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Thursday, 8 March 2018

Did Bournemouth play into Leicester's hands?

Bournemouth set out in the Leicester game to match the opposition in every area with strong challenges and trying to get on the attack. The first half was frustrating not because Bournemouth didn't go about the game well, they just failed to execute the moves that they were making apart form the penalty.
Bournemouth couldn't keep their foot down against Leicester after a strong start to the game.
The match was fast-paced and Bournemouth could not keep the pace going in the second half. They are more often a team that starts slow and finishes strong but this match was switched around no doubt because Bournemouth got the early goal. They didn't have to press high, they just needed to capitalise on Leicester's next mistake.  They probably had that with a foul on Charlie Daniels but Lee Probert chose not to give it - don't ask me why.

It meant Bournemouth started to defend deeper and deeper. The corner count went through the roof and the Cherries got into a mindset of kick it anywhere as long as it's not in our own net. The plan was good enough up to the seventh minute of four a supposed added minutes of time, but a one goal lead is never enough to be comfortable. Let's face it, you couldn't sit comfortably watching the last 10 minutes of the game as you expected the ball to go into Bournemouth's net every few seconds.



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By giving Leicester the ball back all the time though, it became one attack after another. Andrew Surman couldn't do anything to get on the ball and slow the game down. Bournemouth's passing game became fractured and fouling became the best form of defence for Gosling, Adam Smith and Steve Cook in particular. 

It only had to be a foul in range for Mahrez to fancy his chances and when it happened I expect all AFCB fans feared the worst. What was a great weekend became a slap in the face, but a few days later a point does at least seem some reward from a backs to the wall performance in the second half.

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