Bournemouth's set-pieces can frighten the very best

It was not until the end of last season that I saw the stat that Bournemouth had scored the most goals from set-pieces in the Premier League. It is a surprising strength from a team that find set-pieces hard to defend against. Still, Bournemouth work very hard at free kicks and corners and they are already bringing rewards.

Steve Cook opens his goal account at West Ham.

Steve Cook is not the tallest of defenders, but he gets his head in where it hurts. He kept his eye on the ball against West Ham, when it was crossed in by Ryan Fraser for the winning goal which he headed in by directing the header solidly downwards into the ground. Cook is a player who has been great over the years at getting important goals and it is so valuable when defenders can chip in with the odd goal.

While some of the corner set-plays will need some fresh work this season with new players coming into the team, I think that is a good way of bringing the group together. When free-kicks that are worked on come off in games after they have been carefully thought out on the training ground, it really helps team bonding and maybe we will see that in the upcoming games.

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While we all want to see flowing football and goals from open play, in a game like the one at West Ham, when there were so many fouls it is really important that a team can make the most of any set-piece in and around the box. Games in the Premier League are hard fought and tetchy at times and to have calm heads at moments when you can use as free kick or corner to get a goal is a massive advantage. Bournemouth are learning that there are various ways of winning games and that they have to make the most of any slight opportunity when the opposition have made a small mistake.

While Bournemouth have not played a regular top six side yet, it is good to know that even the best teams will find the AFCB have a goal threat from set-plays when they play those games.