Match report
WBA 0 v 0 AFCB
26 July 2019
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| Aaron Ramsdale plays well at WBA and impresses fans. |
AFCB knew it would be tough playing away at WBA. They put many of their star players out in attack with Fraser, King and Wilson taking the fight to the Baggies, but it was the saves of Aaron Ramsdale and the work of the midfield that impressed against WBA.
Match description
First half
Matt Philipps had an early shot for the Baggies but drove it wide. Ramsdale was quick to hit a long ball up towards Wilson as AFCB looked to get on the ball.
Arter was doing well winning the ball high up but Fraser couldn't find the finish to make a goal. Meanwhile Philipps was keeping Simpson and Kelly alert with another shot drilled wide.
AFCB had a good opportunity with Adam Smith pounding bound the right wing but he couldn't find Josh King. Ramsdale almost got caught out with a back pass after nine minutes but he managed to escape the moment of panic.
WBA were dictating the game and keeping the ball well on the big pitch. Steve Fletcher was giving some good insight on pre-season on the commentary.
WBA had a corner after 13 minutes with Adam Smith having to put the ball out. There was a lot of space for WBA when they were in the ball. Bournemouth were happy enough to play on the break.
Arter was given some one-to-one advice by Eddie Howe during a stop in play for Ryan Fraser. Ofoborh was showing his quick feet and range of passing. It was a relaxing game but the touch and skill levels were looking better than earlier games on pre-season.
Josh King was causing problems and won a free kick on the edge of the box on 23 minutes. Simpson couldn't get the header down though. It was good to see King and Wilson trying to work their way through the WBA defence.
Phillips turned Kelly with ease and Livermore go though but couldn't get a shot away. A better chance fell to Livermore a moment later, but Adam Smith scrambled the ball away with Ramsey out of the picture.
Dobre was forcing the play down the left and King and Wilson were linking well to win a corner. The corners kept coming for AFCB, but they weren't getting shots on target. Kelly was strong at the back holding of Zohore.
Arter and King almost walked there way through WBA's defence but the ball was soon stripped away and WBA went on a breakaway. AFCB's organisation was good though in defence.
Dobre gave a way a free kick right on half-time, but the half ended 0-0.
Second half
The Cherries were unchanged for the second half with Howe looking to give as many players 90 minutes as he could, looking at the relatively unexperienced bench.
Kieran Gibbs had come on for WBA along with Oliver-Burke. WBA were picking their game up with Edwards finding his way past the midfield.
Dobre won a free kick on 50 minutes. Fraser fired one into the near post, but the keeper beat Wilson to it. AFCB didn't look at full-throttle yet. The warm evening was perhaps an extra challenge for the players' fitness.
Fraser almost stabbed a ball through for Wilson after a long ball from Arter. Both teams were bring a bit loose with their passing. It was being turned over too quickly. Ramsdale still had little to do, up to this point.
Robson-Kanu replaced Edwards on 61 minutes and WBA had a good chance from the following corner, but did not connect well. Ofoborh looked to find the top-corner but pushed his shot wide.
Steve Fletcher was great offering knowledge on VAR and the various things that could arise. Brunt and Field came on for WBA after 65 minutes. Harper went off.
Ofoborh had been the only AFCB player to do more than 45 minutes before this game. So getting to 65 minutes was good preparation for the players.
Robson-Kanu put in a powerful cross that Ramsdale smothered. Bartley and Phillips went off for O'Shea and and Leko to come on after 69 minutes.
Robson-Kanu made a slick pass to Burke but Ramsdale got down well. AFCB brought on Surridge on 75 minutes to replace Josh King. Ofobroh won the ball well and put Arter in the box, but Surridge couldn't finish.
Jordan blocked a shot from Leko well. Arter was remonstrating with the assistant referee and thumping the ground - it's only a friendly Harry.
The game was stretched now. Adam Smith made a good tackle just when WBA looked to shoot. The next minute Smith went through the back of Leko.
Surridge went down in the box but didn't get the penalty decision. Ramsdale then made a great save from close-range on 82 minutes from Gibbs.
Ryan Fraser was subbed for James Anthony. Wilson on the charge couldn't take the ball much past half-way before getting caught.
Ferguson took a ball down well on the right and Leko's snapped shot was well saved down low by Ramsdale on 85 minutes.
Kelly was forced to concede another corner with Ferguson getting in behind on the right. A good flash header at the near post from Ferguson just looped past the goal.
Sam Sherring replaced Ofoborh with a minute to go.
Summary
A good exercise for the Cherries and a clean sheet. Eddie Howe will be pleased that the team didn't run out of steam, but he'll have Aaron Ramsdale to thank the most for the scoreline. The strikers have to do a bit more in front of goal but the shape of the team when defending was a bit stronger in this game with Harry Arter and Nnamdi Ofoborh offering good protection.
AFCB
Ramsdale 12, Smith 15, Corey Jordan 11, Simpson 25, Kelly 26, Dobre 54, Ofoborh 38 (Sherring), Arter 88, Fraser 24, King 7 (Surridge) , Wilson 13
AFCB Subs
Dennis, Cordner, Sherring, Anthony, Surridge
WBA
Johnstone, Ferguson, Bartley, Ajayi, Townsend, Livermore, Harper, Krovinovic, Phillips, Edwards, Zohore
WBA Subs
Bond, O'Shea, Fitzwalter, Furlong, Gibbs, Field, Brunt, Leko, Tulloch, Burke, Robson-Kanu
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