Match Report
Chelsea 0 v 3 AFCB
31 January 2018
Attendance: 41,464
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| AFCB play Chelsea off the pitch in a 0-3 victory for Eddie Howe's side. |
There was a full blue Super moon but it had turned red and black by the end of the night. What a night for Bournemouth fans. Bournemouth set out their stall straight way with great intent in this game. They pressed high and made Chelsea have to battle to get out of their half at times. Gary Cahill did come close with a header on about the half hour and Hazard was always a threat. Still, Howe could be pleased with a goalless first half. But of course it got better and how it improved. Callum Wilson was powerful all night and he got the Cherries running straight at the heart of the Chelsea defence and when Stanislas made it 0-2 the writing was on the wall. It was absolutely over when Nathan Aké made it three.
There was only one change in the Bournemouth line up from the home win against Arsenal with Adam Smith not in the squad and Junior Stanislas came in for him. Adam Smith is injured and could be out for three to four weeks with a quadricep injury. Ryan Fraser switched over to the right of midfield allowing Junior Stanislas to play in an advanced position on the left and Jordan Ibe on the right in a 3-4-3 formation.
Bournemouth start well with Wilson winning the first corner. Stanislas ball in was blocked and on the second corner Ibe has his shot blocked. Bournemouth are pressing high.
Hazard puts a great ball in but Daniels just cleared it in time for a Chelsea corner. Chelsea are having more of the ball but Fraser sends Wilson up the wing before Christensen closes him down.
Bournemouth are really pressing high and getting possession back. Eight minutes gone. Lewis Cook gets a good tackle in.
Bournemouth have won another corner. Hazard is caught by Gosling. Kante and Hazard break but Fraser clears. and read the danger well. Chelsea have control and are knocking it about. Pedro tries a shot from outside the penalty area but it's well over.
Eddie Howe will be pleased with the first 15 minutes. Wilson's speed is great and he nips the ball away from Christensen. That looks to be a contest Wilson can win every time.
Bournemouth are staying very compact and Chelsea are getting forced back. Aké makes a good block and Daniels wins a goal kick off of Azpilicueta. You would not know which team was at home at the moment.
Wilson fouls Christensen by just clipping his legs which is a bit unfortunate as Fraser was bursting through. Lewis Cook just struggles to find his man. Gosling is linking well and Fraser is coming forward but Ibe misreads his pass.
Wilson is now stopped for hand ball even though he was shoved in the back. Bournemouth have certainly come to play tonight. Daniels goes round two but loses out just before he tries to cross.
Fraser now. Francis slips a ball to Wilson and Stanislas loses control in the box. The ball was just a bit behind Stanislas. Ibe decides to have a blast and he hits it hard but right at the keeper! Some 25 minutes gone and neither keeper has been well tested yet.
Christensen is in trouble - hamstring. He is off and on comes Rüdiger on 28 minutes. Hazard takes the ball down well. Fraser has to head out for a Chelsea corner. Ibe on the break and Fraser has picked a poor pass.
Pedro takes on Fraser and it's another corner for Chelsea. Cahill almost scores but it's a header that just clips the top of the bar and goes over! We don't want to see any more chances like that.
Alonso clips a ball in and Bournemouth have to concede another corner. Bournemouth have a break on. Daniels runs into trouble though. Zapacosta puts a ball in but Francis clears well.
Barkley has a chance to turn and shoot but it's deflected and Francis gets a good enough block in. A great tackle from Steve Cook, just before Hazard was going to be clean through!
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Steve Cook fouls Barkley. Steve Cook is doing well though. Zapacosta digs a cross out fro the right and Alonso heads it across goal, out jumpring Ryan Fraser, but wide of the right post! Bournemouth have to watch Fraser being targeted in a height battle with Alonso.
Barkley gets away with a loose pass that Wilson almost picks up. Hazard goes on a run but Bournemouth hold him up, good work from Daniels, and Pedro is offside.
Gosling wins the ball and Francis drifts it over to the left. Stanislas loses it though. It's back with Begovic now.
Chelsea are having a spell in possession. Steve Cook gets across. Added time is just 1 minute. Kante turns well but Gosling is back at him. Hazard again. Ake heads away and it's half time 0-0.
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| There were some stunning performances from AFCB. |
Second half
Bournemouth have the first attack but Hazard wins the first corner of the second half. Wilson gets a touch but it's out of play. Hazard wins a free kick after Lewis Cook catches the back of Hazards' leg. This is a good range for Alonso. Alonso puts it over! Gosling went back to the post, then came out to try and cause some confusion.Wilson now is through and Ibe finds him just through the middle and Bournemouth are ahead on 62 minutes! Wilson just kept his calm and slipped it underneath Courtois. Lovely finish! 0-1 Great ball from Ibe, slide rule pass.
Hazard gets a strike off but Begovic falls on it well. Three or four players around Hazard and he still gets a shot away. Now Bournemouth have something to hold on to.
Lewis Cook with a shot now that just misses the top right corner! That was close. Barkley is off and Fabregas comes on after 54 minutes.
"You can hear keep the red flag flying high" now. Fabregas fouls Gosling. Hazard is then brought down. Lots of free kicks and Bournemouth have to keep their concentration. Daniels nips in to give a corner away. Rüdiger is clear on the left after a Zapacosta shot and Gosling clears for another Chelsea corner.
Kante robs Lewis Cook in the air. Alonso and Pedro. Hazard is through from an Azpilicueta pass but he is offside. Lots of Chelsea pressure there.
Chelsea keep coming forward. This is going to be a long half hour. Kante puts Zapacosta down the right but Bournemouth clear. Stanislas and Wilson, Stanislas gets the ball back and he's made it 0-2 on 65 minutes!
Chelsea sub Zappacosta and bring on Hudson-Odoi.
Wilson wins a corner. Daniels almost has it now a shot comes in from Stanislas and Aké has made it 0-3. Don't you just love this game?
Hazard is taken down by Aké and it's in a good shooting position. Some 68 minutes gone here. It's into the wall. Alonso now hits another shot form distance and it's a whisker wide of the left post.
Bournemouth bring Josh King on after 71 minutes and sub Junior Stanislas. Hazard on the break, Pedro and Aké that could have hit his hand. Still, the referee missed it. Pedro again and Begovic makes a good save down to his left.
Lewis Cook steps through some challenges. Fraser loses the ball. Pedro loses control when played in over the top by Fabregas. Kante is busy popping the ball about. Fabregas too. Daniels puts the ball up high. King now gets caught by Fabregas who is yellow carded.
It's hard to pick a Bournemouth player who has had a less than fabulous game. Bourneouth are defending deep now. Wilson is struggling. Wilson still wins a corner.
Marc Pugh is getting ready. Ibe is taking a breather. Ibe is clapping while he comes off. Pugh is on after 83 minutes. Wilson just loses out in the box.
Cahill now gives Bournemouth a free kick. Chelsea now. Kante and Hazard Bournemouth get a block in. It's just a question whether Bournemouth can keep a clean sheet now.
Hudson-Odoi has a deflected shot and it's a corner to Chelsea. Chelsea come again. Kante on the break, Hudson-Odoiand Begovic saves well down to his left.
Mousset is getting ready. Pugh in a race with Pedro just loses out. Four minutes of added time go up. Gosling is fouled and that allows Wilson to be subbed for Lys Mousset.
Alonso crosses and Hazard on the volley puts it over. A difficult chance. Alonso is stopped by Fraser. Steve Cook wins another header and francis clears. That's it - Chelsea have been stuffed!
Summary
You don't always pull teams like Chelsea apart, but the Cherries had a great balance about their side and the win showed that the win against Arsenal was no fluke. There was a fast work rate and a determination about Bournemouth that just gave the impression that it was going to be a special night. Stanford Bridge is a ground where Bournemouth like to play and they came to play and took their chances extremely well in the second half. Now Eddie Howe's men have confidence and momentum and this could suddenly be a season to remember - it was certainly a night to remember. But if 10th place is still only five points off of the relegation zone, we can't celebrate safety yet. That is the big fact that Eddie Howe must tell his men, but of course let's enjoy this win.
AFCB line up
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| AFCB Subs: Boruc, Simpson, Surman, Arter, Pugh, Mousset, King |
AFCB ratings
Begovic 9, Francis 8, S Cook 9, Aké 9, Daniels 8, Gosling 7, L Cook 7, Fraser 10, Stanislas 9, Wilson 9
Chelsea
Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Christensen (Rüdiger 28), Zappacosta (Hudson-Odoi 65), Kanté, Bakayoko, Alonso, Pedro, Barkley (Fabregas 54), Hazard
Chelsea Subs
Caballero, Rüdiger, Fàbregas, Drinkwater, Moses, Ampadu, Hudson-Odoi
Ref Watch Lee Probert: 5/10 Lee got a few incorrect calls and Chelsea might even have had a penalty but it was rather an enjoyable game to watch and despite all the free kicks only one yellow card.
T-shirt competition - Two fans correctly guessed the corner count of 13. I'll be in touch.
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Late news, Grabban goes to Aston Villa on loan, Allsop is at Lincoln City on loan and Benik Afobe is at Wolves on loan.
I have watched almost all 101 Premiere League matches either on TV or online. This one is easily the best performance. The entire team were brilliant. I hope they don't have a let down against Stoke.
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