The Cherries slip further into trouble at the Hawthorns 2-1

Match Report

WBA 2 v 1 AFCB

25 February 2017

Attendance: 24,162

All friends - the two teams at the start of the game

WBA had not beaten an AFCB side in the Premier League before this game, but it is a testament to how things have been going for Eddie Howe's side that even when they score first they end up losing games. Ryan Fraser was as usual too hot to handle for the opposition and he earned an early penalty that Josh King slapped away on five minutes. The perfect start. But Craig Dawson's deflected shot just five minutes later flew like a looping arrow into Boruc's top corner and from then on AFCB's back's were against the wall. Corners were a particular on this wet day and as Boruc missed his punch, Gareth McAuley gratefully shot home from three yards to put the Baggies ahead. There was a late rally from the Cherries with Lys Mousset foiled by Ben Foster's heroics in goal and a missed targeted header from a let corner, but it was no win in seven for AFCB and that sinking feeling just won't go away. 

Bournemouth set themselves up.

WBA looked to improve on their impressive form.

AFCB made two changes to the starting line up with Marc Pugh coming in for Jordan Ibe who had a knee injury, and Tyrone Mings replacing Simon Francis, who was out with a hamstring strain. On the bench there was also a place for Lys Mousset. WBA made just one change with Jonny Evans coming in for Matt Phillips.

The two captains.

Morrison and Fletcher for WBA.

There are more pictures on Match Day Gallery.

While AFCB's luminous shirts were brightening up a dull, wet and windy day in the Midlands the AFCB fans had more reason to think it was a fabulous day when WBA's Alloca Nyom pushed into Ryan Fraser in the first few minutes of the game. There was no hesitation from Marc Clattenburg who pointed to the spot and Josh King stuck away his seventh goal of the season. 

If the Cherries' lead was going to last they'd have to stand up to WBA's lively midfield and Brunt almost equalised soon after the restart as he shot just over the top corner of the goal with Brom fans thinking he had scored for a moment.

Adam Smith can also let fly with shots from outside the box and he tried to cut inside and beat Foster after some good work from Pugh, but Foster tipped it over to safety.  

In the ping pong exchange of shots, it was the Baggies who came out on top when Craig Dawson decided to take target practise from outside the D and his shot flew off of Charlie Daniels attempted block, and span viciously past Boruc and into the top left corner of the goal - it was 1-1. 

Bournemouth were still enjoying the possession and making several attacks up the left side. Fraser was certainly the player that they needed to get the ball to though as he was liking the conditions.

Warning signs that the Bournemouth defence around their own box was not that solid was highlighted just before 20 minutes when Arter's attempted clearance hit Chadli running at him and the rebound favoured Chadli who had a shot blocked by Steve Cook, before another shot from Morrison deflected wide for a corner.  

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AFCB knew they would have set pieces to defend and this first corner  for WBA there was chaos in the Cherries' six yard box. Boruc had come to punch, but the ball slipped off his one handed attempt at a despairing glance that left him out of position. The ball fell to the ground right in front of McAuley who just had to raise his leg and net from a few yards out, while AFCB's defenders looked transfixed by the ball an unable to react. It was a horrible moment, but the Cherries were now behind.

There was plenty of fight about AFCB with Steve Cook knocking Rondon flying, after he got the wrong side and was in on goal. Boruc hadn't come out fast enough and Cook had to stop the forward anyway he could. Rondon was left sat on the ground pleading with Clattenburg for a decision, but he didn't get it.

WBA were a real threat at corners and Boruc was glad to see another corner fall into his hands having first escaped him and his defenders.

Tyrone Mings was reading the game well and was a good match up for Rondon. He made a superb tackle on the forward off a long bal, while the Baggies were screaming for a penalty. Even more danger was coming from the deeper runners, like Morrison who nearly broke through when Brunt tried to lift a ball in over the top to him.

Two-one down at half time was not so bad that AFCB were not in the game, but it was noticeable that Foster had not had much to do in WBA's goal apart from trying to save the penalty.

The teams go off at the break.

Clattenberg is defending his calls from the first half to WBA players.

Second Half

The second half began with Nyon getting booked for fouling Adam Smith. WBA fans were not happy with the referee but he was having a good game. Then a corner to WBA was cleared at first, but McAuley's subsequent header struck the bar.

When the ball came out to the right, a cross back in caused mayhem. Steve Cook and Dawson clashed heads, and the ball was headed in at the far post by Chadli. Clattenburg consulted his assistant referee and disallowed the goal for offside, but Dawson had been knocked out and had to be subbed by McClean.

McClean wasted no tim in getting involved and brought out a good save from Boruc as Bournemouth were holding on.

Fraser was still offering hope of an equaliser as he crossed just a smidgen too high for Pugh to get on the end of. Arter also had a low drive that went a yard wide.

Wilshere and Arter then went off as Afobe and Gosling came on after 66 minutes. AFCB's fans were really getting behind the team now with their cries of 'Barmy Army and Eddie Howe'.

McClean was booked for fouling Fraser and the momentum was starting to be more with AFCB. This caused Pulis to sub Morison and bring on Yacob.

Howe subbed Pugh for Lys Moussett as his final move. Sam Field also came on for Chadli with just a couple of minutes remaining of normal time. It was the five minutes of added time when the real chances for AFCB came to eqaulise. First Lys Mousett hit a great shot that would have beaten some keepers, bit not Foster who stretched to tip it over. The corner gave a headed chance, for Tyrone Mings who and the ball went wide as did AFCB's hopes.

Another defeat for AFCB.

Eddie Howe seeks out the referee.

Summary

The pundits will look at the league table and will say AFCB are in real danger now, but for much of this game they played calmly with measured passing and some clever play that unlocked WBA at times. What they didn't do was get enough pressure on Ben Foster and in their own box, it was like a mad storm at every corner. WBA didn't have to be amazing to win this game - the Cherries just slipped up when they had to clear the ball. A draw would not have been impossible in this game but AFCB didn't do enough in the second half to really worry Albion.

Bournemouth players thank the fans.

The Cherries can't fathom why they have lost again. Six defeats in seven.

WBA

Foster, Dawson (McClean 54), McAuley, Evans, Nyom, Livermore, Brunt, Fletcher,
Morrison (Yacob 73), Chadli (Field 88), Rondón

Albion Subs
Myhill, Olsson, Robson-Kanu, Yacob, McClean, Leko, Field

AFCB
Boruc, A Smith, S Cook, Mings, Daniels, Arter (Afobe 66), Surman, Fraser, Wilshere (Gosling 66), Pugh (Mousset 79), King

AFCB Subs

Allsop, B Smith, Gosling, Stanislas, Gradel, Afobe, Mousset

AFCB Ratings

Boruc 4, A Smith 5, S Cook 7, Mings 8, Daniels 6, Arter 6 (Afobe 5), Surman 5, Fraser 8,
Wilshere 6 (Gosling 5), Pugh 6 (Mousset 5), King 7

Ref Watch: Marc Clattenburg: 9/10 - fine referee - he talked to players and even told Pulis off when he went berserk over a foul. A shame he'll be leaving the Premier League for Saudi Arabia.