First goal stuns the Cherries

While Man Utd were ready to accept the gift of a goal that AFCB presented to them in the first match of the season, it was a goal that hit the Cherries harder than if it had been a carefully created goal from Man Utd. The damage was of knowing that it was a goal that never should have been. Although the team tried to get over it, I don't think it was easy for them to bounce back from that.

Simon Francis may have to put his hand up more than once this season for playing a back pass short. That Boruc almost got him off the hook was great credit to the Polish keeper who looks like he has come back this season to prove a few people wrong. The pace of the ball though was sadly high enough for it to ricochet right back off Francis and into Juan Mata's path and there is not a lot anyone can do about luck like that.

Franno must put the Man Utd first goal behind
him and hope for better luck against West Ham.

The goal was heartbreaking because the team had done so well up to that point. They had controlled the few spells of pressure that Utd had thrown at them and they were taking a strong hold of the game themselves. This season it could be getting those thin bits of luck that decide many of the games and AFCB should not feel too down that this game did not go their way, because they competed well against a side that is rightly ranked amongst the favourites to lift the title.

It is important that the Cherries don't let this result sit in their minds for too long. They have shown that they can live with the best at Dean Court and by getting a goal themselves they'll know they can hurt teams when they get it right. Mistakes are costly though. AFCB know that top sides will punish them when they gift a goal. They have to be confident on the ball to cut out the mistakes.