Ryan Fraser has Toffees on toast 2-1

Match Report

AFCB 2 v 1 Everton

30 December 2017

Attendance: 10,497

Ryan Fraser chews on the Toffees as AFCB get their third home win of the season.

The end of year party can begin now that Ryan Fraser has capped off AFC Bournemouth's 2017 with a home win and three massive points to send the Cherries into the New Year in good spirits. Fraser was the clear man of the match winner having put the Cherries ahead on 33 minutes, when he converted a cross on the volley from Josh King to beat Jordan Pickford close in. Everton posed little threat until Wayne Rooney came on after the break and yet the equaliser came from a misplaced pass from Steve Cook and Idrissa Gueye took full advantage to level on 57 minutes. Bournemouth continued to force the pace and their reward came just two minutes from the end when Adam Smith found Fraser, and the wee-man cut inside and saw his shot deflect past Pickford for the win.

Phil Jagielka was back to captain Everton.

Bournemouth made no changes to the starting line up but did bring in Charlie Daniels and Harry Arter to the subs bench.

There are more pictures on Match Day Gallery.

Francis just before kick off.

The game began with Ryan Fraser taking on the Everton defence and being held back to win a free kick.  Steve Cook put the far post header wide though and there was no dream start for AFCB. Lewis Cook then fouled Sigurdsson and Aaron Lennon had his resulting shot blocked.

Bournemouth won the first corner and Adam Smith did well to stop an Everton break. Ibe was involved in a move with a back heel that put Fraser in a good attacking position, but Fraser played a ball forward for Callum Wilson that Wilson did not read.

Fraser was the man making runs for Bournemouth even if his final ball was often too strong. Jordan Pickford cleared the stands at one point with his rushed clearance. From the throw Wilson lobbed the ball over the Everton defence and found himself in on goal but Pickford made the first of many excellent saves.

Everton won a corner from a Natahn Aké's header, but Nathan also cleared the danger afterwards. Bournemouth  kept pushing forward and Jordan Ibe came close to getting a goal with Pickford diving low to his left to keep another shot out. Francis was injured from the corner but recovered quickly.

Bournemouth did get the lead when McCarthy's back pass went to straight to Callum Wilson and King was released up the right wing, played a one-two with Wilson, and crossed for Fraser to volley into the goal.

Adam Smith almost let Lennon in and Asmir had to come out to help Lennon's shot get blocked. Aké again won the header form the corner. But Josh King had to be subbed as his hamstring went and Afobe entered the game on 39 minutes.

Afobe came on with the right attitude chasing back in his own half to recover a ball.

Half time score.

Rooney is waiting to come on.

Second half

Wayned Rooney was prepped to come on for McCarthy at half time. Fraser and Adam Smith were again doing well on the left an Francis crossed for Wilson to shoot wide. 

Adam Smith took a hefty challenge from Kenny and was given attention for a few minutes but was able to stand on his right leg and continued. Meanwhile, Everton subbed Calvert-Lewin for Niasse on 54 minutes.

Schneiderlin found Rooney in space but the forward shot just wide. The let off didn't last long though as Steve Cook's misplaced a pass was picked up by Sigurdsson, and he fed Niasse, before Gueye was soon the recipient and took no time in placing his shot into the left side of Bournemouth's goal on 57 minutes.

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Bournemouth mounted a strong reply shortly after with some neat play with Francis picking out Wilson who struck his shot first time only for Pickford to make an outstanding low one-handed save to his right. Afobe almost had a better chance when he dragged the ball passed two defenders on the D, but the ball just ran away from him and straight to Pickford.

Bournemouth continued to press with a couple of corners and Bolasie came on for Gueye on 71 minutes. Steve Cook was doing well at the back in winning headers, but Afobe had a great chance to get in on goal before his first touch saw the ball speed away from him.

Callum Wilson was still shooting when he could but hit another wide effort, before Arter replaced Lewis Cook. Ibe now raced towards goal on the right and could have passed to Afobe through the middle, but chose to shoot and Pickford made another save. Bournemouth then won the ball again and Ibe turned swiftly and hit a shot early left-footed curler only for it to hit the bar.

Aké had to then make a great tackle on Sigurdssn as he broke up the other end.

Mousset replaced Wilson on 85 minutes as Bournemouth looked for a winner. As we approached 88 minutes, Bournemouth broke again with devastating effect. This time Adam Smith ran strongly down the left and gave the ball to Fraser who cut inside and fired a shot across the keeper and off a defender, into the far right side of the net. Bournemouth had won it and the wee-man had been sensational.

Not even five minutes of added time could deny Bournemouth of this valuable win.

Wilson congratulates Wee-man.

Summary

I thought this could have been yet another hard luck story. Sam Allardyce had not lost a game since becoming the Tofees' manager. Bournemouth are good at playing well and not getting what they deserve, but in this match they dominated much of the game and Ryan Fraser and Adam Smith were quite amazing on the left. Jordan Ibe also did well and was unlucky not to score, while Aké keeps showing what a bargain signing he was. In this mood Bournemouth will knock over better teams than Everton, but it has taken a long time to get to this level of performance. But for Jordan Pickford, the winning margin could have been much bigger and Eddie Howe will certainly be able to welcome the New Year in with more optimism after this win.

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Simpson, Daniels, Arter, Pugh, Afobe, Mousset

AFCB Ratings
Begovic 6, Francis 5, S Cook 5, Aké 8, A Smith 8, Ibe 7, L Cook 6, Gosling 6, Fraser 9, King 5 (Afobe 6), Wilson 6

Referee watch: Lee Probert 5/10. I think he forgot his cards. He was consistent in not giving fouls but there should have been a bit more control of the game.

Everton
Pickford, Kenny, Keane, Jagielka, Martina, McCarthy (Rooney 45), Schneiderlin,
Gueye (Bolasie 71), Lennon, Calvert-Lewin (Niasse 54 ), Sigurdsson

Everton Subs
Robles, Holgate, Williams, Davies, Bolasie, Rooney, Niasse

Cherry Chimes' January newsletter is out tomorrow.  It includes the special newsletter article - Avoiding defeat will get you safety - and it reports on what has been a record month for Cherry Chimes. 

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