Match Description
AFCB 0 v 1 Burnley
21 December 2019
Attendance: 10,020
 |
| Not the score we needed. |
Northern grit and the physical game is what Burnley brought to Dean Court and while neither team really troubled the goal for the best part of 90 minutes, one cross and a simple header saw Jay Rodriguez snatch all three points for the northerners. Burnley players looked as surprised as any one in the ground that they had won it late on. Bournemouth had stumbled to another home defeat, and Eddie Howe had to reflect on another afternoon when the Cherries had failed to create and had fallen to a sucker punch in the pouring rain.
Bournemouth named an unchanged start eleven, but Callum Wilson returned to the bench following his hamstring strain. Burnley made one change with Taylor replacing Pieters in the starting eleven.
There are more images on Match Day Gallery.
 |
| Bournemouth and Burnley just before kick off. |
The first two headers were won by Francis and Lewis Cook, which set the tone. Francis again beat Wood to a long ball over the top next.
It was a bit slippery under foot with Billing and Fraser finding the ball zipping off the surface. Burnley were trying to load crosses into the box and won the first corner. Lerma beat Wood though to the ball at the near post.
Ashley Barnes left a high boot on Francis' face on seven minutes. Bournemouth were spreading the play well with Lerma but Rico hits a poor cross. Bling intercepted well in the middle to regain possession.
Rico crossed but it didn't quite get to Gosling. Francis again won his header. Billing was then fouled by Westwood. Stacey pulls the ball back to Lerma, but the shot is high.
Advertisement
Bardsley goes in on Fraser. Barnes has a long shot which goes wide for Burnley's second corner. Bournemouth are winning the first balls.
Rico, Mepham and Francis combine to clear the high ball. Fraser crosses to Lewis Cook, who has a shot blocked.
Advertisement
 |
| Eddie Had a Dream eBook version -available now! |
Francis fouls Barnes. Ramsdale catches the ball from the free kick. Fraser is fouled, where is the yellow card? Tarkowski was the offender this time.
Ramdale has to punch a corner ball over the bar. Ramsdale catches under pressure from Barnes. Gosling is fouled now. The ref has to start making bookings!
Three minutes added time. Westwood is booked! The ref has got yellow cards after all.
 |
| Not a lot of football being played - free kick, free kick, free kick! |
Lewis Cook is subbed for Wilson. Howe changes the team shape. Stacey is now playing right midfield and it's three at the back for Bournemouth.
An early cross from King is too quick for Fraser. Billing and Stacey do well down the right. Fraser gets a cross in from the left. Pope catches it well.
Burnley have a corner on 53 minutes. Lerma heads away. Callum wins the chase against Tarkowski with ease. Fraser's cross is caught though by Pope.
Two yellow cards go out to Rico and Barnes - Rico is suspended for the next game. McNeil takes Stacey down and is booked.
Fraser was fouled by Bardsley. Hendrick was then booked for fouling Fraser. This was all stopping the flow of the game and playing into Burnley's hands.
Tarkowski fouls. King puts a ball through and it goes under Wilson's foot.
Gosling right across the box! Burnley, sub Hendrick with Lennon on 65 minutes.
Advertisement
 |
Mepham heads wide from the corner!
Bad call on goal kick from the referee. That should have been Bournemouth corner. King does brilliant turn losing three players but he can't find the pass.
No advantage played. Its pulled back for a Bournemouth free kick. Poor ball from Fraser. 72 minutes gone.
Corner to Bournemouth. Rodriguez comes on for Barnes. Stacey wins a corner.
Rico wins a corner. Lerma volleys wide!
Advertisement
McNeil is subbed for Brady. Burnley free kick is cleared. King shoulder barges, but its deemed a free kick. Ramsdale punches.
Seven minutes left. King is fouled. Billing is subbed for Solanke.
Pope clears ahead of Wilson. Offside anyway. Another Bournemouth free kick.
Cross from the right from Westwood, and its headed in by Rodriguez on 89 minutes. VAR, no handball. Goal stands.
Five added minutes. King in the box, a handball shout. Nothing doing.
 |
| That afternoon couldn't have gone much worse. |
Summary
What a shocking afternoon. Burnley's smash and grab game plan worked a treat for them. They annoyed, tormented and kicked Bournemouth's players while playing for time and yet when they needed to try and win it at the death, they found some quality. Well done to them, it's how they play and it works for them. It's effective against teams like ours.
Bournemouth didn't play their game though. That is what cost them. They might have had better protection from the referee, but they knew how Burnley would play and needed to play smarter. The real mystery for me is why didn't Eddie Howe put Junior Stanislas on when the team didn't have enough creativity in the last third. Yes, Callum can get you a goal and so might Solanke but they need creative players to set up chances.
AFCB player Ratings
Ramsdale 5, Stacey 5, Francis 6, Mepham 5, Rico 4, L Cook 4, Billing 4, Lerma 5, Fraser 5, Gosling 4, King 6
Bournemouth didn't play their game though. That is what cost them. They might have had better protection from the referee, but they knew how Burnley would play and needed to play smarter. The real mystery for me is why didn't Eddie Howe put Junior Stanislas on when the team didn't have enough creativity in the last third. Yes, Callum can get you a goal and so might Solanke but they need creative players to set up chances.
AFCB line up
 |
| AFCB Subs: Boruc, Simpson, Surman, Stanislas, Kilkenny, Solanke, C Wilson |
Ramsdale 5, Stacey 5, Francis 6, Mepham 5, Rico 4, L Cook 4, Billing 4, Lerma 5, Fraser 5, Gosling 4, King 6
Cherry Chimes MoM: Francis - he battled on from the first minute to the last despite a head injury.
Ref Watch: Martin Atkinson - 1/10 started off well, then forgot his yellow cards until things got out of hand. The home crowd soon hot on his back. He needed to protect players more.
Burnley
1 Pope, 26 Bardsley, 5 Tarkowski, 6 Mee, 3 Taylor, 13 Hendrick (Lennon 65), 18 Westwood, 4 Cork, 11 McNeil (Brady 82), 10 Barnes (Rodriguez 75), 9 Wood
Burnley Subs: 20 Hart, 23 Pieters, 8 Drinkwater, 12 Brady, 19 Rodriguez, 25 Lennon, 28 Long
No comments:
Post a Comment