Cattermole, M’Vila, Johnson, Lens (Rodwell 87), Borini (Watmore 66), Defoe.

Sunderland Subs
Pickford, Rodwell, N’Doye, Coates, Yedlin, Fletcher, Watmore.

Referee watch: Roger East 7/10

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