Sheffield United put Bournemouth back in the mire

Match Report

Sheffield United 2 v1 AFC Bournemouth

9 February 2020

Attendance: 30361

The heat is on for AFCB at the foot of the table.

Bournemouth really needed to extend their lead over the bottom three teams at Bramall Lane, but those hopes were washed away with the rain and a Sheffield United comeback. Callum Wilson put the Cherries in command of the game with his seventh goal of the season on 13 minutes. As the first half wore on, the Blades put the Cherries under more and more pressure until Billy Sharp stabbed home a close range equaliser on half-time. Bournemouth fashioned a good chance through Ryan Fraser to try and get back into the lead, but Henderson was equal to the shot. From there on in, Howe's slowness to change anything until near the end, gave fans the feeling that the Cherries might concede. Indeed they did, as Stanislas came on. Lundtsram raced through the Cherries defence and left Howe to wonder if this was another game that really shouldn't have escaped his team.

There are more pictures on Match Day Gallery.

Eddie Howe brought Andrew Surman into the team for the suspended Jefferson Lerma and Josh King returned to the bench along with Jack Stacey.

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The rain had stopped before the game began. But it was slippery and the wind remained strong. McBurnie got behind Francis but the ball that came off Francis' heel fell to Fleck. His shot was blocked by Francis sliding challenge.

Diego Rico won Bournemouth's first corner. Adam Smith intercepted well but Fraser was blocked. Another cross from Fraser sees a diving header from Harry Wilson, but its wide.

Goslings wins a free kick. Callum Wilson puts it wide at the far post. Fraser pulls the ball back from left and Harry Wilson has a shot blocked, Callum Wilson scores high into the roof of the net. 13 minutes gone! A great start for the Cherries.

Fraser again to Billing who slips over as he tries to shoot. Stevens gets down the left, but his cross is hit into the side netting by Sharp at the far post.

Diego blocks Baldock. Adam Smith is fouled on his own half by Sharp. Billing is injured.

Rico wins a free kick on the left. McBurnie wins a corner and O'Connell heads it over.

Gosling concedes another corner on 30 minutes and Billing heads clear.

The ball goes through Surman's legs. McBurnie slides in but Ramsdale catches it.

Sheffield have won another corner. Fleck goes short but Billing clears. Francis cleats a high ball. Callum mis-kicks but Surman clears.

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Billy Sharp is fouled just outside the box. The free kick hits the wall. Stevens is booked got a foul on Harry Wilson.

Sheffield Utd are upping the pressure but can't find a way through. Callum Wilson to Fraser and the cross is towards Harry Wilson but the keeper just gets there first.

Aké makes a clearance. Francis' clearance comes off Callum Wilson and Norwood shoots but it is deflected wide.

The header from Mc Burnie is pushed out by Ramsdale. Sheffield get another corner off Ake. Billing clears.

The corner is half cleared this time and Ramsdale punches but Sharp scores at the far post 1-1.

Second half
A long kick from the keeper. Fleck touches it on to Sharp and Ramsdale saves with his legs.

Gosling is caught and its all kicked off on the touchline. Surman has been carded.

Rico has to make a last second clearance. It's all Sheffield Utd, Bournemouth need to change something. Lundstrum is on for Berge.

Adam Smith comes inside but shoots too high. Fraser rubs through walks to get a corner.
Francis heads down and Aké shoots wide.

McGregor goes off and Armstrong is on after 64 minutes.

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Bournemouth are under immense pressure. Callum Wilson to Harry Wilson and he blasts the shot over.

Adam Smith down the right, Callum passes it on and Fraser hits the drive, Great save, Corner to Bournemouth.

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Bournemouth bring on King for Harry Wilson. Mousset is on for Billy Sharp. Bournemouth scramble it off the line. Fraser crosses, but Billing can't reach it.

Ramsdale catches from a free kick. Corner to Sheffield. Stanislas is on for Fraser with six minutes left. From the throw, Mousset squares the ball from the left and Lundstram has scored. 2-1 to Sheffield United and Bournemouth just switched off.

Surman is subbed for Solanke. Mousset is booked for fouling Billing.

Bournemouth corner and Aké heads wide. Francis is booked for taking down Mc Bride.

Summary
Bournemouth got the started they wanted but didn't double their lead and came under so much pressure that they just couldn't keep repelling Sheffield Utd. A draw at the end of the first half was fair enough, but the Cherries didn't take the game to United. They sat back and with Fraser's chance well saved, there was little more to trouble Henderson until Bournemouth fell 2-1 behind. The team switched off when the throw was taken. It was a basic error. But only then did the team look to try and get a goal. As usual it was too little, too late Bournemouth had seen another three points taken away from them and I don't get why Howe didn't change things earlier when the team was getting overrun and pegged back. The lack of possession simply sapped the confidence from the team.

AFCB Line up

AFCB Subs: Boruc, S Cook, Stacey, L Cook, Stanislas, Solanke, King

AFCB Ratings
Ramsdale 6, A Smith 5, Francis 7, Aké 6, Rico 6, H Wilson 5, Gosling 5, Surman 5,
Billing 6, Fraser 6, C Wilson 6
Cherry Chimes MoM: Simon Francis

Sheffield United
1 Henderson, 6 Basham, 12 Egan, 5 O'Connell, 2 Baldock, 32 Berge (Lundstram 61)
16 Norwood 4 Fleck, 3 Stevens, 9 McBurnie,, 10 Sharp (Mousset 74)

Sheffield Utd Subs
7 Lundstram, 15 Jagielka, 17 McGoldrick, 21 Verrips, 22 Mousset, 23 Osborn, 29 Retsos