Eddie Howe's team talks have to change

Opening kick off's and second half starts aren't happening for Bournemouth. The match against Arsenal is not the first when Bournemouth have conceded in the first few minutes  and come out in the second half and throw away a goal just as play starts. This was a lack of concentration and 21 goals conceded in the last six games is a sorry record for any team.

AFCB have to pick themselves u somehow from this.

Bournemouth will have to lick their wounds very quickly. The weekend will soon be here and they will have to work out how they can do better against Man City. Bournemouth were 1-0 down in three minutes at Arsenal, and it took Howe a little while to stop the flow of Arsenal runs in the first half, and Mkhitarayen in particular. Adam Smith's mistake will haunt him, but at this level their are payers that will pounce on mistakes.

That was perhaps the most frustrating thing, Bournemouth did manage to get into the game and got a goal back. It is the hope that kills you and at 2-1 Bournemouth just needed a period of 15-20 minutes in the second half when they didn't give anything away. That is what hurts. AFCB came out with a chance of getting something from the match against Arsenal and that optimism was lost in a couple of desperate minutes a the start of the second half.

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Eddie will analyse everything, but he will surely think he may need to say some different things in the dressing room before kick-off and at half-time. The players are going out with their minds not on the job, and we have seen what good teams do to teams that aren't at the races. The injuries don't help, but Bournemouth squad has to cope with a season when things may go against them on that front. At least the next game is at home, even if it is Man City.

Arsenal give AFCB a 5-1 pasting

Match Report

Arsenal 5 v 1 AFCB

27 February 2019

Attendance: 59,618

A heavy defeat at the Arsenal.

Bournemouth were their own worse enemies as Arsenal sped into a 2-0 lead at the Emirates. Mezut Ozil took the opener with a well taken drive past Boruc, before Adam Smith made a terrible mistake and enabled Arsenal to make it 2-0 with Mkhitarayan having the easiest of tap-ins from Ozil's squared pass. Bournemouth got back into the match when Gosling caught Guendouzi at the back and Mousset could pass the ball into the net for a 2-1 score at half-time. Kolasinac then basically killed the game with a goal right at the start of the second half. The match was certainly looking over when Mkhitarayan made it 4-1 before the hour. Arsenal weren't finished there though. Lacazette crafted a well-taken free kick to make it 5-1.

With Jefferson Lerma suspended, Andrew Surman came back into the team and took over the captaincy, while Lys Mousset replaced Dominic Solanke up front. Pleasing for AFCB fans was to see David Brooks back on the bench.

Match Description Bournemouth played in their rarely seen spearmint/peppermint kit for this match. Aké started with a short pass back to Boruc that luckily wasn't punished. Mepham plays a ball back that is a bit too firm, but Boruc deals with it.

A long ball to  the left and Ozil has space to shoot and he's scored 1-0. Ozil was unmarked and there was a big whole for hm in AFCB's defence even though Boruc got a hand to it, the Polish keeper couldn't keep it out. Just four minutes gone.

Arsenal now have a corner after Aké blocks a shot. Adam Smith then concedes a second corner.

Boruc has to kick the ball out with Mkhitarayan pressuring him. Guendouzi on a run but Adam Smith wins a free kick. Bournemouth are losing out in midfield.

Mkhitarayan and Guendouzi attack. Bournemouth are on the back foot. Aké knocks a ball back to Boruc. Fraser has some paper to change things around. It's more of a 4-5-1 for AFCB now.

Mouset gets on to a long ball but can't get a shot in. Ibe has a shot blocked. Smith to the back post and King loops a header over on 14 minutes.

King plays a ball up for Fraser and he is denied by Leno bottom left corner. Gosling couldn't get the follow up with Koscielny getting their first. Clyne to the box and Gosling loses the ball.

Some 22 minutes one now. Fraser is more in the middle of midfield and King is on the left with just Mousset up front and five across the middle for AFCB.

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King on the left is caught by Ozil. Sloppy play from a throw. Asam Smith has played a crossfield ball and Mkhitarayan is on to it, back to Ozil who plays it back and Mkhitarayan makes it 2-0 on 27 minutes. A personal nightmare for Adam Smith there.

Bournemouth nick a goal back. Guendouzi, is caught by Gosling. He's squared it and Mousset scores bottom right after 29 minutes 2-1.

King is away and runs into his man. King is yellow carded for looking for a foul against Sokratis. Ibe puts a cross in but the keeper has it.

Arsenal attack with Aubameyang but Aké blocks. King and Mousset to Fraser bit Monreal tackles him. Mepham out to Ibe and AFCB have to go back to Clyne.

Fraser is fouled by Sokratis who is booked. Ibe over the top to King but there is a push ad an Arsenal free kick. Surman wins the ball off Torreira.

Jenkinson wins the ball and Mepham puts the ball out of play. Arsenal's fourth corner. Surman heads away and a pull back on Sokratis gets the Arsenal fans angry, but nothing is given. It was a bit of a rugby tackle by King.

Kolasinac puts a cross in and Boruc puts the ball out for another corner from Guendouzi's shot. Ozil and Guendouzi who beats Ibe. Aubameyang goes for a header. Bournemouth having to defend.

Fraser hold off Mkhitarayan for a corner. Added time is going to be two minutes. Torrera takes it and AFCB clear it. Gosling on Guendouzi again.

Bournemouth were back in the game at half-time.

Second half
Ozil gets an early free kick. Mkhitarayan, drives it across and Kolasinac scores 3-1. What a poor start to the second half for Bournemouth. Arsenal got behind Bournemouth and while the ball came off Boruc, Mepham and the post it was over the line.

Fraser and Mousset down the middle. Fraser goes for goal from 20 yards out but it's easy for the keeper. Corner to Arsenal now. The ball goes high and wide.

Fraser in his own half is helped out by Aké. Arsenal with Aubameyang square to Ozil and Bouc saves it with the help of the post. Charlie Daniels is getting ready to come on.

Ozil back to Aubameyang and with Guendouzi down their are shouts for a penalty but nothing is given. Daniels comes on for Jordan Ibe on 56 minutes.

Gosling has a shot deflected, it's hit the bar! It's off Monreal from  25 yards. Arsenal sub Kolasinac and Iwobi comes on after 58 minutes.

Through the middle Aubameyang past Aké and round Boruc it's 4-1. Mkhitarayan played  Aubameyang in. This is all over, it's just a case of how many will AFCB lose by now.

Guendouzi and Iwobi. Torreira and Clyne concedes a corner. Mepham closes the door on Iwobi. Iwobi's cross goes into the side netting. Mkhitarayan goes off.

Monreal and Ozil puts a cross that hits Aké. Lacazzette shoots with Aké closing hm down and Boruc saves to his left.

King has a go for goal from distance and Leno tips it over. Adam Smith is subbed for Rico to come on after 70 minutes. Aubameyang is also coming off to let Suarez on.

Lacazette is stopped by Clyne. Just 18 minutes left. King holds off challenges and Daniels before Rico crosses. Daniels has a shot away and gets a corner. Clyne puts the ball in and Arsenal clear.

Arsenal are pressing for five and Daniels puts a flying challenge in and gets booked for that on Torreira. A good free kick chance here. Four men in AFCB's wall Lacazette makes it 5-1 over the wall and Boruc got a touch but wasn't able to keep it out.

Sam Surridge is making his Premier League debut on 79 minutes. Gosling is tackled. Mousset has it and Gosling shoots but Leno has it. Ozil over the top but Lacazette is offside.

Bournemouth have a corner, but it's an Arsenal break. Gosling makes a foul. Suarez is away from Mousset.  Ball into Surridge but he can't get his head on it well enough. Two minutes of added time to go.

Surridge wins a free kick. Rico is going to take it, 25 yards out and central. It's off the wall for a corner. King volleys over.

Summary
Arsenal wiped the floor with Bournemouth. The fans kept shouting but this was a desperate show by AFCB where they really looked short of their best players. Arsenal were like a dog with a bone and they didn't let go. The positive of giving Sam Surridge his debut and seeing Lys Mousset get his first Premier League goal of the season. This is a match to forget. We might not see that spearmint shirt for a while!

AFCB line up

AFCB subs: Begovic, Rico, Daniels, Simpson. Taylor, Brooks, Surrridge

AFCB Ratings:
Boruc 5, Clyne 6, Mepham 5, Aké 7, A Smith 4, Ibe, Gosling 6, Surman 5, Fraser 5, King 5,
Mousset 6

Ref Watch: Chris Kavangah 4/10 let quite a lot go but can't blame him for AFCB's defensive shambles.

Arsenal:
6 Leno, 25 Jenkinson, 5 Sokratis, 6 Koscielny, 18 Monreal, 31 Kolasinac (Iwobi 58), 29 Guendouzi, 11 Torreira, 10 Ozil, 7 Mkhitarayan (Lacazzete 64), 14 Aubameyang (Suarez 71)

Arsenal Subs
Cech, Mustafi, Elneny, Iwobi, Suarez, Ramsey, Lacazette




Premier Talk - Leicester- a big risk for Brendan Rodgers?


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Are Arsenal beatable?

Arsenal are still doing well in their fight to finish in the top four. They have just overtaken Man Utd and will be reluctant to give hat advantage up with a home game against Bournemouth. Beating Arsenal is far from easy with the Gunners only having suffered six defeats this season.

AFCB look to take don Arsenal tonight.

No team outside the top six has found Arsenal very generous at home. They get the job done and Howe has to find a way of preventing them from doing a similar job on Bournemouth. AFCB's away record gives little hope for much defiance, but in the last home game I felt the Cherries were working tremendously hard and were more mentally up for the game than we have seen in previous weeks.

It may be too early to see any players come back into the team, but if Stanislas is even on the bench it would be a bit of a boost for the team. Howe will be looking to reassure his team with any little aspects about Arsenal's vulnerability that he can find. The home match earlier in the season was a tight game and Eddie may be hoping for a similarly close match when AFCB got the first goal. In away games Bournemouth have not scored in their last three games. Getting a head start is most important and if Bournemouth are to get anything form the game you'd say, this must be the first target for them to achieve on the night.

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Evening matches have given Bournemouth some good games this season and perhaps playing under floodlights will help spur the lads on. Cardiff managed to score at the Emirates Stadium in January as did Fulham, but it's preventing Arsenal from scoring first that will be high on Howe's agenda for a positive result.

AFCB Away Form
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Arsenal Home Form
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Possible AFCB line up

AFCB Subs: Begovic, Daniels, Simpson, Rico, Hyndman, Surridge, Mousset

Rival Lines: "I'd hate to see Ozil leave," says the Daily Cannon

Rival Lines
Match Preview: Arsenal v AFCB
Blogger Interview: Daily Cannon
Twitter: @HLeeHurley

This week I spoke to Lee at the Daily Cannon. Arsenal have been chasing a top four finish, but the run of Man Utd has put them under increasing pressure and perhaps we are about to see how Unai Emery does under intense pressure. Arsenal's home record is good, especially against lower placed teams so Bournemouth will need to improve a lot on their own recent away performances to make a game of this match.

CC: How confident are you that Arsenal can finish in the top four this season - tell me who you think the top six will finish?

DC: I can’t say that I’m confident at all. We need Chelsea and Manchester United to drop points and while it’s now back in our own hands, it’s doubtful we will be able to keep it that way.

I see City winning the league with Liverpool finishing as runners-up and being hailed as Champions. As much as it pains me, Spurs will finish third, United fourth and then it’s between Arsenal and Chelsea for fifth and sixth. That will all depend on who can be less crap.

CC: In past seasons it's the FA Cup that Arsenal have seemed to do well in, but doing you think it's a help to go out of this competition earlier on to concentrate on the Premier and Uefa competitions?

DC: Arsenal have won more FA Cups than any other side in the country so it’s a competition that has always been good to us. A club of Arsenal’s size should not be looking to exit cup competitions to help in other areas and it would have been good to see the fringe players get more game time.

CC: Arsenal have let in 37 goals in the Premier League more than any of the other top six sides. So what is most needed to reduce the goals against column - is one player letting you down?

DC: The quick answer is ‘better defenders’.

Arsenal have been hit hard with injuries at the back. Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding, both starters, are out with cruciate injuries, Nacho Monreal has struggled with his fitness too while Laurent Koscielny, the club captain, only returned midway through the season after his Achilles injury that kept him from winning the World Cup.

But it would be too simple to blame injuries. The players we have fielded are better than they’ve been performing but that doesn’t really say much.

If you had to pick out one player back there to blame it would be Mustafi who is a disaster of a player, but Arsenal’s defence has been so bad for so long it can’t be blamed on one player or one thing. It’s an institutional problem.

CC: Is Ozil's time at Arsenal up, or do you think he can get back into the starting line up?

DC: I’d hate to see Ozil leave, as would most Arsenal fans. There are two Mesut Ozil’s – the one you read about in the papers and the one Arsenal fans watch play.

Quite simply, Arsenal are better when he is in the side.

It’s hard to know what’s been going on behind the scenes between him and Unai Emery – and it is clear something is going on – but I’d like to think he will force his way back into the starting lineup. He probably won’t start against Bournemouth however as Emery doesn’t trust him away from home.

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CC: What do you make of Unai Emery's tactics for games this season - is he using subs well, setting up well when playing the other top six teams, or has he made mistakes?

DC: Emery started well and Arsenal’s 22 unbeaten run was promising, but it was also misleading. We were playing some woeful football and got lucky during that run.

Emery’s tactics and subs have been all over the place and it’s hard to nail down what he is trying to do other than get it to a full-back and pull the ball back.

There have been flashes of brilliant, expansive and exciting football, but that’s all they’ve been – glimpses.

CC: Who has been Arsenal's surprise player of the season?

DC: I’d have to say it was Rob Holding before he got injured. He had made himself a starter and Arsenal’s defence has suffered terribly since he was sidelined.

After that, it must be Matteo Guendouzi who came to the club as a teenager in the summer. Fans expected him to be ‘one for the future’ but he’s a first-team regular and doesn’t look out of place.

CC: Is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang going to be as prolific as Thierry Henry was for Arsenal?

DC: I wouldn’t think so, but that’s simply down to his age. Had he arrived a number of years ago then there is every chance he could have become the club’s top goalscorer.

CC: Have Arsenal got many injuries at present - what players are likely to miss the Bournemouth game?
DC: Rob Holding, Hector Bellerin and Danny Welbeck are all out for the season. Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been ill, Stephan Lichtsteiner has a back problem and Mesut Ozil is still getting back to match fitness after missing a lot of the season while Laurent Koscielny keeps picking up little niggles following his lengthy lay-off.

Of those players, the biggest misses are Bellerin and Holding who would improve our backline 100%.

CC: How do you expect Arsenal to set up against Bournemouth?

DC: Defensively with two holding midfielders.

CC: Let's have a score prediction, please?

DC: I genuinely have no clue how this will go. We are still awful away from home and struggle against sides like Bournemouth. I want to say 2-1 Arsenal but that’s a guess more than anything else.

CC: Thanks to Lee for his insight into life at Arsenal. You can see more of his latest articles on the Daily Cannon website. It is good to see that even fans of top four sides are not always certain how their team will perform and you never know when a strange result is coming. I say that because it would be a bit of an upset for AFCB to beat Arsenal away, but one day it is likely to happen and we'll have our fingers crossed that this could be one of those occasions.

Solanke will find his feet

Dominic Solanke had plenty of the ball against Wolves, and we saw a little more of what he might have to offer AFCB. His first touch is something that he'll have to work on, but I also felt he deferred to other players a bit when he needs to have the confidence to keep going himself when he is in the best position.

Solanke is getting more involve din the play and is starting to look
like he could open his goal scoring account soon.

The incident that I'm sure Solanke would have liked to have again came early in the second half, when a ball from Dan Gosling found it's way into Solanke's stride, just outside the box. He did well at first to keep his feet under the hefty challenges, but when he cut back and got a shot off it was just too close to the keeper who was able to make the save, low to his right.

The chance that Solanke had was a good one and, while we saw he didn't get the job finished, he did show that he could hold players off and keep his balance when he wasn't particularly favourite to get in to have a shot. That determination and desire to get into a position to get a shot off is what Howe will want to see from him.

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There is no were to hide on the pitch and Solanke has to want the ball, almost demand it at times. He had other opportunities when he might have looked to get a shot away and would pick out Ibe, when it perhaps wasn't the best choice. He have to work on that part of his game too, but in general Solanke looks like he could be a handful for defences. Imagine what a goal would do for his confidence against Arsenal? We could see a very different player after that.

Not a lot of central midfield cover for Howe

When the yellow card finally fell on Jefferson Lerma, you could sense the feeling of 'oh no' around the game. Lerma will be another of those players now on the sidelines, but Bournemouth have to manage without their best players from time to time, and you can't always pick in which matches those absences are going to come.

Bournemouth have to play two top teams without Lerma - what a pity!

Looking around the central midfield players you'd have to see that Bournemouth are light in that area. It seems most probably that Surman will start along side Gosling for the next two games a there really isn't any other recognised central midfielders to call upon. It could well mean that Kyle Taylor is the one now waiting to come on if their is an injury to Gosling or Surman. It's also less likely that Aké could be brought into midfield now that Steve Cook is nursing a groin injury.

What Bournemouth will miss is the physical attributes of Lerma. He gets up and down and hustles players into mistakes in the middle by closing them down quickly. We need Surman and Gosling to be brave in the middle and to stick their heads in when they have to to win the ball back.

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The speed and accuracy of passing is also something that Bournemouth have to be on top of against Arsenal. It's going to be hard to get the possession, but Bournemouth need to get their wide players involved in the game and driving forward. We have only seen one big performance against a top six side from Bournemouth this season and they have the chance in the next two game to do something really special. That is what Howe needs to get across to the players. A win against Arsenal would set up the game against Man City for a much more entertaining game.

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Mepham looks the part to fit in at AFCB

It was never going to be easy for Chris Mepham to find his way into AFCB's starting line up. He may have not been expecting to get a chance so soon, but Steve Cook's injury gave him a great opportunity and I thought he had a find match against Wolves.

Mepham was impressive against Wolves.

Playing alongside Nathan Aké worked quite well for Mepham. He did have a few moments when he perhaps got the wrong side of Jota, but in the main he was very self-controlled and didn't flap when put under pressure. The handball incident was fortunate for Bournemouth as Roger East could have given a penalty, but sometimes a bit of luck is helpful to settle the nerves and Mepham didn't look back after that.

We also saw Chris go on a super little run passing a few players towards the end of the first half when he really stretched his legs. While Eddie Howe said that Mepham isn't yet aware of how AFCB like to play in certain situations, Mepham can certainly dictate play himself and is comfortable in taking the ball all the way out of defence and into midfield.

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While Steve Cook might not be out for long, it would be good to see more of Mepham. If Eddie Howe can quickly get him up to Premier League level, it can only be good for the overall depth of the squad. Mepham will be on a big learning curve at the moment and the games don't get much bigger than Arsenal and Man City, which he could well be involved in.

No time to dwell on points dropped against Wolves

Bournemouth can curse their luck all they like about the penalty chaos at Dean Court and missing out on three points against Wolves. It won't do them any good though, because this week is one of the busiest of the season and there are two more games to think about.

It could have been better but a point is always valuable.

The team will need to be reorganised a little for Arsenal now with Lerma picking up his 10th card to leave him out of the next two fixtures, and it is likely that Steve Cook will need a bit of time to recover having aggravated his groin injury. The team did well enough against Wolves as it was, and the players that did play certainly made themselves hard to beat. With two games against the top six to come this week, it was really important that Bournemouth picked up something against Wolves, and if they can win one of the next two games they will not look back as disappointingly on the Wolves draw.

Of course, the match against Arsenal is away and it's not been a happy hunting ground for the Cherries. Bournemouth will need to try and keep better possession against Arsenal and will need to keep just as alert as they did against Wolves in defence. The passing calmness of Mepham may well be a bonus to have in the side, even if he is still learning what it is like to be a Premier League player.

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The wing positions will also be an area of the game where Bournemouth will need to try and get on top. The form of Fraser and Ibe is strong enough to suggest that they could start to provide some opportunities for the strikers and we may well see a different Ibe than we are used to if he can keep his run going in the team. Stanislas may well be ready to challenge Ibe for a place in these next two games, but I hope Eddie gives Ibe the chance to show that he can play well when he gets a run in the team. It would also give Stanislas time to recover, whereas he often comes back perhaps a bit too quickly and picks up injuries straight away.

The key is going to be organisation against Arsenal, and with so many players coming in and having to concentrate on their jobs rather than being familiar with regular partners, it just could be a good day for AFCB.

Cherry Chimes to Camera - AFCB 1 v 1 Wolves

A sprinkling of penalty dramas gives Cherries a point against Wolves

Match Report

23 February 2019

AFCB 1 v 1 Wolves

Attendance: 10,671 

AFCB take on Wolves at Dean Court.

Bournemouth's home form has been a real safety net for them this season. They came into this game perhaps not even as favourites, but they did almost everything right to get the win. Josh King scored early with a penalty and Bournemouth played with control, led in the main by the heading ability of Aké, the running power of Gosling and the quick thinking and tidy play of Mepham at the back. Yet, the second half had more ups and downs and when Jimenez rolled in the equaliser for the spot the game could have run away from Bournemouth. A second penalty, won by Fraser, looked to have given Bournemouth a golden chance to wrap up the points though just a few minutes later. It was unfortunate that King didn't score. I'm not sure Bournemouth needed the water works to come on to show the crowd's disappointment, because Eddie Howe saw plenty of positives from this performance.

The Cherries gave Chris Mepham his first Premier League start as Steve Cook had picked up a groin injury that kept him out. This also meant that Dan Gosling would be the captain. Nathaniel Clyne came back into the team which meant Diego Rico moved to the bench, while Domonic Solanke also came into the side.

Bournemouth said goodbye to a World Cup winner.

There are more images on Match Day Gallery

Adam Smith had a poor start to the game catching Matt Doherty late and picking up a yellow card. Nathan Aké was also not having a quiet time of it, winning a series of headers to keep Wolves at bay, before Nevez shanked a pass out for a throw.

Jota also tested Aké with a byline cross that led to the first corner. Johnny Otto fired a shot goalwards but Lerma got the block in for another corner.

Mepham showed he was calm in possession at the back, before Bournemouth finally got an attack going with Fraser, who cut back a cross that Solanke headed wide of the target on nine minutes.

Clyne was having problems keeping the ball and Mepham almost got into trouble being hounded by Jota, who fouled him, before Jiminez cheekily finished the move only for  Roger East to rule it out for the foul on Mepham.

Ibe then got round the back and Clyne passed the ball in to King who went down under challenge from Moutinho, from behind, in the box - penalty! Josh King sent Patricio the wrong way to give AFCB a 1-0 lead on 13 minutes.

Jota and Otto were pressing on Mepham at the bak before Fraser went down. The ball then ran off Mepham's head and down his arm in the box, but the referee didn't blow for a penalty, only a corner. Jota was so infuriated that he ended up in the book after lots of Wolves players had circled the referee about his decision not to give the penalty.

Ibe was next to be boxed in by Moutinho and Jota. Solanke was holding the ball up well, but Ibe couldn't win afoot race with the centre-half. Moutinho and Lerma were trading tackles in the middle, while Aké was winning the fight with Jota.

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Jota did get in against Mepham on 39 minutes, but Mepham fought well and moved Jot a wide so the shot from Jota went wide of the right post with Jiminez unable to get on the end of it.

Ibe was making some good runs and Dendonker ended up fouling him and received a yellow card for his trouble. As the half drew to an end, it was Mepham springing out of defence to jump past three Wolves players before eventually losing out.

Wolves closed the half with Neves having a volley charged down by Lerma, while Bournemouth attacked with Josh King on the left, before his cross ran to Ibe and Clyne ended up with a shot that Patricio got down to save at his near post.

Bournemouth were doing well enough by half-time.

Second half

Bournemouth started slow and almost got caught at the back. Wolves had to back off though after an offside. Wolves pressed on with Moutinho and Doherty winning a corner. Boruc had to palm a header over before another Wolves corner.

Bournemouth started to pick up their game with King, he crossed for Solanke to head narrowly wide. A better chance followed with Fraser heading forward and Gosling creating space and playing Solanke in down the middle. Solanke just kept his feet, while holding off challenges as he got in the box, and his shot was well struck to the left side of the goal, but Patricio saved it with his right hand down low.

Bennett fouled Fraser and was booked, before Fraser put in a dangerous low cross right into the six yard area that was hurriedly cleared. Lerma put a great ball in to Solanke who might have shot, but he tried to thread a ball to Ibe on the right which he couldn't get to in time.

Wolves subbed Jota for Cavaleiro on 66 minutes. Bournemouth kept up the attacks with Adam Smith and Fraser working well. But Jiminez sent out a warning shooting from a central position and was luckily blocked.

Lerma picked up his 10th card of the season for an elbow on Moutinho - with Wolves fans calling for a red card. Bournemouth came close to securing the points moments later when King played a cross field ball, and Ibe cut in from the right and hit a curling shot that beat the keeper but it came off the bar.

Wolves upped the pace with Neves winning a corner before hitting a shot over from distance. Wolves then subbed Dendoncker and put on Adama Traore. Traore immediately got involved linking up with Cavaleiro.

Traore put in a cross that Doherty headed wide. Moutinho then got forward down the left and Doherty got on the end of the move, running into the box by the D and taking a shot that sped wide. But he was caught late by Adam Smith and the referee pointed to the penalty spot on 82 minutes.

Jimenez beat Boruc to level and a frantic last few minutes were left for someone to win it. Bournemouth should have done just that as after the restart Solanke battled for the ball in the box and went down, no penalty! Then King went down, no penalty! Fraser on the edge of the box was tripped and it was a penalty! It looked to everyone that it was just outside, but a penalty was given.

Josh King just needed to put it away, but he missed off the post to the left of the goal.

Fraser was Bournemouth's ace now, winning corner and and taking the play to the opposition's back line. King had a shot blocked, before Willy Boly shot wide at the other end. Jimenez was subbed for Roman Saiss on 90 minutes, while Patricio was booked.

Five minutes of added time were rather eventful.  Bournemouth won a corner and Solanke had a clean header but the keeper got to his right to save it. Solanke was then subbed for Mousset to come on in added time. Aké won a corner next, but Gosling picked up a yellow card for a foul on Neves.

As he did the sprinklers came on just to add further entertainment. It wasn't long though before the referee's whistle went for full time.

A 1-1 draw gives AFCB a point.

Summary

Bournemouth did extremely well to hold Wolves who were four places higher in the league. It wasn't a game of a lot of chances, but Bournemouth had enough to win it. The penalty miss of course was the best chance, but Solanke came close as did Ibe. There was plenty to be pleased with in defence too, with Mepham's sensible play and Aké's tireless work. Fraser and Gosling also added energy to the team going forward and the big downer of the day was probably seeing Lerma pick up his 10th yellow card for the season. Three points would have been fantastic, but a point could be valuable and the side showed that they can stand up well against a physical side in this game - more of the determination will be needed against Arsenal and Man City in the coming days.

AFCB's team

AFCB Subs: Begovic, Rico, Simpson. Daniels, Surman, Surridge, Mousset

AFCB Ratings

Boruc 6 very little to do
Clyne 5 some good tackles bout lost the ball a lot
Mepham 7 very assured when under pressure
Aké 8 he gave a masterclass
A Smith 5 kept Doherty quiet in the main
Ibe 6 signs of improvement, unlucky with his shooting
Gosling 7 the heartbeat of the team
Lerma 7 we'll miss him next two games
Fraser 8 Mr dynamo - finds energy late on in games
Solanke 6 will feel better when he gets first goal
King 6 needs to get over penalty save quickly

Cherry Chimes MoM: Nathan Aké

Ref Watch: Roger East 3/10: tough game for the ref - players looking for pens - he always looked under pressure.

Wolves
Rui Patrício, Bennett, Coady, Boly, Doherty, Dendoncker (Traoré 77), Neves, João Moutinho, Castro Otto, Jiménez (Saïss 88), Jota (Cavaleiro 66)

Wolves Subs
Ruddy, Cavaleiro, Hélder Costa, Gibbs-White, Saïss, Vinagre, Traoré

T-shirt competition
Jack Russell @tallguy22270 wins the Cherry Chimes' T-shirt competition for correctly predicting the 1-1 score.