Bournemouth feel the chill of a 0-0 draw at Swansea

Match Report

Swansea 0 v 0 AFCB

25 November 2017

Attendance 20,228

The mascots wave the flags for the players to arrive.

Cold November days in Wales can be very scenic and eventful, but this game was not one that will get you rushing for the highlights button. Bournemouth found the heavy pitch not as much to their liking as Dean Court I suspect, and the cold atmosphere didn't give rise to many goal mouth chances. In fact, a disallowed goal for Wilfried Bony was as close as we got to seeing a goal in the first half, and while Swansea rightly fumed that and at substitute Tammy Abrahams cut-down by Adam Smith by the penalty box, it was Leroy Fer who really had the best opportunity to win the game for Swansea, but he was kept out by a fine save from Asmir Begovic. Meanwhile, Bournemouth could have snatched a perhaps underserved winner if Dan Gosling or Benik Afobe could have stretched a bit further to get on the end of a late Charlie Daniels' cross.

Welcome to Swansea City.

There was only one change to the team due to Simon Francis' one match suspension and Adam Smith filled in at right back. Benike Afobe was among the subs having recovered from injury as well as Jack Simpson. Meanwhile, Swansea made five changes, out wentFernandez, Fer, Claucas, Dyer and Abraham and in came Bony, Ki-Sung-Yeung, van der Hoorn, Caroll and Mesa. 

There are more pictures on Match Day Gallery.

The big score board at the Liberty stadium.

The start of the match was encouraging with Marc Pugh going close after a strong run and cross from Josh King on the right wing. Swansea replied with Jordan Ayew trying to warm Begovic's finger tips but the shot came off of the corner of the bar and post, and Bournemouth didn't have to face a following corner.

It wasn't until the 12th minute that we saw a coherent attack from Bournemouth again, this time with Ibe at first losing possession but seeing the ball run kindly to Surman who struck his shot into the mid-rift of a grateful Fabianski.

Renato Sanchez and Tom Carroll were playing well for Swansea in midfield and Bournemouth were seeing King have to come back and try and win balls back just to try and start moves off for the Cherries. Renato Sanchez escaped in the 29th minute but his run saw a chip come shot went wide.

Josh King came a little closer for Bournemouth with a shot on the angle that flew over the bar. 

Bournemouth had another let off when Renato Sanchez fired into the side netting. Mesa later shot wide as well, before King had Bournemouth's best chance of the first half saved by Federici on 42 minutes when he hit a hard, low shot that had the keeper on his knees.

As the half ended it was Swansea who felt aggrieved despite Nathan Aké clearly being fouled by Ayew's arm in the back, just before Wilfried Bony smashed a shot onto the roof of the net. The referee had blown for the incident very quickly, before Bony's shot, but it still felt like a lucky break for the Cherries.

Swansea players surround the referee after he blows for
half time ask why Bony's goal was wiped out.

Second half

The half time talk worked more for Swansea who came out fighting hard. Ayew forced a save almost immediately from Begovic. But Bournemouth soon found a bit of momentum with Adam Smith shooting from distance just wide of Swansea's left post.

Renato Sanchez was still running everywhere like a wild hare, but it was Swansea who were gaining the upper hand. Bournemouth's possession was slow to find any tempo and moved from side to side rather than darting forward and Callum Wilson looked largely ineffective compared to last week. Wilson did draw a foul from van der Hoorn, while Mesa picked up the first yellow card for playing on when the free kick had been awarded.

Swansea made the first sub with an exhausted Renato Sanchez being replaced by Leroy Fer on 71 minutes.

Jordan Ibe proved that he can shoot at times with a low shot at the right post that Fabianski got down to, even if it was probably going just wide. 

Fouls were getting nasty and Artur took a heavy challenge from Leroy Fer with nothing being awarded. Then it all kicked off with Ki-Sung Yueng on the left touchline with Ibe, everyone became involved in a fracas, including the referee who was shoved by Ki-Sung Yueng. Ki-Sung Yueng, Ibe and Olsson were all yellow carded in the incident.

Bournemouth had more to be worried about when Fer went on a good run up the left and ran through Bournemouth's defence only to come up against Begovic who made a good star shape to thwart the Swansea player, with his legs, before a second shot came off the post! Tammy Abrahams then came on to replace Ayew on 84 minutes.

King picked up a yellow for a foul on Olsson before Gosling replaced Jordan Ibe with two minutes to go. Abrahams decisive run towards the box had Adam Smith trailing and the Bournemouth defender clipped his standing leg on the penalty box line. I expected the worst but the referee decided Abrahams had just lost his footing instead. Bournemouth were not only lucky not to have a penalty awarded but Adam Smith only needs one more yellow card to before being suspended.

Bony was not so fortunate for a foul on Arter that earned him a yellow card.

The five minutes of added time almost provided a winner for Bournemouth with Daniels putting in a great low cross that was just beyond the reach of Gosling and then Afobe. Lewis Cook then replaced Harry Arter before the final whistle.

Just after the final whistle the players reflect on the draw.

Summary

These are the sort of games that you wish you had stayed at home for. There was plenty of desire but not enough quality to make it a special game. Bournemouth were well organised and that is what I'd ta out of this game. They were not going to concede and in the Premier League it is a good habit to get into. Swansea rightly had their goal disallowed in my view but the Abrahams incident I felt should have been a penalty and Adam Smith got lucky over that. Bournemouth are better than this though and Swansea perhaps should be disappointed not to have all three points as they were the better side in the second half. Well done to Asmir Begovic who picks up Cherry Chimes man of the match for his late save in the game.

A chilly point won for the Cherries.

Swansea City
Fabianski, Naughton, van der Hoorn, Mawson, Olsson, Mesa, Ki Sung-yueng, Carroll,
Renato Sanches (Fer 71), 18 J Ayew (Abraham 84) Bony

Swansea Subs

Nordfeldt, Rangel, Clucas, Dyer, Routledge, Fer, Abraham, 

AFCB line up.

AFCB Ratings

Begovic 8, A Smith 6, S Cook 6, Aké 7, Daniels 6, Ibe 6, Arter 6, Surman 6, Pugh 6, King 7,
Wilson 6

Man of the match - Asmir Begovic

Referee Watch: Stuart Attwell - 2/10 Stuart had a poor game and while I felt he got the disallowed goal right, he missed some poor tackles that should have been carded.