Match Report
AFCB 0 v 0 Leicester City
30 September 2017
Attendance: 10,444
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| The captains line up with mascots and the officials before kick off. |
Bournemouth fans will rejoice at their first clean sheet of the season, but will be equally frustrated at the failure of the team to slip at least one goal past Kasper Schmeichel in a game that they dominated from start to finish. Had Bournemouth been picking up points elsewhere on the road this result could be seen more positively. The fact is that the team is still second bottom in the league and they can't have too many games like this when they have all the play and can't get on the score sheet.
However, it was pleasing to see Lewis Cook get his first start in the league this season and for him to play so well. A bit of luck would not go a miss when we hope that referees pick up penalty offences. Even though Graham Scott was not in the mood to make the 12-yard calls, Bournemouth should have buried Leicester in the first 20 minutes let alone being given 94 minutes to finish them off.
However, it was pleasing to see Lewis Cook get his first start in the league this season and for him to play so well. A bit of luck would not go a miss when we hope that referees pick up penalty offences. Even though Graham Scott was not in the mood to make the 12-yard calls, Bournemouth should have buried Leicester in the first 20 minutes let alone being given 94 minutes to finish them off.
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| The two teams before the game. |
The team changes includes Lewis Cook coming in for Dan Gosling and Marc Pugh replacing Jordan Ibe. Steve Cook stayed on the bench and rumours are that he had been kept up all night after his partner gave birth to their second child.
There are more pictures of Match Day Gallery.
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| Leicester get ready. |
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| Jamie Vardy appears despite his decision not to join up with the England squad next week. |
Leicester fans Ron and Gary give their pre-match thoughts on Leicester City and the game.
There was intent from the Cherries from the off with Simon Francis playing a long ball up to try and get Jermain Defoe in on goal. It appeared that Bournemouth would score when King flew up the right wing moments later and sent in a low cross that Defoe directed on goal, but it came off the underside of the bar and when Marc Pugh lashed his shot back from the left side, it hit Simpson, apparently on the arm. But Pugh and Stanislas' protests did not sway referee Graham Scott who would only award a corner kick.
Bournemouth were far faster to every ball and were cutting Leicester apart. Defoe suddenly found himself free again in the box and when the ball came to Pugh we expected the net to bulge, but the winger pulled his shot horribly wide!
Josh King was first to make Schmeichel actually have to make a save, before Defoe also found Schmeichel quick to react to a ball Defoe just lost control of as he turned, attempting to shoot, in the box. Bournemouth kept coming though with Junior Stanislas also firing wide on nine minutes.
Simon Francis would have Jamie Vardy in his pocket all afternoon, even if he was adjudged to have made a foul on their first clash. The home crowd yelled penalty again when Josh King went down in the box after 12 minutes after a pass through by Adam Smith.
Everything was happening in Leicester's half, but the breakthrough hadn't come. On 20 minutes when Pugh was given the first yellow card for catching Marc Albrighton. It seemed harsh when Leicester had made the majority of the fouls up to this point. A Leicester corner was punched well clear by Begovic and AFCB set off again.
King and Pugh were storming through the Leicester ranks, but Pugh again pulled his shot wide. While King was getting fouled the Leicester players were not getting carded. King came close to scoring as we approached 40 minutes, but Schmeichel made the save with his legs at the near post.
A bigger chance fell to Marc Pugh seconds later when he drove a shot that kept rising and went a foot over the bar. He couldn't believe he hadn't scored. While Bournemouth kept the pressure up with a corner the frustration was shown when Daniels had a blast from 30 yards out before we reached half time all square at 0-0.
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| No goals despite all Bournemouth's attacking play. |
Second half
Ibora came on for Okasaki at the start of the half. Bournemouth carried on where they left off forcing corners before Defoe hit a weak shot that was easy for the Leicester keeper to get hold of. After Pugh's cross, Junior Stanislas came closer having hesitated at first, when he could have shot before making a shot that Schmeichel got down well to on 55 minutes.
Jermain Defoe was pole-axed in the box, but again Scott saw nothing in it.
Vardy then got Bournemouth fans worried when he stretched the Cherries defence and then Okasaki dragged his shot wide of the right post on the hour.
Bournemouth were soon back on it when Pugh drifted into a central position before unleashing a 25-yard drive that just slipped past the left post. Leicester responded with a Demarai Gray effort that went well over.
On 68 minutes Andy King was subbed for Kelechi Iheanacho and Pugh made way for Jordan Ibe a minute later.
Lewis Cook was controlling more and more of the game by now and he pulled out a special shot shot that just went over after good work from Jordan Ibe. With 70 minutes gone it wasn't looking like AFCB would get the breakthrough.
Josh King was still making life hard for Wes Morgan and Harry Maguire but his next shot deflected wide off the post.
Leicester brought on Mahrez for Albrigton on 75 minutes and when Defoe went over again in the box Bournemouth fans hoped that Graham Scott would give this one - but no he waved his arms saying no penalty.
A rare Leicester attack headed by Gray saw Ndidi fire a shot that was deflected wide for a corner. Afobe replaced Defoe with seven minutes to go. Stanislas brought another save from Schmeichel - it just wasn't happening. Even Surman was coming forward now and hit a solid strike that Schmeichel had to save.
As the clock started to run down, Aké made a superb tackle on Vardy. Fraser came on for Stanislas with 88 minutes gone. Surman made a mistake that saw Vardy get a chance to shoot but he put his shot wide - it could have been a huge mistake if Vardy had scored. Even with four minutes of added time and a corner to each team the game headed to the conclusion that we all suspected from mid-way through the second half - 0-0.
Summary
Lewis Cook fitted in extremely well in central midfield and will surely keep his place for the next game, having won sponsors man of the match. Simon Francis and Nathan Aké were hardly troubled at the back and also had very strong games. Perhaps the defence has finally become more robust, but it is hard to tell when Leicester offered little in the way of attacks. Shooting remains a weakness and while the shots are at least being fired they lacked direction on this day. It would have been the perfect performance if one or two of the shots had been harder for Schmeichel in the Leicester goal. A point though is better than a defeat, and the Cherries have to find another few improvements during the international break to keep the points coming.
AFCB
Begovic, A Smith, Francis, Aké, Daniels, Stanislas (Fraser), L Cook, Surman, Pugh (Ibe), King, Defoe (Afobe)
Vardy then got Bournemouth fans worried when he stretched the Cherries defence and then Okasaki dragged his shot wide of the right post on the hour.
Bournemouth were soon back on it when Pugh drifted into a central position before unleashing a 25-yard drive that just slipped past the left post. Leicester responded with a Demarai Gray effort that went well over.
On 68 minutes Andy King was subbed for Kelechi Iheanacho and Pugh made way for Jordan Ibe a minute later.
Lewis Cook was controlling more and more of the game by now and he pulled out a special shot shot that just went over after good work from Jordan Ibe. With 70 minutes gone it wasn't looking like AFCB would get the breakthrough.
Josh King was still making life hard for Wes Morgan and Harry Maguire but his next shot deflected wide off the post.
Leicester brought on Mahrez for Albrigton on 75 minutes and when Defoe went over again in the box Bournemouth fans hoped that Graham Scott would give this one - but no he waved his arms saying no penalty.
A rare Leicester attack headed by Gray saw Ndidi fire a shot that was deflected wide for a corner. Afobe replaced Defoe with seven minutes to go. Stanislas brought another save from Schmeichel - it just wasn't happening. Even Surman was coming forward now and hit a solid strike that Schmeichel had to save.
As the clock started to run down, Aké made a superb tackle on Vardy. Fraser came on for Stanislas with 88 minutes gone. Surman made a mistake that saw Vardy get a chance to shoot but he put his shot wide - it could have been a huge mistake if Vardy had scored. Even with four minutes of added time and a corner to each team the game headed to the conclusion that we all suspected from mid-way through the second half - 0-0.
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| A clean sheet but only a point for Eddie. |
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| Perhaps Defoe asks Vardy why he is not joining the England team next week. |
Lewis Cook fitted in extremely well in central midfield and will surely keep his place for the next game, having won sponsors man of the match. Simon Francis and Nathan Aké were hardly troubled at the back and also had very strong games. Perhaps the defence has finally become more robust, but it is hard to tell when Leicester offered little in the way of attacks. Shooting remains a weakness and while the shots are at least being fired they lacked direction on this day. It would have been the perfect performance if one or two of the shots had been harder for Schmeichel in the Leicester goal. A point though is better than a defeat, and the Cherries have to find another few improvements during the international break to keep the points coming.
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| Bournemouth players thank the crowd for their support. |
Begovic, A Smith, Francis, Aké, Daniels, Stanislas (Fraser), L Cook, Surman, Pugh (Ibe), King, Defoe (Afobe)
AFCB Subs
Boruc, S Cook, Gosling, Fraser, Ibe, Afobe, Mousset
AFCB Ratings
Begovic 6, A Smith 6, Francis 7, Aké 7, Daniels 6, Stanislas 6, L Cook 8, Surman 7,
Pugh 6, King 7, Defoe 6
Pugh 6, King 7, Defoe 6
Leicester City
Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Fuchs, Albrighton (Mahrez), King (Iborra), Ndidi,Gray, Okazaki (Iheanacho), Vardy
Leicester City Subs
Ref Watch: Graham Scott 1/10 - disastrous performance. He missed so much in the box and booked Marc Pugh without booking any one from the opposition who committed more fouls and that were just as badly timed as Pugh's foul.
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At long last Lewis Cook played and was man of the match..but I bet he won't start next match and if he doesn't then something is very wrong...
ReplyDeleteWe have a number of players out on loan and only two by my reckoning started for their teams...Allsop and Worthington..what's the point of loaning players out when they are coming on for the last ten or fifteen minutes..makes no sense to me
Lewis Cook grabbed this starting chance with both hands and there can now be no further prevarication by the manager. Lewis Cook has got to be one of the first names on the team sheet after this performance. Mousette should have been brought on as a sub, not the hopeless Afobe whose only contribution was to trip over the ball. Again!
ReplyDeleteVery worrying that Jermaine Defoe's performance was poor, his movement and energy was poor, he only had 29 touches, less than any other player on the pitch and although he hit the woodwork on one occasion, he had not one single strike on target even after all that forward team pressure. If that level is all he is now capable of then he shouldn't be in our squad, he simply doesn't deserve his place. He wouldn't get into any other team in the prem with a performance like that and he'll certainly be getting dropped from the international squad after that display. Is it starting to become clear why he didn't score one single goal for Sunderland during the whole second half of last season? Hopefully he's still 'got it' and he can up his contributions to the team efforts, but If time has now in fact caught up with him and all he can do is stand around hoping for a pass, then Eddie has made a serious and costly mistake in bringing him in on a 3 year contract.