At least AFCB scored first before making a mess of it against West Ham

Match Report

20 January 2018

West Ham Utd 1 v 1 AFCB

Attendance: 56,948

Ryan Fraser adds to his goal tally at West Ham Utd.

A missed opportunity? Well, when Ryan Fraser put the Cherries ahead in this game on 71 minutes they looked all set to close out the game and take a perfectly snatched three points from the London Stadium. But attention to detail is everything and some heads didn't switch on at the restart. West Ham came straight down the middle and while the Cherries had numerous chances to get challenges in, little Hernandez stole in virtually unopposed to slot in the equaliser to add to the dreary weather conditions that hung over this game. Marko Arnautovic had done most to add some brightness on the pitch with a close range touch on an early West Ham cross that Begovic miraculously saved, before Begovic again thwarted West Ham's number seven when he was clean through on goal. Bournemouth came close to taking the lead themselves in the first half with a Simon Francis shot from an acute angle, as well as Lewis Cook's close effort from a corner, but Ryan Fraser was so nearly the match winner having put the Cherries ahead. A draw was still a good point gained and Bournemouth move up the table again.

The players and crowd pay their respects to Cyrille Regis.

Bournemouth did not make any changes from the Arsenal win with the starting 11 but on the bench we were pleased to see Josh King and Junior Stanislas made a return, while Kyle Taylor made the bench, becauseHarry Arter was taken ill just before the game. There was no place in the squad for Marc Pugh or Benik Afobe. 

There are more pictures on Match Day Gallery.

Simon Francis leads the Cherries out.

West Ham took the game straight to Bournemouth in the opening 20 minutes. It didn't take long for Begovic to check where his posts were, as Creswell fired wide. Bournemouth seemed happy to let him shoot from range. Arnautovic looked lively and was caught offside early on.

Meanwhile, Callum Wilson was receiving the West Ham boo-boys and lost control of a ball up at the West Ham goal line.

West Ham pressed forward again. This time Mark Noble lashed a ball on the half-volley up and on to the roof of the Bournemouth goal. With 10 minutes gone the Hammers had a corner and were well on top. 

Daniels was losing the ball wherever he turned and when Kouyaté and Zabaleta linked up the ball in from the right from Zabaleta fell well for Arnautovic, who made a good connection only for Begovic to make a stunning reaction save on 14 minutes.

Obiang was next to shoot but he put his effort wide. Alarm bells rang again when Begovic had to come out to stop Arnautovic, who was clean through the middle, but Begovic made the block.

Bournemouth were having trouble getting out of their own half and Daniels just couldn't pick a pass.

Things improved on 21 minutes when Gosling won a free kick, The ball in eventually came to Francis on the far post but his shot was well saved by the legs of Adrian. 

West Ham were still the dominant side but their shooting was erratic with Noble shanking his shot that went out for a throw. Arnautovic was on the run again and striding down the middle but took his shot early and it pleasingly went wide of the left post.

Bournemouth needed to get into the game but a corner from Ibe brought no reward. Gosling was fouled by Collins who received the first yellow card for the game. Another Bournemouth corner almost led to a goal with Lewis Cook flashing his shot just wide of the left post on 33 minutes.

Ibe was being kept quiet by Noble, but Daniels was starting to improve and at least was going forward. His run ended with a wild shot though that almost hit the corner flag. Dan Gosling also got himself in a position to shoot just before half time, but hit his shot well over.

The players go off after a goalless first half.

Second half

Begovic had an early catch as West Ham started on the attack. Adam Smith was cut down by Masuaka who was the second man top go into the book. 

Gosling also quickly joined him on a yellow card after fouling Kouyaté. West Ham applied the pressure with a corner and when Wilson robbed Ogbonna of the ball on half way it was disappointing to see the referee decide it was a foul.

Begovic was catching well enough from West Ham corners, if they were not always first time grabs. Steve Cook was making most of the important tackles as well on Arnautovic.

Ogbonna was carded for a foul on Wilson just before the hour.  Lanzini had been fairly quiet but had a shot that went over. Steve Cook was stopping West Ham from getting more shots on goal, but Howe decided he must make a change on 62 minutes and Ibe came off for Junior Stanislas to play.

Advertisement

Broom Hill Garden Buildings

West Ham responded by subbing Lanzini for Hernandez. Lewis Cook was playing well in midfield and put in a big tackle on Kouyaté. Shortly after the drop ball, Steve Cook hit the ball through to Stanislas who quickly played the ball forward to Fraser, and the Wee-man stuck the ball past Adrian at his near post, from the left side of the penalty area, to make it 0-1 to the Cherries on 71 minutes.

Before Bournemouth fans could celebrate too wildly, the kick off saw a long ball up from Ogbonna to Kouyaté. It was battled in the air then by Hernandez who headed on before Arnautovic played it back for Hernandez to slot the ball past Begovic and make it 1-1. It was route one, but AFCB were just not switched on at the back.

Bournemouth won a corner after a Junior Stanislas shot as the pressed to get back in the lead. Lewis Cook did much of his best work in this period as the instigator of most Bournemouth moves. The last 10 minutes would be nerve jangling.

Fraser was subbed for Josh King on 84 minutes and King soon bust through after a Wilson pass but couldn't get a shot away when he had looked well place to score.

West Ham were being pushed back ad subbed Kouyaté for Declan Rice on 90 minutes. Creswell then went down holding his ankle and Adrian kicked the ball out much to the annoyance of the Bournemouth fans. two minutes passed before Creswell hoped off the pitch and five minutes was put up on the board as Sam Byram came on.

Bournemouth had a good opportunity to Wilson but Rice made the clearance. A couple of long Steve Cook throws at the death couldn't find the winner and a 1-1 is how it ended.

A point each, Junior Stanislas at the end of the match.

Summary

This game could have seen a winner either way but it would have been unjust if one side had taken all three points. Both teams went out to attack and while Howe will be furious with the West Ham goal they did create more than AFCB on the day. Begovic was quite extraordinary in goal. He is regularly pulling off saves he shouldn't now and at the other end Ryan Fraser is adding goals to his game which is something that Bournemouth are in great need of.

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Simpson, Surman, Stanislas, King, Taylor, Mousset

AFCB Ratings

Begovic 9, Francis 6, S Cook 8, Aké 7, A Smith 6, L Cook 8, Gosling 7, Daniels 6, Ibe 7, Fraser 8, Wilson 7 

Ref Watch: Martin Atkinson: 7/10 solid performance and was fair to both sides.

West Ham Utd
Adrián, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell (Byram 90), Zabaleta, Kouyaté (Rice 90), Obiang, Noble, Masuaku, Lanzini (Hernández 64), Arnautovic

West Ham Subs
Hart, Byram, Martínez, Burke, Cullen, Rice, Hernández

Cherry Chimes T-Shirt competition
We did not have a winner of our first T-Shirt competition so we will roll it over to the next game against Chelsea when we will give you another chance.