Bournemouth are still conceding sloppy goals

Bournemouth did it all the hard way against Southampton. Defensive lapses were very evident and mistakes were acknowledged by Steve Cook after the game, but at least the players knew how to dig themselves out of the hole in this latest game.

Bournemouth are still finding it hard to protect their goal.

I don't believe Howe will have to many fond memories on playing this match back and looking at Southampton's goals and chances early on. Bournemouth were well out of their comfort zone and were hanging on for dear life at times. The ease with which Southampton were finding space with Redmond, Long and Ward-Prowse was alarming and Howe was having to change the shape of the team because the five at the back just wasn't functioning  and tracking the runners.

There is obviously a lot of work to do for Bournemouth's back line ahead of the Tottenham game. The team concedes goals like throwing confetti at the moment. Artur Boruc had moments when he covered himself in glory and then didn't get near Southampton's second and third goals where he might have done better. Still two of the goals went through players legs, which indicates that Aké and Simpson on those occasions didn't get close enough to close down and get the blocks in. It was all a bit frantic and haphazard at the back at times.

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While Bournemouth were lucky to get away with a few chances that Southampton had to score more, the shot count against the Cherries rapidly rose to 22 shot by the end of the match. Boruc was not getting a quiet Saturday afternoon and his protection was pretty threadbare at times.

Bournemouth have to work on their shape like they did for the Man City match for next week and it's imperative that the back four or five get their distances right and track runners much better than they did against Southampton, while the midfielders have to cut down the number of turnovers they are giving away just outside of the box.

King is at his best rampaging through teams

The way Josh King went about attacking Southampton reminded me of what initially must have attracted AFCB to the former Blackburn striker. It might not be that King ever gets the full recognition for what his performances give the team, but he certainly knows how to get AFCB ticking.

Josh King is hard to stop when he heads directly for goal.

His part in the first goal against Southampton was carefully played out with a captivating run that opened up the opposition's defence and his well timed pass to Wilson helped set up the goal for Gosling. King is becoming an essential link in taking the ball through the transitions to ensure it gets to a striker.

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King was also involved in setting Fraser on his way to deliver a measured cross for Wilson's second goal and Bournemouth 's third. It was talk about making better choices on attacking passes that had wanted the players to pick up on and King was exemplary at making the right choice at the right time.

Whether King can do it as well against Tottenham, as he did against Southampton is one battles to look out for. But if King really wants to impress, he needs to start doing it against the top six teams.

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Gosling can't stop scoring

What has happened to Dan Gosling of late? He seems to be popping up in all the right places to get on the score sheet and his goal against Southampton was just perfection. He will be missed now that he has a calf injury, but his season has been very much improved by his recent performances.

Bowling gets the job done.

I still can't understand why Bournemouth find it so hard to get many goals from central midfield. Even though the team likes to naturally play with wide men and get crosses in from the wings, AFCB should be creating more chances for their central midfielders to get on than they do. Dan Gosling has been inspired of late with a superb goal against Brighton and an even better one against Southampton, of which he owed a lot to the running ability of Josh King. But Gosling had to keep up and get himself along side the move which he started off with Lerma in his own box.

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What Gosling does is bust a gut to make the extra man. Perhaps we have not seen that enough in some games and the running power of the team through the middle was so much stronger against Southampton, which makes you wonder why can the players do this now? I suppose they have been working on improving different aspects of the game, but Bournemouth look a better outfit when they have a midfield that can attack centrally as well as out wide.

It is a pity that Gosling won't be likely to make any more of those kind of runs this season, but we have to encourage Hyndman to step in and do as well as he did at the end of last season. Hyndman has certainly been under used and it will be important for him to try and fill Gosling shoes in the remaining games. On current form though that will be a huge challenge.

Wilson rues missed hat-trick – but not for long

It looks like we know who Bournemouth's top scorer is going to be in 2018/19 now. Josh King will have to hope for a few opportunities in the last couple of games to catch Callum now. Wilson has wanted to be the man man and he is becoming synonymous with scoring braces and the occasional hat-trick for Bournemouth even if he missed out on the third goal against Southampton.

Wilson will move on from missing hat-trick at Saints.

Pleasingly, Callum said after the match that he will think about the goal for a few moments after he had missed the chance and might be pondering it in the dressing room, but by the time he'd left the ground his mind would be on other things. It may be that nine times out of 10 he would still that last minute winner away, but it wasn't to be. He felt that the ball got stuck under his feet and that he didn't make quite the need he required with his early touch to get the shot away from the keeper. I think, this time he had too much time to think what he was doing and when you lose that initial run of adrenaline the body slows and hesitates in trying to make the right choice, and that can often prove to be the downfall.

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Callum will probably stick away loads of similar breakaways in training this week and will then find it hard to get one given to him against Spurs. It can happen like that. But as long as his head is in the right place and he has moved on to the next game, he'll be okay. Much better for him to think about the two goals he did get and the ease with which they came to him.

When a striker believes the ball will break for him just in front of the goal, and that he'll be there to stick it away, it builds confidence in that moment when he needs to get it right. The more times Callum puts himself in there, the better he'll get and the more his confidence will rise. Once you have a reputation for scoring like Harry Kane or Aguero, I believe it also helps put the keeper off as they know that you are unlikely to miss. It's that reputation that Wilson has to keep building.

Cherries and Saints play-out frenzied 3-3 draw

Match Report

27 April 2019

Southampton 3 v 3 AFCB

Attendance 31,310

AFCB push Saints all the way in high-scoring draw.

The south coast is not always highly regarded for football entertainment but this match had it all. Southampton got off to a fast start with their early goal but egging Nathan Aké and finding the corner of the net. But Bournemouth responded in amazing fashion with a stunning goal created from the back and stuck away with great passion by Dan Gosling. Once Wilson had nudged the Cherries ahead before half - time the goal kept coming. Sadly it was Southampton that were in control racing into a 3-2 lead. The combination of Fraser and Wilson worked their magic again to draw AFCB level but Wilson could easily have won the game in the dying minutes but cam up short of his hat-trick.

Bournemouth brought back Nathaniel Clyne and Jack Simpson to the starting line up, but Ryan Fraser was rested by moving him to the bench having had a calf problem in training.

The early pressure came from Saint’s with corner and shot blocked. Bournemouth are blocking lots of shots. Nathan Redmond then finds Artur Boruc in top form to stop his shot at the near post! Bournemouth are conceding corners.

Southampton are pushing forward and have Bournemouth in some trouble. Shane Long has scored from the centre of the box, after an attack down AFCB's right. Redmond pulled the ball back for Shane Long to score. Boruc was given little chance as the shot went through Aké's legs into the right corner of the goal on 12 minutes.

Bournemouth were starting to soak up the pressure better when Lerma started a move in his own box. Gosling received the ball and passed it on to King. He ran from the back and covered ground quickly to get over half way. Wilson then hit a first time pass and Gosling fired in past keeper's left hand to make it 1-1 on 20 minutes. That had to be Bournemouth's best goal of the season - fantastic passing and movement and a perfect team goal!

Shane Long is testing Boruc again with another shot. Southampton countered with a cross to Ings who headed wide. Chris Mepham is having to go off early. He's replaced by Ryan Fraser.

Saints attack again and Ward-Prowse runs through the middle of AFCB's midfield. He finds Shane Long, but Boruc makes a great save, then Long hits the post! Bournemouth were carved open and were lucky to see the ball come off the bottom of left post.

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We're up to the 32nd minute and Bournemouth corner cleared, Brooks fires a shot from distance at Angus Gunn who can only parry it and Wilson is on hand to make it 1-2.

King goes down under pressure but no penalty. Gosling has been booked. It's 1-2 at half-time.

Callum Wilson's day.

Second half
Southampton have subbed Oriol for Targett. Bournemouth lose the ball on the right. Bertrand fires wide. Bournemouth have a corner and Simpson gets up well but heads wide.

Gosling is subbed for Emerson Hyndman on 53 minutes.

Ward-Prowse shapes to shoot from outside the box and he's beaten Boruc low to his left. It's 2-2 on 60 minutes. Bournemouth's players backed off and gave too much space.

Big cross from the right from Valery to Targett to score with a header at the far post on 73 minutes, 3-2. Aké eas slow to get out to block the cross and Bournemouth were punished for being defensively naive.

Solanke has replaced Nathaniel Cylne. Fraser shoots wide.

Stuart Armstrong replaces Danny Ings on 81 minutes. Josh King shoots wide.

An attack from Ryan Fraser on right. His cross is right in front of gaol and Wilson gets ahead of his marker to make it 3-3 on 88min. Charlie Austin has replaced Shane Long.

Wilson clean through but can’t beat the keeper and is denied a hat-trick!

Just a point earned at St Marys.

Summary
A cracking game with lots of highs and lows. Eddie should not be to disappointed with a draw as this was exciting football in the Spring sun. While Boruc was kept to busy, the Cherries certainly knew how to hurt Southampton and to comeback twice proved that the team was not on the beach but wanted to win. The record points total may have slipped out of reach but the spirit is back in the right place.

AFCB line up

AFCB Subs: Begovic, Hyndman, Ibe, Solanke, Surridge, Mousset

Cherry Chimes' Mom: Callum Wilson

SouthamptonGunn, Valery, Bednarek, Stephens, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Romeu (Targett), Højbjerg,

Long(Austin), Ings (Armstrong), Redmond.

Saints' Subs
Forster, Armstrong, Lemina, Targett, Sims, Ramsay, Austin

AFCB can't afford any under performers at Southampton

Mark Lawrenson gives Cherries no chance at Saints predicting a 2-0 defeat for Eddie Howe and his team. The 0-5 thrashing of Brighton may look like a distant memory and with defenders missing, it is fair to say that pundits don't find it a problem to back against an inconsistent AFCB.

Can AFCB finally get a win at St Marys?

This week has been a bit special though for AFCB. The Minus 17 documentary and the U21's success in winning the Central League Cup will have had an impact at Dean Court. The club has also seen the return of Marc Pugh from his loan period at Hull, because of injury and with familiar faces like Steve Cook wanting to finish the season on a high, AFCB can go to St Marys and prove the doubters wrong.

After last week's defeat, the forwards will particularly feel the pressure on them and Josh King and Callum Wilson won't be happy seeing the games run out without them adding to their goal counts. I don't imagine that either of these two forwards will be sold in the summer, but they could be joined by another top striker if Jermain Defoe is allowed to depart.

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I don't believe the players have nothing to play for in short. They have to respond to the results they have been getting, and if AFCB lose again to a bottom five side it will give Eddie Howe more ammunition to say he needs better reinforcements this summer to keep AFCB in the Premier League, come the new season.

The Southampton game is a good barometer of where AFCB really are. Are they a club that would have been well within the top 10 clubs without their run of injuries, or are they a side that narrowly avoided being dragged into a relegation fight? Bournemouth need to play well to beat Southampton and they can win if they play to their strengths. They shouldn't need any reason to give of their best, but Eddie Howe has to make it clear that anyone who is coasting is not going to be part of his plans going forward.

Possible AFCB team

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AFCB have to stand up for themselves at St Marys

We have seen the good and the bad of AFCB this season. On their day they can beat anyone and yet they can also lose to anyone and give teams a good head start. The match this weekend against Southampton needs to mean something to the players, like it does to the fans. We have seen the slump in form too often in big games, but we want AFCB to succeed for once and put Southampton away to underline AFCB's position as the top southern club.

David Brooks could cap a great year with a starring performance at St Marys.

The text is a big one. Southampton will want to keep their run going and finish above AFCB. They are picking up points which is something we can't really consistently say about AFCB. The last away win against Brighton has to be seen as a platform that AFCB can play their best football on away grounds and against Southampton AFCB will need to stand up and fight for every ball.

The match could go very quickly with tackles flying in. Bournemouth have to be up for the challenge and see themselves as being the dominant side if they are to achieve anything. The atmosphere should be great and it's important the players are ready for it. It is an end of season game where it is just three points on offer but it means everything to Bournemouth fans to win this game. This is what the season has been building up to. There is the possibility of beating 46 points, but only if AFCB win against Southampton in my reckoning.

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If Bournemouth only have one performance left in them this season, then this is the match where we want to see it. In a week when the Minus 17 documentary has been released and we remembered how AFCB used to get a result when everything was against them, I can't think of any better motivation for the players to honour that team with a win against Southampton this weekend. UTCIAD!

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AFCB need a big turnaround to beat the Saints

Although Bournemouth have been in and out of sorts in recent games, Southampton have been on the up and have closed the gap on the Cherries. Southampton have looked much stronger as they pulled away from Brighton and Cardiff, and although they are still relying on the two clubs behind them not to pick up points, everything is in their hands to escape any problems this weekend.

AFCB - how much do they want to keep ahead of Southampton?

Southampton might have been unlucky in facing Watford and Newcastle when they had both been in good form, but the Saints will be relishing a game against Bournemouth who they they traditionally got the better of more often than not. The match replicates the game in April 2017 when Harry Arter had a moment to forget in missing a penalty near the end of the match. Southampton are perhaps slightly safer than they were that season, but a defeat to Bournemouth now would not leave the Saints sitting uncomfortably unless Cardiff win their last three games.

Such a disappointing season for both teams might indicate that a nil-nil draw would not be out of place in this match. But Bournemouth have found it hard to get draws in games having just had five all season. Eddie Howe needs to solve Bournemouth's defensive frailties more than anything for this game, and he has to do that without any recognised full backs.

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Despite this worry for AFCB fans, Southampton will know that time is running out for their side to hit the 40 points mark and the game will be very pressured for them as they know they are right on the brink of safety.

Bournemouth might have the points on the board, but Southampton have perhaps more incentive to win. Whether this helps AFCB's counter-attacking shape we'll soon find out, but if Bournemouth do land a heavy blow on the Saints, it might go some way to make AFCB fans feel like the season hasn't been completely frittered away.

Southampton Home Form
LWWLW

AFCB Away Form
LLWLW

In other news, the Daily Mail confirms AFCB are trying to bring in Jack Butland from Stoke City in the summer and are prepared to let Asmir Begovic go the other way as part payment.

AFCB find themselves short of full backs

I had noticed Adam Smith warming up last Saturday and suddenly walking/limping off before the rest of the players in the warm up but hadn't read too much into it. A knee injury again for him is symptomatic of his start start season and so many players are picking up these knocks that there has to be something behind all the injuries.

Where have all the full-backs gone?

Adam Smith's absence created a problem in itself with Junior Stanislas needing to play at right back, but when he damaged his knee after taking a free kick on 23 minutes, Eddie Howe really did find himself short of full backs. In the end, Eddie chose for Steve Cook and Chris Mepham to both try and see how they did in the position but it didn't really work out.

The solution he didn't want to pick was for Ryan Fraser to slot back in at right back as he has done in the past. Fraser adds so much more in terms of creativity that he is wasted at right back. However, next match Eddie may have no choice to play Fraser there or to go three, because there are no signature right-backs or left backs left to pick from.

The balance of the team was effected against Fulham. Howe admitted that it nullified the team's ability to attack down both flanks, and if Fulham knew that the right side was ineffective they could concentrate their efforts better on protecting their right side against Bournemouth's attacking left side players.

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Bournemouth looked unorganised and almost strangers at the back with Simpson fitting in as a central back. It was simply too many similar players and not enough width for the team at the back.

Three important games left for AFCB going forward

It's strange to see AFCB have to go into their last three games not having much to play for in the Premier League. The safety margin could have been realised a lot earlier and now it's just a record points total and a high finish in the table that the players can aim for. But Eddie Howe will also want to see the team get a win over Southampton who have again got themselves into a position where they cold challenge Bournemouth's position in the league come mid-May.

AFCB need to cut their mistakes to do better.

The other matches against Spurs and Crystal Palace don't feel like they are full of points for AFCB looking at the way that AFCB have been playing of late. It is hard to understand how AFCB can turn it on one week and look so far out of form the next. Yet, Howe has to find the answers.

Going into the summer, all the talk has been of momentum and finding some wins to make the summer feel like a good period rather than a worrying one. A few weeks ago I'd say fans were worried about who might leave the club as the players had done well as a while, but now the mood is moving towards questioning, which are the players that are worth holding onto and can AFCB bring in more quality?

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The remaining matches are going to be huge in deciding the future of some players. Eddie Howe will be thinking about next season already, even if he won't say so on camera. If the team continues to pick up defeats in these last three games, we can expect AFCB to be one of the favourites for relegation in 2019-20 and the pressure on Eddie Howe will continue to grow.

AFCB release the Minus 17 video

"Polar opposite' performance hard to fathom

Eddie Howe is running out of answers for the up and down form of his team. One moment they look like world beaters and the next they would not look out of place as a League One team. The glaring misses that AFCB had in front of goal against Fulham cost them dearly, but is there more than just finishing that is lacking from this team?

Eddie Howe is left bemused again at AFCB's poor result.

I fear that there is a lot more at fault with AFCB at the moment. I don't believe the players have switched off, but they are no playing anywhere near their optimum levels. The Brighton game was almost a shock reaction to try and wake the team up, but they fell back into their end of season lull again against Fulham.

Working out why the players are having this conflicting form is no easy task. They surely want to beat their previous record in the Premier League for the number of wins and points tally, but the closer they get to such goals the more pressure they seem to be under. Far from finding the pressure dropping with the safety of 41 points achieved, Eddie Howe is left to ponder how to get some appetite back into the players ahead of their last three games.

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Playing in front of the home crowd, Eddie probably didn't expect the team to find it so hard to find their rhythm against Fulham. But it's not the first time that we have seen this. Players playing out of position aren't helping. But it's not simply just that, in my opinion. The players aren't taking care to do the basics well enough and opposition teams look hungrier.

That hunger has to return for AFCB is they are to start playing back at their best and if the players can't get up for Southampton then it could be a flat end to the season for AFCB.

Squawka - The one player every Premier League club would hate to lose this summer

Cherries simply not strong enough at home

The Cherries home record has suddenly been pulverised. With no wins in their last five, the fear of playing at Dean Court has disappeared for visiting teams and with just Tottenham to play at home it will be down to the away form for AFCB to challenge their best points total of 46 points.

Home points have really dropped off.

While we can't write off the Tottenham game before it has even started, the signs are that Bournemouth need to be in far better shape to get something from a game with a top six team and to be fair Bournemouth have only managed that one all season.

The faltering performance against Fulham kind of summed up the questioning manner of the players to what was going on. They could not sort it out on the pitch during the 90 minutes and sometimes teams need intelligent players to say hold on this is not working, what are we dong wrong? How can we turn it around? There is still a lack of leadership for AFCB and the missing presence of Simon Francis and players like Harry Arter is perhaps more of an issue than fans might like to imagine.

The club is moving on but it needs strong characters. It is becoming a team of lightweight personalities when games are testing. While some of the players have not had to grind out difficult games in the lower leagues, they have been relying on their quality to get them through games against the best in the Premier League. When that quality isn't there, the heart of players from the lower leagues simply isn't there and AFCB have little to fall back on. AFCB is changing, but perhaps not always for the better.

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The home form has now also become a problem. Going into next season, Howe has to find some better results in pre-season if he can't do it by the end of this season, because the atmosphere is not going to be great at Dean Court, if they continue to put in poor performances.

Goal shy Cherries isn't usually a problem

The failure to hit the back of the net is not something that AFCB have struggled with long term in the Premier League. Goals have come thick and fast over the past four seasons, and it's usually keeping them out that has been more of a worry. But having scored five against Brighton, it was a surprise that they could not register a goal against Fulham.

AFCB have a blank in front of goal at home.

Playing a team that hadn't won away all season was perhaps considered too easy a game for the Cherries. Fulham weren't exactly toothless, but AFCB turned out to be shooting wildly at goal when the opportunity arose at Dean Court last weekend. The mood was probably begun by Josh King's early miss over the top of goal from Fraser's cross and when a team feels that things aren't going for it, poor shooting can be become infectious.

I don't believe AFCB gave up trying but when when putting fresh legs on in the shape of Solanke and Mousset, there wasn't much composure in front of goal. Most chances probably fell to Wilson and Fraser, and out of all Bournemouth's players they are two of the ones that fans would most want the chances to fall too. Eddie Howe will be wondering why neither of them could convert, but other players have to take on the mantle when Fraser and Wilson are coming up short.

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Whatever the plan B was for Bournemouth against Fulham, it clearly wasn't nearly productive enough. The frustration was seen on the faces of Gosling an Brooks and in some ways I suppose the players were almost trying too hard to make things happen rather than not forcing things.

Over thinking the game is not a positive for AFCB on the whole. They are best when they can play with pace and passing accuracy, and they need to get back to that. 

"Good one week, shambles the next," says Fraser

Ryan Fraser did not hide his disappointment with Bournemouth's defeat to Fulham. The Wee-man gave one of his bustling performances, creating chances for others while having plenty of shots on goal himself, but he couldn't make the difference in this match.

Ryan Fraser doesn't mince his words.

It is no surprise that Ryan Fraser is pulled out after so many matches to give a comment. He has been a great asset for the Cherries and always wants to do the running for the team. He could have perhaps done better against Fulham, and is no doubt frustrated with his own performance as well as the team's efforts, but if he doesn't believe his team-mates are doing enough, does it add further insight as to how the Scotsman is perhaps looking to play with better players?

I think it hurts Fraser to see Bournemouth not putting in their swashbuckling performances of the past anymore. There has been a change in the energy and character of the team and it is having a negative effect on the way Bournemouth are playing. Now the players are quick to run each other down when things go wrong and are making worse decisions when the games start to go away from them.

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There has to be more of a level consistency to Bournemouth's play and the players are getting too up and too down on the result rather than focusing on improving their game. The results are important, but it has to be about development as players and as a team. This season I can't say that AFCB have developed and grown enough as a team and perhaps we are starting to hear that frustration in some of the comments from players like Ryan Fraser.

Simpson will improve with games

It would be easy to give Jack Simpson a hard time over his mistake to give Mitrovic a game winning penalty in the last match. However, I hope Eddie Howe is not so worried about the fact that Jack was unlucky to catch Mitrovic and encourages him to keep working at getting tackles right in his own box. It is a difficult skill and we saw a masterclass from Steve Cook in the first half on Mitrovic, which could easily have gone wrong and given Fulham an earlier penalty.

Simpson can keep adding to his experience if he gets games.

The main thing is that Jack Simpson is being given an opportunity at the end of the season when it can't hurt AFCB as much as it might. He is only going to improve quickly by playing in games at the highest level now, and was a pleasure to see Jack come on against Fulham, even if it was only because Junior Stanislas injured himself.

Eddie Howe seems to hold young players back more than Gareth Southgate is doing for England, and I suppose few of the Premier League managers are quick to let players under 23 get their game time at this to level. David Brooks is an exception, but it would be pleasing to see more youngsters come through and these players can't be frightened of making mistakes.

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Jack Simpson is clearly a good defender who could be playing at a high level every week. But he has been kept at AFCB without getting many opportunities. While he is training with Premier League players, I wonder if the learning curve would be quicker if he was playing for say Huddersfield next season or Fulham in the Championship? If AFCB want to see more players coming through, they have to be getting game time, and if Simpson is now kept out having made a mistake or two it could be more harmful for him. I think the pressure of coming in for just one game is perhaps harder for these young players and maybe Eddie has to keep reassuring Simpson to get the best from him.

Eddie may well think that he expects some mistakes from Simpson and that it is a process the player needs to go through, but it is a hard way to go about character building and I just hope Jack is up to taking the knocks and can bounce back quickly. He needs to be aware that mistakes will happen and that it's a whole new game next match, where he could be needed again.

Fulham expose more inconsistencies for Howe's men

Match Description

AFC Bournemouth 0 v 1 Fulham

20 April 2019

Attendance: 10,511

AFCB welcome Fulham to Dean Court.

Looking on paper this was Bournemouth's best chance of picking up three points form their remaining games, but football doesn't work that way. A Mitrovich penalty settled the match just after half-time. It was a game that will soon be forgotten by Bournemouth fans,  even if it was Eddie Howe's 500th managerial game. Poor shooting and a failure to grab hold of the game saw Bournemouth flounder in the heat and ultimately come up short.

Adam Smith was injured in the warm up and was replaced by Junior Stanislas at left back. But otherwise the team was the same as that which played so well at Brighton.

It's a hot, sunny, day in Bournemouth.

There are more images on Match Day Gallery.

There was no hanging about for Bournemouth at the start of this game. Fraser played a good ball up the line for Callum Wilson in the first minute only to see the striker hook his first shot over.

A corner was won by Bournemouth soon after and Aké had his header cleared off the line and Fraser then drilled a shot wide of the left post.

Mepham was caught with a high foot from Mitrovic before Brooks found himself left high and dry without the ball from a good tackle form Tim Ream. Gosling returned the high foot on Mitrovich as Fulham began to get more possession.

Aké was in the thick of it making clearances, before Bournemouth went on the attack. Brooks had a shot blocked by Joe Bryan before Fraser crossed for King, who shot over from just six yards out.

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Bournemouth relied on Aké to head clear before Mitrovich put a shot wide. Fraser almost got the goal Bournemouth wanted with a direct run and shot that had Sergio Rico at full stretch in Fulham's goal.

When Wilson was fouled on the edge of the box Stanislas took the kick and pumped it over the bar. He hurt his knee and was subbed with Bournemouth bringing Jack Simpson on after 23 minutes.

Mitrovich pulled out wide before finding Sessegnon who fired a shot across the face of goal. Lerma was playing so deep that he was splitting the centre-backs, and was often Bournemouth's back player. He was playing some great balls though from the back and picked out Fraser some 50 metres down the pitch.

A mistake saw Steve Cook have to battle back against Mitrovich and put in a brilliant tackle just as the forward reached the box on 34 minutes. Boruc had to make a save from Denis Oddi's header from the corner.

Both Zambo Anguissa and Michael Sheri saw shots go over as Fulham got stronger as the half went on.

Mepham fouled Babel just before half-time but it ended 0-0 after 45 minutes.

A goalless first half.

Second half
Fulham attacked quickly with Micheal Seri crossing for Babel to head over. Fraser won a free kick that almost led to Bournemouth Scoring. Wilson just couldn't get the ball to drop and the chance went begging.

Simpson caught Mitcovich in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Mitrovich calmly stroked the ball in to Boruc's right. It was 0-1 to Fulham on 53 minutes.

King put in a good cross but Oddi chested it down for Sergio Rico. Fulham's fans were singing 'One-nil to the championship!'

Michel Seri was finding more and more space and Babel couldn't take advantage of it. Eddie Howe decided to sub Josh King for Solanke on 61 minutes.

Joe Ryan got behind Bournemouth on the wing and Sessegnon had a chance to make it 0-2 but shot right at Boruc. Shortly after, Brouc had to save again from Sessegnon.

Bournemouth were getting sloppy and Steve Cook made a mistake in the middle, giving the ball to Sambo Anguissa, which he got back to recover.

A free kick for Wilson led to Gosling getting on the ball and Wilson shot but had the ball saved by Sergio Rico's legs, while Solanke couldn't get a shot off before Fulham cleared.

Fraser then shot well with Rico making the save as Wilson went in with his feet. A better chance fell to Fraser on 74 minutes, Gosling played the ball through to Fraser on the left who had his head up and shot over.

Mitrovic was carded for a bad challenge on Aké. Fulham kept coming forward with Babel before Mitrovich shot wide.

Mepham was subbed for Mousset on 77 minutes. Steve Cook was then carded for a bad foul  on Babel on 80 minutes.

Brooks got forward and crossed only to see the ball bounce of the bar with Gosling hoping for a better pull back at the far post. Lerma then put a deft chip over for Brooks who volleyed wide.

Fulham subbed Babel for Ayite with four minutes left. Solanke was making runs but couldn't get a shot away. Zambo Anguissa was subbed on 90 minutes for Nordtveit to come on.

With six minutes of added time Bournemouth had some time to get an equaliser but Fulham were time wasting. Mousset put the ball down for a goal kick and Oddi kicked the ball away. Rather than book Oddi the referee mistakenly assumed it was Rico who had time wasted and booked the Fulham keeper.

It was Fulham who might have scored again though. Sessegnon passed to Ayite who found Mitrovich, but it was  a weak shot that Boruc could easily save.

Then with time running out Bournemouth won a free kick. Mousset got his head on the end of it but headed weakly at goal and Rico made the save.

A 0-1 home defeat for the Cherries to the second bottom team.

Summary
Bournemouth kept plugging away but never looked like scoring. It was quite an outstanding reverse in terms of finishing quality to what we had seen only seven days ago at Brighton. Bournemouth weren't shot shy, but they just didn't ht the target with any power or belief that they would score. Fulham were perhaps fortunate to win a penalty, but they had a good amount of possession and organised themselves well against Bournemouth in the second half. A draw might have been a better reflection on the game, but it was a surprise three points for Fulham and their first away win of the season.

AFCB line up

AFCB Subs: Begovic, Simpson, Hyndman, Ofoborh, Surridge, Solanke, Mousset.

AFCB Ratings
Boruc 7, Stanislas 5 (Simpson 5) S Cook 7, Mepham 5, Aké 6, Brooks 6, Lerma 8, Gosling 6,
Fraser 7, King 6, Wilson 6

Eddie Howe and his staff looked isolated as the players
found it hard to come over half way to say sorry to the fans.

Cherry Chimes' MoM: Jefferson Lerma

Fulham
25 Rico, 4 Odoi, 20 Le Marchand, 13 Ream, 23 Bryan, 5 Chambers,
29 Zambo Anguissa (Nordtveit 89), 3 R Sessegnon, 24 Seri (Christie 79), 12 Babel (Ayité 86), 9 Mitrovic

Fulham Subs
7 Kebano, 11 Ayité, 14 Schürrle, 16 Nordtveit, 22 Christie, 31 Fabri, 56 Elliott

Referee watch - David Coote 3/10: The wrongful yellow card for Sergio Rico says it all.