Match Report
Bournemouth 2 v 0 Brighton & Hove Albion
22 December 2018
Attendance: 10,491
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| The two teams before kick off. |
Eddie Howe new this was a very important game with more difficult fixtures away to Tottenham and Man United to come. But knowing that you need a win and getting one is rarely simple, and Brighton enjoyed a fair amount of possession with Bournemouth often floundering in defence and midfield when trying to make their passes. Luckily, David Brooks came up with a moment of great skill in tricky the Brighton defence one way and then the other before steadying himself and shooting right into the bottom left corner to give Bournemouth a first half lead. Bournemouth needed Begovic to stand his ground a couple of times before Lewis Dunk had his marching orders. The last 20 minutes then saw Bournemouth relax when Brooks made looping back header, from a Ryan Fraser cross, that rose over Mathew Ryan and into the back of the net to make it 2-0.
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| Brighton fans. |
The changes Bournemouth made included Josh King and David Brooks making starts as well as Simon Francis at the back. The midfield duo of Surman and Lerma also returned having missed out in midweek.
There are more images on Match Day Gallery.
There was not a lot to choose between the teams in the opening exchanges. Junior Stanislas hit an early shot over, while Locadia put in a cross for Bissouma who also shot over.
There are more images on Match Day Gallery.
There was not a lot to choose between the teams in the opening exchanges. Junior Stanislas hit an early shot over, while Locadia put in a cross for Bissouma who also shot over.
AFCB fans became agitated with Lerma and Aké misdirecting a couple of passes, and Begovic had to make a strong save when Bissouma and Gross combined, before Bissouma took a shot that Begovic turned around the post, with his legs, for a corner.
Bournemouth also came close when Francis got free and put in a cross that Wilson headed narrowly wide on 14 minutes. Bournemouth were fortunate that Brighton were not accurate either with Solly March chipping over.
The Cherries nearly took the lead when Brooks played Wilson in, and his shot was blocked on the line by Bernardo, before King saw his shot saved by Ryan in Brighton's goal.
Brighton's best chance came when Locadia shot from the edge of the box to see Begovic get down to his left and turn the ball out for another corner. Bissouma volleyed the ball over following the corner.
Bournemouth's next attack opened up the scoring. David Brooks took the ball centrally from King, some 35 yards out and kept his momentum, driving forward, shifting from one side to another, beating Propper, before releasing a perfectly driven shot right into the bottom left corner on 21 minutes.
Callum Wilson had the ball in the back of the net a moment later as well, but was also given an offside flag. Bournemouth were far from steady with Francis having to make a great clearance from a Gross cross.
A blocked strike from Stanislas kept the pressure up, but Lerma was booked for a blatant foul on Andone who had been escaping up field. Another Brighton break luckily ended with Gross and Locadia unable to get their shots on target.
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A blocked strike from Stanislas kept the pressure up, but Lerma was booked for a blatant foul on Andone who had been escaping up field. Another Brighton break luckily ended with Gross and Locadia unable to get their shots on target.
Begovic was making catches as Bournemouth started to look better at keeping their lead. Stanislas' deflected shot didn't beat Ryan.
Dunk was booked just before half time and Aké almost got to a cross, but was beaten by Balogun as Brighton conceded a corner. Daniels' near post header then just went the wrong side of the post.
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| Half-time |
Second half
Bournemouth were having to defend with March putting in a cross that Andone headed well, before Begovic saved with the ball on target to creep in at the far post. Bournemouth forced three corners but couldn't make one count, although there was quite a scramble before one was cleared.
Brooks was fouled on the break and Lewis Dunk picked up his first yellow card. Stanislas put the free kick narrowly passed the right post. Steve Cook then conceded a corner at the other end, but Begovic's catching was on top form. Stanislas shot wide on 63 minutes before being subbed for Fraser on 65 minutes.
Steve Cook made a strong ball up field which King dummied well to let it run through to Wilson. Daniels then found Surman who shot well over.
Brighton subbed Locadia for Knockaert to come on after 70 minutes. Brighton were not giving up with Bissouma having a shot into the ground, which Begovic got behind.
Bournemouth then got a big break when Dunk fouled Wilson and received his second yellow card and was sent off on 74 minutes.
Brighton subbed Gross for Bong, but were down to 10 men. Bournemouth had the time to direct play now and Fraser put in a deep cross that Brooks twisted for and lopped a backward header past Ryan to make it 2-0 on 77 minutes.
Brighton subbed Andone for Glenn Murray to receive the crowd's applause for the last 10 minutes. Daniels hit a crisp shot following a free kick, but Ryan saved well to his left. King's last shot went over and he was subbed for Mousset with three minutes to go.
Four minutes of added time gave Brooks the chance to take the applause while Ibe joined the game. A 2-0 in was secured.
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| Eddie Howe thanks the crowd for their help in the 2-0 win. |
Summary
Bournemouth will play better than this and not win games as we have seen already. They found it hard to get their passing going early on, but they had the quality in David Brooks to find a goal. Once that goal had gone in, the desire not to concede took over and Begovic was solid with his catching. It took a long time to get the second goal, but by that time the extra pace of Fraser and the dismissal of Dunk played into Bournemouth's hands. Brooks again showed his developing ability to target goals, and that is a big plus on a day when Wilson and King were unable to get many shots on target.
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| Bournemouth take the three points. |
AFCB team
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| AFCB Subs: Boruc, Mings, Rico, Ibe, Fraser, Defoe, Mousset |
AFCB Ratings
Begovic 7 Francis 7, S Cook 6, Aké 6, Daniels 6, Stanislas 5, Lerma 6, Surman 6, Brooks 9, King 6, Wilson 6
Brighton
Ryan, Montoya, Balogun, Dunk, Bernardo, Pröpper, March, Gross, Bong, Bissouma, Locadia (Knockaert), Andone (Murray)
Brighton Subs
Steele, Kayal, Bruno, Bong, Stephens, Knockaert, Murray
Cherry Chimes score prediction winner
Edward Coombs @eddicoombs87 wins the Cherry Chimes T0shirt for correctly predicting the 2-0 result.
Really important win to instill some confidence in the team. Good second half by the team and Brooks was super. Hopefully Spurs used up their goals for the week today, although I doubt that will be the case.
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