Was Bournemouth's defence good or Hammer's attack toothless?

It is hard to get excited about defenders doing their job sometimes, while the goalscorers tend to get all the credit. Against West Ham Bournemouth did get a well-earned clean sheet and they reduced West ham to shooting from distance for most of the game, until Andy Carroll missed for one yard. So were West Ham's strikers just poor or did Bournemouth's defence play outstandingly well?

Nathan Aké with Nathaniel Clyne before the West Ham match.

I am more of a glass half full merchant, when it comes to Bournemouth's defence. I still believe the team is two or three defenders short of being a really polished unit, that could rank as well as some of the top 10 teams in the Premier League. Aké and Clyne have the quick decision-making and control to their games that will hopefully start to be picked up be one or two others. But Bournemouth play better in defence when they really come out with an attitude to not give the opposition a kick around their box.

It was interesting that Howe said that he asked his defenders to be more aggressive against West Ham. He perhaps felt that they had been too timid against Everton and then Brighton in the cup. That determination not to get pushed aside, I've always feel Bournemouth players have had as they have come up through the leagues. But the game is different in the Premier League, and it's quick thoughts, to get the right side of your man, and see where the danger is likely to be that makes a player stand out at this level.

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Personal battles have to be won and I did think Bournemouth did that against West Ham. Antonio and Anderson were kept in check, which was mainly down to Adam Smith and Nathaniel Clyne sticking to them like glue. It wasn't necessarily pretty at times but it did mean Boruc had little to do, but for a few punches in the second half late on. Had Arnautovic been available it may have been more of a test for Bournemouth's defenders. Carroll should have scored which tells me that Bournemouth still don't quite shot the door for 90 minutes and the defence is not yet bullet proof, so I'm keen to see if they can do it again against a Chelsea side that are themselves having problems in scoring.

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Marc Pugh is expected to complete his loan transfer to Hull City today.
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