Daniels masterminds Canaries' fall 3-0

Match Report

AFCB 3 v 0 Norwich City

16 January 2016

Attendance: 11,065

A six pointer at Dean Court.

The Cherries had their biggest win of the season so far with a 3-0 demolition of relegation rivals Norwich City. It was billed as a six pointer game, although there were only ever three points on offer and AFCB needed to put right their record against an Alex Neil side that had always got the better of the Cherries in the past. An early Dan Gosling header beat Declan Rudd in his shocking all pink out outfit to put Eddie Howe's team one up before the break and while referee Robert Madley had an indifferent game, in failing to send off Norwich's keeper when he took down Benik Afobe just outside of the box, for what looked like a goal scoring opportunity AFCB kept creating opportunities. Thankfully, it didn't matter as Marc Pugh's dazzling feet won a second half penalty that was expertly dispatched by Charlie Daniels, who then went on to help seal the game by putting in a measured low cross for Benik Afobe to give the Cherries a 3-0 home win. 

AFCB line up on the pitch.

The Cherries close in to gear themselves up for kick off.

Everyone was expecting Leiws Grabban to be the central figure to watch in this game as he had only just completed his transfer back to AFCB a week earlier, but Eddie Howe probably very wisely too him out of the spotlight when he announced he was ill and would not play. Another absentee was Matt Ritchie who had taken a knock against West Ham and was rested for the first time in the Premier League season. So Marc Pugh came into the starting 11 on the left wing and Junior Stanislas moved over to the right side while Benik Afobe made his second appearance for the Cherries.

Norwich City fans give their pre-match views.

Simon Francis and Russell Martin in the middle.

There are more pictures on Match Day Gallery.

Norwich have their group hug.

Alex Neil's side were without Gary O'Neil who had been red carded in their last game and Matt Jarvis came into Norwich's starting 11, while Mulumbu won a place on the Canaries bench.

First Half

The Cherries worked hard to get on the front foot quickly and a left wing run from Benik Afobe saw the first shot fly over Norwich's bar in  the second minute. Junior Stanislas then had a snap shot that was hit straight at Rudd in the goal, but it was all positive stuff for AFCB.

The real strength in the Bournemouth side became apparent very early on as Marc Pugh and Charlie Daniels were back stirring up trouble on the left wing and Pugh started to test Norwich with a cross that Dan Gosling could not quite get on the end of. No matter. Pugh used that as a sighter and moments later would put a more precise cross in on his right foot with Gosling again the target. Dan made a good run Gosling slipping in between Bassong and Brady and this time headed Bournemouth 1-0 up on 10 minutes. 

While the goal saw Norwich start to come out a little more it was just what Eddie Howe would have wanted. The Cherries continued to press forward with Adam Smith getting into the box where he might have gone down but stayed on his feet well, before eventually being tackled. The midfield battles began to see frequent free kicks given away as both sides fought hard for control. 

Gosling was the star player at this point and had another shot go wide on 19 minutes. This was followed by the first controversial moment in the match when a Charlie Daniels run took him into the box where he appeared to be held back by a Russell Martin, but all appeals were ignored by referee Rob Madley.

AFCB kept the pressure up with Bassong conceding a corner. The Cherries were not getting clear chances though and another corner was well caught by Rudd. After half an hour Norwich were starting get more possession. Robbie Brady was pushing further up on the right wing and was getting some crosses in. Dieumerci Mbokani was also getting some touches and played in Matt Jarvis on the left side, but his shot was cleanly saved by Artur Boruc, diving to his left.

The Cherries were also looking to get something on target and Stanislas saw an opportunity for Harry Arter who was some 30 yards out. Arter got on to his left foot and shot just wide.

Artur Boruc was having to be alert but in his new black strip he was confidently making catches and organising his defensive wall with a lot of instructions when Jarvis shot well over.

This was an exciting period of the game with both sides forcing mistakes and Alex Tettey was next to blast a half volley just wide of Bournemouth's net from the edge of the box. Wes Hoolahan also made a strong pass through for Jarvis but Boruc was out fast to deny any shot.

We had not seen a great deal of Benik Afobe up to this point but Arter had played a ball up to Benik who had stretched his legs and looked favourite to go round the on rushing Rudd who left his leg high and took Afobe down just outside the box. Rudd was the last man and the challenge looked reckless. The AFCB crowd bayed for the keeper to be sent off. On reflection though, Robert Madley only gave a yellow card to the keeper who surely should have gone. Rudd would get soundly booed by AFCB fans for the rest of the game. 

Stanislas put the resulting free kick well over and the game quickly reached half time with AFCB 1-0 ahead.

Looking good at half time but we've seen that before.

Second Half

While AFCB fans were still fuming over events of the first half Marc Pugh went on a mazey run that saw him beat two or three Norwich players in the box and it needed a great save from Declan Rudd to keep the score at 1-0.  It would have been an amazing goal but Pugh could only shake his head in disbelief that he had not scored. He was about to get much more frustrated though as referee Madley saw nothing wrong in Vadis Odjidja Ofoe's efforts to stop Arter getting a shot in and AFCB fans all expected the penalty decision to follow - but it never came! All that was shown was a yellow card for Harry Arter who still has to do less arguing on the pitch.

Norwich needed to get something going and Mbokani was getting service in the box but he did not seem able to get into shooting positions. 

The game was still in the balance when Adam Smith went on a darting run and Brady's sliced clearance was headed by Pugh towards goal, but Russell Martin got back to clear off the line. As the corner came out to Stanislas, he put through Pugh who was held back by Odjidja Ofoe to the annoyance of several of the other Norwich players and praise be to God - Mr Madley actually decided yes, it was a penalty! Charlie Daniels had smashed his penalty hard and in off the crossbar against WBA a few weeks ago. This kick was equally as fierce and it smashed in low off the left hand post to make it 2-0 to the Cherries on 54 minutes. Rudd went the right way but could not get near it.

That was enough for Alex Neil to make a change and Matt Jarvis was subbed for Cameron Jerome. Odjidja Ofoe was also subbed for Nathan Redmond to come on. Norwich possession improved and Mbokani had a great opportunity moments later when in the box and about to convert a low cross but Adam Smith just got to him in time as the ball held up against Mbokani's standing leg.

Norwich were now having to beware of the lightening fast breaks of Smith, Gosling and Stanislas as Bournemouth now looked to counter. Madley was still ignoring any fouls to Gosling and Arter even when Gosling went down and sought the medics to come on.

Junior Stanislas was running hard but still could not get one of his shots on target. The best Cameron Jerome was able to do, with his shot on the turn was to win a corner. 

An AFCB corner won by Afobe then saw Steve Cook have a header superbly saved by Rudd high to his left.

There was 20 minutes left when Hoolahan was subbed for Graham Dorrans. By now the game was virtually up you felt. Rudd was still getting jeered when he kicked the ball straight out from a goal kick and AFCB fans were singing "2-0 to the Champion's" just to remind the Norwich supporters who one the Championship last season.

Norwich's best chance then fell to Mbokani who benefited from an Arter back pass and just found himself with Boruc to beat once Cook had gone to ground. Sadly for the Norwich striker, he tried the lob and put it to the right of the goal by some three yards. Another good move from the Canaries saw Martin fire over from the right side of the box with time running out.

The killer third goal came when Daniels beat Redmond and Martin on the left wing and put in a wonderful curling cross between the keeper and the edge of the six yard box where Benik Afobe was running in past Martin to make it 3-0. Afobe was jubilant in scoring, looking up to the skies and thanking everyone of his team mates who swarmed round him.

Bournemouth then subbed Harry Arter to bring on Eunan O'Kane with 10 minutes to go. Glenn Murray also replaced Benik Afobe on 84 minutes.

Norwich were still pressing with a corner as they attempted to reduce the goal difference and Robbie Brady who had put in a decent shift all game had his shot deflected over. Boruc had to make a high punch near his back post, but nothing was going to get past him in this game.

There was a final sub in added time when Yann Kermorgant replaced Dan Gosling and the heartfelt gratitude of the AFCB fans to Yann was being shown fully in front of the whole ground for all he has done for the club. It was a fitting way to end the game.

Eddie has words with referee Medley.

Great scenes at Dean Court.

Summary

AFCB were not going to get bullied in this game. They set out to keep the tempo high and run Norwich into the ground and they did it with some powerful performance from the central midfield trio of Arter, Surman and Golsing. It was a defender though, Charlie Daniels who was the man who put the polish on the performance with his cracking penalty and a sublime cross to make the assist for Afobe's first Bournemouth goal. In this mood, AFCB just want the next game to come. They are starting to feel really good about themselves and with players getting the chance to rest and the new players starting to feel at home, everything is set up for AFCB to drive their way to safety. The first step was taken with this game and if they can replicate this at Sunderland they will be getting much closer to Premier League survival.

Artur marches off having done his job.

Another three points closer to safety

Well played Charlie!

AFCB

Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Stanislas, Gosling (Kermorgant 91), Arter (O'Kane 80), Pugh, Afobe (Murray 84)

Cherries' Subs 

Federici, Distin, O'Kane, Iturbe, MacDonald, Kermorgant Murray, 

AFCB Ratings

Boruc 7, Smith 7, Francis 6, Cook 6, Daniels 9, Stanislas 6, Gosling 8, Arter 7, Pugh 7, Afobe 8

Norwich

Rudd, Martin, Bennett, Bassong, Brady, Odjidja-Ofoe (Redmond 56), Tettey, Howson, Jarvis (Jerome 56), Hoolahan (Dorrans 69), Mbokani Bezua

Canaries' Substitutes
Ruddy, Wisdom, Jerome, Dorrans, Mulumbu,  Redmond, Olsson

Referee Watch: Rob Madley - he does not deserve a score to be honest. It was a shambles. I wonder what can honestly be on referee's minds at times as they surely don't always react to what they see.