Afobe hits form to sink Swans 2-0

Match Report

18 March 2017

AFCB 2 v 0  Swansea City 

Attendance: 11,240

The teams are led out.

This was a vital victory in the Cherries' campaign and the 2-0 scoreline did not reflect how nervy and tight this match was, particularly in the first half an hour. Still, Swansea City found it hard to create any clear openings and when Benik Afobe saw his shot deflect off Alfie Mawson on the half hour, the Swans began to drop from their high pressing game. Bournemouth took an even firmer hold of the game in the second half when Afobe again broke through and on the angle slipped the second goal past an unprotected Fabianski. The Cherries could have made it an even bigger win, had Jack Wilshere hit his injury time shot to either side of the Swansea keeper, but the importance of the win was certainly noted by Eddie Howe and the players as they celebrated at what looks increasingly like a third season to come in the Premier League.

It's a six pointer all right.

What kind of Swansea would turn up?

The Cherries made an enforced change with Harry Arter unable to play a part in the game with his calf injury, so Andrew Surman started in midfield as his one-match suspension had been served. AFCB also had Lewis Cook brought into the subs bench ahead of his U20 England squad call up.

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Swansea sought any advantage they could by switching ends at the start, but it was the Cherries that had the early pressure with attacks coming down both wings. Josh King was the first to fire high and wide.

A Bournemouth corner soon followed but Fraser over hit his cross. Simon Francis managed to get caught in possession by Gylfi Sigurdsson and Swansea put a good free kick in that was only just to high for Alfie Mawson.

The Cherries were getting Ryan Fraser on the ball early and he took aim on nine minutes, hitting his shot narrowly wide of the left post.

Both teams were pressing high up and tried to force errors at the back. A quick Swansea throw for the right was headed on by Llorente and gave Sigurdsson a half volley chance that he hit too high.

Another attack from the right saw Francis win the ball back for the Cherries and Fraser put in a curling cross that Afobe headed just wide with a diving effort.

Swansea were defending well with their two lines and Surman at one stage had his arms up asking Bournemouth players to find space out wide, when they had all been sucked into the middle and he couldn't get a pass away. 

Referee Mike Dean was letting rather a lot of fouls go unpunished with any cards, and Gosling was on the end of a sharp challenge from Jordan Ayew. Steve Cook came forward and made a crafty chip for Daniels to chase but he just ran out of pitch before he could cross.

Adam Smith then made a foul on Swansea's left wing and the free kick almost brought the first goal, as Josh King's defensive header just skimmed past the far post with Boruc a bystander.

A corner for Swansea led to Tom Carroll having a shot blocked by Pugh and any calls for a penalty were waved away.

AFCB's first goal came after Gosling had had a shot blocked by Ki Sung-Yeung. King and Pugh made a good one-two and King was about to pick the ball up again, when Afobe took it off his toe and ran with it to the D when he hit a shot that deflected off Mawson and left Fabianski stranded as the ball past him to his left.

Swansea were down, but AFCB were giving them rather too much hope that the lead was fragile at times. Steve Cook and Artur Boruc went for the same ball and Boruc flattened Cook and had to quickly recover the ball that had escaped them both in Bournemouth's box. Cook was left rubbing his back, but the lack of communication between the two players was worrying.

Sigurddson then had a shot from 30 yards or more out that Boruc scrambled away to his right for a corner on 36 minutes. Ki Sung-Yueng finally made the referee get out his yellow cards after Fraser was sent flying. Adam Smith's free kick was fairly central following this, but he hit it right down the keeper's throat.

One up at the break.

The 1987 brigade.

Second Half
Swansea came out trying to get back on terms with the Cherries with an early cross from Sigurdsson missing everyone.

The Cherries started to get back on top though with a free kick for a foul on King. Gosling took a long shot that was saved well low down to Fabianski's right. 

Swansea brought on Luciano Narsingh on the right wing and subbed Ayew on 58 minutes. Bournemouth were in the passing groove now and King had a strong shot blocked before Fraser saw his shot low to the right well saved.

Gosling was winning a lot of the balls in midfield and Bournemouth would just release Smith and Fraser on the right who were having a lot of success. Fraser also put in a fabulous tackle coming back on Sigurdsson.

Gosling and Surman then gave a free kick away for fouling Tom Carroll. This was Sigurdsson range all right but he hit the five man wall, much to the delight of AFCB fans.

Ki Sung-Yueng had a shot was deflected for a corner. Boruc then punched the cross clear. Ki Sung-Yueng then found he was to be subbed for Wayne Routledge to play on the left wing as Sigurdsson was moved to the number 10 role, behind Llorente.

Narsingh was doing well on the right wing for the Swans, but Daniels was doing enough to stop his run for a corner. Swansea's pressure resulted in Steve Cook volleying clear before Francis had to head away. Luckily Carroll could not keep his shot on target from range.

Gosling made a good interception in the middle of the park that King took up and passed to Afobe and the Cherries' front man steamed in on the angle, from the right side of the box, and kept his feet to finish clinically in the left corner, off the post, to make it 2-0 on 72 minutes!

Routledge brought a save out of Boruc before Jack Wilshere was introduced to let Fraser come off. Jack immediately caused problems and was fouled by Cork who was carded. Then Wilshere got in around the back of the Swan's defence only for King to see his header saved at the foot of the far post. 

Llorente was subbed on 82 minutes for Borja Baston, but Swansea just couldn't make any headway against Bournemouth's defence.

In added on time it was a great run from Wilshere that had AFCB fans wondering if this was the moment when he would score, but he fired his shot right into Fabianski's mid-rift. Meanwhile, AFCB eat up time by introducing Gradel for Josh King and Jordan Ibe for Marc Pugh. But by the time Ibe got his first touch the final whistle blow.

We like that 2-0 - a rare clean sheet.

Gosling shakes Paul Clement's hand.

Summary
A super day for the Cherries. The mood had been good all afternoon with the anniversary of the 1987 promotion well served by a walkabout by the players of that year taking to the pitch at half time and they would have been delighted to see Bournemouth's present day Afobe strike well and effectively to earn AFCB three valuable points. But the big statement was the clean sheet and the back to back wins at home. It underlined just how well the back four played and how well they were protected by Dan Gosling. AFCB also had too much for Swansea going forward with Fraser and Smith doubling up well and Josh King bossing the play in and around the Swansea box. This was a very satisfying win as Swansea had tried very hard to get something from the game and AFCB had stood firm, something that they have not always done from winning positions in games.

What a big result.

Happy days!

AFCB
Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Fraser (Wilshere), Surman, Gosling, Pugh (Ibe),
King (Gradel), Afobe

Cherries' Subs
Allsop, B Smith, Cargill, L Cook, Wilshere, Ibe, Gradel

AFCB Ratings
Boruc 6, Smith 8, Francis 7, Cook 8, Daniels 7, Fraser 8, Surman 6, Gosling 8, Pugh 7,
King 8, Afobe 8

Swansea City
Fabianski, Fer, Fernandez, Mawson, Kingsley, Cork, J Ayew (Narsingh), Ki Sung-yueng (Routledge), Carroll, Sigurdsson, Llorente (Bastón)

Swansea City Subs
Roberts, Amat, Britton, Nordfeldt, Routledge, Narsingh, Bastón,

Ref Watch: Mike Dean - 5/10 not always kind to AFCB Dean had a reasonable game, even if the cards were a bit slow to come out and we know it's always hard to get many decisions from him.