Match Report
Carabao Cup Fourth Round
AFCB 3 v 1 Middlesbrough
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| A great result for the Cherries who go into the hat for the quarter-finals. |
Bournemouth eased their way through to the fifth round of the Carabao Cup after a match-winning performance by young Jack Simpson and a successful return to first team cup action by Callum Wilson. Bournemouth found their flowing football right from the off and Lys Mousset was unlucky not to have headed the Cherries ahead, after being flagged offside from a Ryan Fraser free kick. AFCB fans had to wait until the second half for a goal when Simpson timed his run well at a corner to score with his left foot 48 minutes. Only seven minutes later Boro were level after a breakaway goal by Marcus Tavenier. But Boro had been second best all night and the Cherries recovered their lead after Simpson was pulled down in the box going for a header from another corner. Callum Wilson made sure from the spot and restored the lead, before Bournemouth made it a more emphatic win with a Benik Afobe goal seven minutes from time.
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| The two teams on the pitch. |
As expected Eddie Howe made some changes. Neither Jermain Defoe or Josh King were available and the big surprise was to see Jack Simpson in the team at centre-back. Callum Wilson also made the starting line up along with Ryan Fraser, Dan Gosling and Ryan Fraser.
See more images on Match Day Gallery.
See more images on Match Day Gallery.
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| Jsck Simpson came in to the team to get experience and walked off with man of the match. |
Bournemouth had a bit of a nervy start with Adama Traore testing Artur Boruc from the edge of the box and the keeper was pleased to see the flag go up after he fumbled the save. Bournemouth then looked to have taken the lead when Fraser's free kick was headed in by Lys Mousset only to see the flag go up.
Harry Arter was lucky not to see a card when he launched himself at Traore, but it was Simpson who was looking the most assured Bournemouth player, making tackles and switching play with consummate ease. Callum Wilson was also fabulous to watch turning after receiving a ball from Pugh and just firing wide on 18 minutes.
The surface of the pitch was very lively and several players were finding it hard to keep their feet with the misty rain in the air. Pugh was enjoying it though and saw a shot blocked before it ran out to Fraser who put another chance wide from six yards, as Pugh's shot off the keeper just came back to him too fast.
Dael Fry picked up a yellow card for a foul on Callum Wilson, but it was Boro who might have ended the first half ahead had Traore's blast from just outside the box kept a bit lower.
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| Callum makes a scoring comeback. |
The break did the trick for Bournemouth who won an early corner and Jack Simpson came forward and headed straight in from six yards. AFCB were looking set to extend the lead when Charlie Daniels was taken down in the box by George Friend, but strangely no penalty was given. Boro countered and Traore found Tavenier to his left who stroked the ball past Boroc's right arm to level at 1-1.
Callum Wilson then appeared to have won a penalty when he was sent flying in the box by Dael Fry but the referee was somehow uninterested. Tavenier kept Boruc alert with a shot after another Traore break and Boro were getting more confident with Adam Forshaw winning a corner after a deflected shot. Bournemouth decided to sub Lys Mousset and Jordan Ibe added more pace to the team.
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Bournemouth soon had the ball up the other end though and when Simpson went for a second headed goal from a Bournemouth corner he cynically had his shirt pulled by Fry and the penalty was awarded. Callum asked for the ball and he confidently stroked in the goal to make it 2-1 on 75 minutes. AFCB immediately then subbed Ryan Fraser for Benik Afobe. Dowing also came on for Tavenier.
Bournemouth had the momentum now with Ibe having a shot blocked. It didn't matter though as on 80 minutes Adam Smith made an incisive run in from the right wing, before turning a pass 90 degrees for Wilson to slip down the side of the defender, and cross square for an in rushing Benik Afobe who made it 3-1.
Bournemouth were in total control no and a move by Arter and Pugh was almost walked in by Afobe as he shot just wide from close in. Akee replaced Adam Smith to see out the last few minutes of the game.
Boro subbed Lewis Barker with Ashley Fletcher on 85 minutes. Forshaw then played a good ball to Downing who brought a save out of Boruc in the 88th minute. Three extra time minutes only saw a long shot from Patrick Bamford go wide.
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| Yes! Another win under the Cherries' belt. |
Summary
A great night for Bournemouth. It was astonishing how well Jack Simpson played - an absolute natural. Not even Callum Wilson could take the man of the match away from him and yet it was also very pleasing to see Callum give his signature salute when he slotted home the penalty. Benike Afobe will also have been delighted to get on the score sheet and AFCB are looking like a side that can go further in this competition.
AFCB's starting XI
AFCB Subs
Ramsdale, Aké, Afobe, Hyndman, Mahoney, Ibe, Butcher
AFCB Ratings
Boruc 6, A Smith 8, S Cook 7, Simpson 9, Daniels 7, Fraser 6, Arter 7, Gosling 5, Pugh 6, Mousset 5, Wilson 7
Referee watch: Simon Hooper 4/10. He did give one nailed on penalty but could have made it one or two more and yet was lenient with some of the attempted tackles on the a wet and slippery night.
Middlesbrough
Konstantopoulos, Roberts, Fry, Ayala, Friend, Clayton, Forshaw, Traoré,
Baker (Fletcher 85), Tavernier (Downing 76), Bamford
Fabio, Gibson, Mejias, Howson, Fletcher, Downing, Wing
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