VAR sickener form the Cherries at Burnley as two goals disallowed

Match Report

Burnley v AFCB

22 February 2020

Attendance: 18,227

Another big day for VAR.

VAR had the biggest say in Bournemouth's match against Burnley. Chances fell to Callum Wilson and Matej Vydra in the first few minutes, but the shock of the first half was to see a Bournemouth Josh King goal ruled out by VAR for the ball previously coming off Billing's shoulder. Vydra had other chances to score as Francis struggled to keep him at bay, but so did Harry Wilson and Jack Stacey who couldn't beat Nick Pope, so it was 0-0 at half-time. That was nothing to the second half with Vydra putting the Clarets in front before Harry Wilson thought he had equalised, only to find that Adam Smith had made a handball in the build up and a penalty was awarded to Burnley with Jay Rodriguez making it 2-0. The game had gone and Burnley made sure with a late third goal from McNeil which was the pick of the goals. Even VAR hates Bournemouth now.

More bad news on the injury front saw Jefferson Lerma out with a back injury and Nathan Aké missing out having been concussed in mid-week training. Bournemouth really weren't helping themselves, but Steve Cook was back, while Rico was dropped to the bench to enable Jack Stacey to come in with Adam Smith moving to left back. Josh King also replaced Ryan Fraser on the left wing.

Burnley had their own problems with Chris Woods and Ashley Branes missing out but they brought in Jay Rodrigues and Matej Vydra.

It was a really gusty day at Turf Moor and Bournemouth could expect to be tested under the high ball with plenty of crosses aimed at Rodriguez. A former Burnley player' Brian Pilkington's life was celebrated with a minutes applause.

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Match Description
Bournemouth started well enough with plenty of touches at the back. Gosling played a good ball into Callum Wilson and he crossed for King, but was just kept off the ball. A snap shot from Calum Wilson is just saved by Pope's outstretched foot. Great start from the Cherries.

King is getting plenty of the ball on the left but is held up by two Burnley defenders. Adam Smith is bringing the ball out well. Bournemouth are looking to pinch the ball whenever they can. McNeil to Rodriguez and Francis blocks for a corner.

Stacey does well to stop Burnley's McNeil on the left wing. Stacey puts a cross in but Billing doesn't connect well.

A mess between Bournemouth defenders, Billing and Stacey looked at each other and Cork has a shot from 20 yards saved by Ramsdale. Sloppy from Bournemouth.

Francis gets it all wrong against Vydra who is in behind and beats Steve Cook but Ramsdale makes an amazing save on 11 minutes, down to his left. Bournemouth were far too open and we know Vydra has the pace to trouble Francis.

Harry Wilson does well to win possession. Simon Francis and Steve Cook look nervous at the back though and concede another corner. Surman puts it out for another corner. Bardsley goes through the back of Callum Wilson and is lucky to get away without a card.

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Stacey has a head injury. Harry Wilson as a drop shot but it's well wide on 18 minutes. Billing flows forward and has a shot deflected off Tarkowski for a corner on 21 minutes. It's in the cross from Surman went right across the six yard box and as it got flicked on by Billing and King could stab the ball home 0-1.

No, it's disallowed by VAR. Looks like Billing's shoulder but a very harsh decision on Bournemouth. It looked ball to shoulder and not shoulder to ball.

Cross from King and Harry Wilson heads it straight at Nick Pope! Bournemouth have had three great chances to be ahead, but haven't taken any of them. Bournemouth have at least been making chances.

Stacey wins a corner. Surman has a shot blocked. Callum Wilson can't get a shot away. Surman makes a mistake with Stacey on half way but McNeil can't make the most of it.

Gosling just gets back in time to take the ball off of Vydra as he cut in past Steve Cook. Bournemouth are starting to lose the ball in areas where they are under little pressure, it's careless. King wins a free kick against Bardesley.

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Billing tackles back but has given a free kick away. Steve Cook struggles to get the ball away with the ball flicking off the defender's right hand. Vydra is offside with a ball over the top.

King in the left to Stacey and the shot is saved by Pope at his left post. At the other end Ramsadale has to come out to stop Vydra, Francis headed it backwards straight to Vydra.

Ramsdale makes a punch. Burnley getting some possession as the first half come towards a close. Francis is booked, taking down Vydra, two minutes to half -time. The ball is deflected for a corner. Ramsdale catches cleanly.

A long shot from McNeil is held by Ramsdale. More blocks by Bournemouth defenders. It's a free kick to Bournemouth. Just one minute of added time.

AFCB possession 60%, Shots 8, Shots on target 3, Fouls 2
Burnley possession 40%, Shots 7, Shots on target 4, Fouls 4

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Second half
Francis skies a clearance. The wind is against Bournemouth this half. Gosling wins the ball well. Adam Smith gets a cross in which is knocked behind by McNeil for a corner to Bournemouth.

Taylor wins a Burnley corner. Surman heads it out on the near post. Bournemouth clear again. Callum Willson wins a soft foul. Bournemouth needed some possession. Pope punches clear.

Vydra on the break has cut inside Francis and shoots past Ramsdale it's 1-0 to Burnley on 52 minutes. VAR is reviewing the goal for a possible offside. The goal has been given. Francis just out played and over committed.

Bournemouth have to come out now. A shot from Gosling is held by Poe low to his left. Tarkowski now plays for time to slow the game down.

Callum Wilson breaks free and Harry Wilson has scored through the legs to make it 1-1 on 57 minutes, it's another VAR check. Did Adam Smith handball it? The goal has been disallowed and it's a penalty to Burnley. Ramsdale is beaten by Jay Rodrigues from the spot 2-0 on the hour.

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Bardsley is booked for a foul on Josh King. Bournemouth prepare a double sub. Fraser and Stanislas are coming on. A shot from Westwood is held by Ramsdale.

Burnley win a corner off Steve Cook. Surnam and Josh King are replaced on 70 minutes. Billing concedes a free kick and Ramsdale saves from Rodriguez, down to his right.

Ramsdale against Rodriguez one-on-one but Ramsdlae wins the battle and stands big.  Steve Cook was beaten by the pass and Rodriguez should have scored.

Harry Wilson is subbed fir Solanke on 74 minutes. Solanke makes a block from Jack Cork. Another chance for Burnley and Vydra has missed at the far post. Hendrick made the play from teh right and it came across the box and it was a tap in for Vydra really.

It's becoming end to end now.  Just 10 minutes to go. A strike from McNeil and he's hit the post from 25 yards. Burnley sub Vydra from Lennon on 82 minutes. Lennon is carded for fouling Surman.

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Lennon gets a cross in, but Bournemouth get it clear. Billing loses the ball. Bournemouth keep losing possession and this time they are punished as McNeil breaks and fires in a third on 87 minutes 3-0 to Burnley.

Another yellow card is handed out to Hendrick on Fraser. It's all kicking off with Adam Smith going in on Tarkowski. A yellow card to Adam Smith.

Burnley sub Cork and McNeil and on come Brownhill and Bradey on 90+1 minutes. Four minutes of added time are being played. Stacey is in and crosses and Callum Wilson has fired wide from six yards!

Solanke is taken down by Ben Mee on the edge of the box. Mee is yellow carded. Stanislas will take the free kick. It goes wide and that's it.

Summary
Bournemouth won't have many more painful games than this one. The score line was unjust, but Bournemouth didn't take their chances and VAR came in to sweep the game away from the Cherries. At the end of the day the Cherries had no luck and while as fans we can be encouraged by the first half performance. Football is cruel sometimes and Bournemouth simply have to recover better than they did in this game.

AFCB Starting line up

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Rico, Simpson, L Cook, Stanislas, Fraser, Solanke

AFCB Ratings:
Ramsdale 8, Stacey 6, Francis 3, S Cook 5, A Smith 6, H Wilson 5, Gosling 4, Surman 5, Billing 4, King 7, C Wilson 5

Burnley

1 Pope, 26 Bardsley, 5 Tarkowski, 6 Mee, 3 Taylor, 13 Hendrick, 18 Westwood,
4 Cork (Brownhll 90+1), 11 McNeil (Bradey 90+1), 19 Rodriguez, 27 Vydra (Lennon 82)

Burnley Subs: 
20 Hart, 7 Gudmundsson, 8 Brownhill, 12 Brady, 23 Pieters, 25 Lennon, 28 Long

Cherry Chimes MoM: Aaron Ramsdale


Ref Watch: Mike Dean 5/10 A hard game to referee but the decisions were largely taken out of his hands. A few more yellow cards may perhaps escaped him though.

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