Bournemouth and Norwich fire blanks in 0-0 draw

Match Report

AFCB 0 v 0 Norwich City

19 October 2019

Attendance: 10,669

Scrum down, AFCB and Norwich before kick-off

This was a game where Bournemouth would have expected to take three points, but just like the Sheffield United match they struggled to be effective in the last third. Rico was again at his best delivering crosses, but the team couldn't get a clear chance from any of them. Solanke had the best chance first half but couldn't beat Krul who closed him down. Callum Wilson came close in the second half when Rico floated a ball in that the striker glided just wide with an outstretched foot. But it was Norwich who could have won it second half when Pukki shot from the edge of the box to have Ramsdale tipping it around the corner at full stretch.

Bournemouth made a few changes with Lewis Cook, Ryan Fraser and Adam Smith coming into the side and Jack Stacey, Jefferson Lerma and Josh King coming out. King moved to the bench. Norwich made three changes. Out went McGovern and Stiepermann and they were replaced by Krul and Tetty.

There are more images on Match Day Gallery.

Chimes to Camera: Norwich City fan Carol give a pre-match interview.

Ryan Fraser made the first corner, on three minutes, which led Diego Rico have a volley go over from 30 yards.

Harry Wilson took a tumble outside the box. Rico hit the free kick too strongly and out of play.

A steady build up led to Rico winning another corner but still there was no shot on target for the Cherries.

Norwich go long with McLean on the left and Lewis Cook concedes the corner, which Ake then clears.

Rico shows a lovely touch before a Bournemouth third corner, which Billing got underneath and hit over on 11 minutes.

Lewis and Pukki get down the left and Lewis Cook has to stop Pukki from getting a shot in. Billing clears the first corner, before Ramsdale catches the second.

Norwich press well and Pukki gets in, but is offside. Aarons is then caught offside. Great early ball by Rico to Wilson and Solanke has a one on one with Krul but has his shot saved for a corner!

Steve Cook just does enough to hold off Lewis for Ramdale to collect.

Leitner is run off the ball by Billing returning. Lewis 12 is booked for a foul on Harry Wilson. Rico crosses deep for Solanke and Godfrey has to head clear. Lewis Cook nutmegs Pukki and Pukki has to laugh.

Adam Smith puts a big tackle in on Lewis. Fraser almost gets in but has his pass cut out. Lewis finally gets attention for his injury.

Rico puts ball in but Callum can't make it stick.

Lewis and Cantwell almost get in to shoot  at the other end, but the danger is shut out before Solanke makes a mess of playing out.

Where are the goals?

Second half
Fraser's cross is in behind Callum Wilson. Adam Smith puts the ball in to Harry Wilson and the cross just misses at the far post.

Godfrey goes off and Trybull  comes on. Fraser cross is caught by Krul.

Callum holds the ball up well and Adam Smith drills a shot just over with the assistant referee raising his flag.

McLean has a shot blocked before Pukki shoots and it's deflected over. Amadou heads over.

Rico, on for Callum Wilson and it's just wide of the far post.

Callum and 27 chase the high ball. Rico has to slide to stop Pukkis break.

McLean is blocked and Aarons has an effort cleared by Steve Cook. On 62 minutes Josh King is on for Solanke.

Ramdale saves a hard hit cross well. A shot then goes wide of left post from Norwich. Pukki shoots and Ramsdale saves low to his right on 66 minutes - great save! King is on the break but hist the pass too hard for Harry Wilson.

McLean is booked for chopping down Harry Wilson. Harry Wilson is replaced by Danjuma on 69 minutes.

Adam Smith is carded for a foul on McLean. Cantwell to Amadou who shoots over.

Good play from Callum and Josh, before Danjuma cuts in and Krul gets down to save to his left. Danjuma again has a shot blocked by Trybull and he's gone down form the blow.

Cantwell is subbed for  Hernández for Norwich on 81 minutes.

A shot is drilled wide by Trybull and  Ramsdale was at full stretch high to his left.

Buéndia fouls Danjuma. Buéndia fouls Fraser. The corner is volleyed over by Danjuma.

Pukki takes Adam Smith out but only a yellow. A long Steve Cook throw and Billing heads wide. Billings shot is deflected.

Norwich sub Srbeny is on and Leitner goes off on 89 minutes. Into added time and there's four minutes to go Corner to Norwich. That's it 0-0.

A point takes AFCB up to ninth.

Summary

It is days like this when you have to come away and just be thankful that your team didn't lose the game. It could so easily have happened as Norwich grew in confidence second half. While Eddie Howe must be pleased with a clean sheet that is no goals scored in the last two matches and for those saying Fraser should start, it didn't make a dramatic difference to chances created. Solanke probably had Bournemouth's best chance of he match but he doesn't see himself scoring at the moment. Lewis Cook was playing quite deep and Harry Wilson is getting involved in play enough for me.

AFCB Line-up

AFCB subs: Boruc, Francis, Surman, Mepham, Kelly, Danjuma, King

AFCB Ratings

Ramsdale 7, Rico 8, Aké7, S Cook 7, A Smith 7, H Wilson 5, Billing 6, L Cook 6, Fraser 6,
Solanke 5, C Wilson 7

Cherry Chimes MoM: Diego Rico

Ref Watch: Lee Mason  3/10 - Another curious display from Lee Mason. Does he see the fouls at all? Or players walking off not at their nearest exit point from the pitch?

Norwich City
1 Krul, 2 Aarons, 24 Amadou, 4 Godfrey (Trybull 50), 12 Lewis, 27 Tettey, 17 Buendía, 
10 Leitner (Srbeny 89), 23 McLean 14 Cantwell (Hernández 81)
22 Pukki

Norwich Subs
33 McGovern, 3 Byram, 11 Hernández, 18 Stiepermann, 19 Trybull, 20 Drmic, 32 Srbeny