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.

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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