Cherries end season taking a 5-3 battering at Palace

Match Report

Crystal Palace 5 v 3 AFCB

12 May 2019

Attendance: 25,433

AFCB bow out with a disappointing 5-3 defeat at Selhurst Park.

Bournemouth had a chance of finishing 12th if they could win this game, but they found themselves in trouble after the first 24 minutes when Batshuayi opened the scoring unchallenged. A smart bit of play from Wan-Bissaka opened the way for Batshuayi to double the lead, before a mix up between Simpson and Travers saw an own goal off Simpson. Bournemouth had just a glimmer of hope when Jefferson Lerma hit a stunning drive from 30 yards out to get them on the scoreboard just before half-time. The scoring kept going with Ibe pulling it back to 3-2, but things looked all over when van Aanholt made it 4-2. Yet with 20 minutes to go Josh King had an easy tap in at the far post. Palace hadn't stopped scoring either though with Zaha racing out of his own half and setting up Townsend to make it 5-3. Palace who couldn't score at home left all the goals for this match and Bournemouth couldn't cope with the finishing of a Palace side who suddenly found the target.

Eddie Howe named an unchanged Bournemouth side after last week's great win over Tottenham. Mark Travers would get another chance to press his claim for the keeper's gloves next season and Jordan Ibe would have another chance to try and get on the score sheet. Meanwhile, Matt Butcher came in to replace Ofoborh on the bench.

Match Description Bournemouth turned out in all white for this game and had Adam Smith and Josh King shooting up the right wing in the first minute. Meyer through the middle to Batshuayi and Travers makes the save even though Batshuayi was offside.

Meyer to Millivojevic and he's hit the outside of the post! Four minutes gone. Lerma has his cross cleared. Ibe is away past van Aanholt keeper smothers the ball.

Adam Smith is on the ball. Aké and King runs into Meyer. Fraser wins a corner. Palace clear the ball back to Adam Smith. Fraser puts a cross in and Ibe has it. Fraser again but the keeper gathers.

Zaha on the attack and Millivojevic keeps possession. Palace through the centre with Townsend but Bournemouth close him off. Palace have a free kick. Millivojevic take sit to the back post and Steve Cook gets up before Adam Smith concede the corner.

Lerma breaks and is fouled. Zaha pulls back Steve Cook. Ibe misses the ball from Fraser. Max Mayer comes forward then Wan-Bissaka. Townsend puts a cross in and Adam Smith is accuse of hand ball but nothing is given.

Fraser back to Adam Smith and he's won a throw. Simpson wins the ball. Ibe plays Callum Wilson in but he's offside.  Townsend tries a shot 30 yards out but its weak.

Ibe to King and time to shoot but it's over the bar – a good chance missed on 18 minutes. King down the right with Adam Smith. Clyne and Ibe. Lerma now on half way. Zaha is offside.

Fraser on the left to King and Aké is on but he can't find King, van Aanholt is there. Aké could have shot. Zaha now wins a corner off Simpson. Adam Smith gets the block in.

Zaha's cross hits Adam Smith, it's looped up and Batshuayi has scored with a scissor kick past Travers 1-0. The two defenders, Steve Cook and Simpson didn't really react on 24 minutes. Kris Temple on BBC Radio Solent asks, why didn't Cookie get his head in there?

Advertisement

Coastal Garden Buildings

King and Fraser gets the ball and Kelly heads away. Zaha on the left and Travers catches the ball.

Smith clears from Townsend and Meyer to Milivojevic who shoots wide. Townsend and Zaha in against Simpson, Travers clears. Meyer and Zaha, Wan-Bissaka on the right drives the ball across the box and Batshuayi makes it 20 on 32 minutes. Wan-Bissaka was all on his own and the goal came from Clyne losing the ball.

Lerma and Ibe down the right. Wilson looks to cross but Ward gets the tackle in. Aké and Ibe is clipped by McArthur. Ibe on the right.

Zaha on his way on Travers who saves, but it's gone in off Jack Simpson on 37 minutes 3-0 to Palace. Zaha didn't get anything on the shot but it's bounced in off Simpson. Fraser has a free kick but Guaita clears.

Batshuayi to Zaha but Clyne gets in a saving tackle. Meyer shoots wide. Ibe and Wilson who is held up by Ward and it's a free kick to Palace. Lerma up to Wilson. Smith and Ibe. Jefferson Lerma 25 yards out and he's found the net off the underside of the bar 3-1 on 44 minutes.

One minute of added time. Palace have the ball at the back. Half-time 3-1. Possession has been equal but palace have had nine shots and three on target, whereas Bournemouth have managed two shots and one on target.

The back gate is open and goals are flooding in at Selhurst Park.

Second Half
Bournemouth are passing their way out from the back and Aké has a free kick. Fraser shoots into a crowd of players and McArthur brings it clear.

McArthur and Meyer. Ibe loses the ball. Townsend and Batshuayi, and Townsend takes aim, Travers makes a great save top right for a corner. Zaha down the left and Lerma gets to him and Adam Smith keeps chasing to block.

Meyer and Townsend and it's a save from Travers from McArthur. It was straight at him but a reactive block from Travers. Clyne finds Smith and Ibe up against van Arnholt.

Wilson now and Fraser is blocked. Zaha shoots at the other end but it's side netting. Aké on to Smith and Ibe and Bournemouth have a corner. Aké gets up but no power and it's over the bar. Fraser down the left and Smith pulls it back to Ibe and it's 3-2. 56 minutes gone, Ibe's low shot has given Bournemouth a chance. That's Bournemouth's 200th goal in the Premier League.

Clyne and Smith come forward again. Palace have a goal kick. Fraser on the left and Adam Smith. Lerma and Aké. Ibe to Fraser and Clyne. Ibe goes himself and shoots right at the keeper.

Wilson is caught by Milivojevic who is given a yellow card. Fraser on his right to Smith who goes down.

Bournemouth are camping in Palace's half. Fraser has a shot but it's rising too high on 64 minutes. Zaha though ball to van Aanholt, who spins away and he scores past Travers 4-2.

King on the march and Wilson has an effort wide. Travers comes out quickly to stop Meyers. Lerma on to King and McArthur pulls him back yellow card. Bournemouth make subs. Mepham and Mousset come on and Simpson and Ibe go off with 20 minutes to go. The free kick is over the wall but easily held.

Wilson is away from Kelly, but mcArthur is back. Townsend is away Zaha chops it back, and Max Meyer grazes the post! Fraser o King and Mousset is on but the keeper comes out to save. Fraser takes a corner, Mepham gets a touch and King poaches a goal at the back post 4-3.

Townsend is tackled by Aké. Smith over half way. Mepham wins the ball and Mousset is in the box but he fouls van Aanholt. Zaha takes a shot and Travers saves well. Lerma tries to take a quick free kick. Zaha tries to stop it and gets carded.

Fraser puts a ball in. But Zaha is away past Lerma and Townsend makes it 5-3 to Palace on 80 minutes. Mousset into the box and shoots but Guaita makes a save for a corner.

Adam Smith and Steve Cook get back to stop Zaha. Adam Smith shoots wide and Callum Wilson is furious.

Kelly clears form a Fraser cross. Ward puts in a diving header away. Zaha and Townsend and van Aanholdt shoots wide. Crystal Palace sub Zaha for Sako on 87 minutes.

Clyne to Aké and Lerma to the left but it's out for a goal kick. Clyne comes off for Surridge and Batshuayi is subbed for Connor Wickham. King into Wilson but it's through to the keeper.

Fraser to Surridge. King goes for goal but Kelly blocks. Townsend goes off to give Luke Dreher a few minutes in midfield.

Palace have a corner. Four minutes of added time. Mepham clears and Travers gets the ball. van Aanholt crosses and McArthur's shot is blocked. Mousset has options and goes left to Surridge.

Mousset to Aké and Surridge miss-hits the chance.

Putting the balls away at the end of another season.

Summary
Conceding five in an away game is not at all how AFCB fans will have wanted to season to end. Instead of finishing 12th they are down to 12th with a points total of 45. This was Bournemouth unable to defend rather than errors or end of season lack of effort. Eddie Howe must improve the defence for this team or the Cherries will not have learnt their lesson over the summer. Only the three relegated teams have let in more goals than Bournemouth and Howe has to find a better balance with his spending to buy some quality defenders.

AFCB team

AFCB Subs: 1 Boruc, 33 Mepham, 36 Butcher, 22 Hyndman, 28 Taylor, 9 Mousset, 44 Surridge.

AFCB Ratings
Travers 7, Clyne 6, S Cook 5, Simpson 5, A Smith 7, Fraser 8, Lerma 7, Aké 6, Ibe 7,  King 5, Wilson 5.

Cherry Chimes' MoM: Ryan Fraser

Ref watch: Roger East 6/10 no problems with the referee.

Crystal Palace
31 Guaita, 29 Wan-Bissaka, 34 Kelly, 2 Ward, 3 van Aanholt, 18 McArthur, 4 Milivojevic,
10 Townsend (Dreher 90+3), 7 Meyer, 11 Zaha (Sako 87), 23 Batshuayi (Wickham 89)

Crystal Palace Subs
13 Hennessey, 26 Sako, 8 Kouyaté, 28 Dreher, 44 Riedewald, 17 Benteke, 21 Wickham