I am releasing a few extracts from my new book entitled The Disrupted Season (2019-20) to give AFCB fans a chance to get a feel for the text inside. The book was released in September and is already gathering sales and raising some money for Julia's House Children's Charity. The following section looks at Bournemouth's first home win last season on 15 September against Everton and the return of Lewis Cook.
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order
I detailed the mood ahead of the next match with Everton. ‘In a week that we have seen Mark Travers win his first senior cap for the Republic of Ireland squad, the focus on AFCB's keepers is as high as ever. The competition for the top spot hasn't slowed, despite the departure of Asmir Begović.
It was a fresh-looking AFCB starting 11 at the Everton match. Fraser and Lerma were rested on the bench to give Dominic Solanke and Lewis Cook a start for the first time this season. Diego Rico and Jack Stacey also came into the team for Chris Mepham and the injured Adam Smith.
Bournemouth got the important first goal from a set-piece when a cross came off Josh King at the far post and Callum Wilson could simply head in from close range. But the lead only lasted 19 minutes, as Richarlison crossed for the visitors a minute before half-time and Dominic Calvert-Lewin rose above Steve Cook to head in for 1-1.
The game swung very much in Bournemouth’s favour when Harry Wilson was subbed and Ryan Fraser came on. The Scotsman’s free kick, a few minutes after coming on, was deflected in off Fabian Delph, but Fraser was allowed to keep the goal. Matters were then finalised when Diego Rico chipped a ball over Everton’s defence, on the left side, and Callum Wilson broke free to lob Jordan Pickford and make it 3-1 to the Cherries.
‘Bournemouth found their swagger in the second half and were helped with some poor defending by Everton. Callum Wilson has shot to the top of Bournemouth's goal scorers and looked hungry for more. It was Lewis Cook and Josh King that impressed me most though of the outfield players, while Ramsdale was again steady in goal. This was an encouraging performance.’
Eddie Howe was adamant that the first win at home against Everton was a defining moment in the Cherries season. I was equally enthused by what the Cherries had just done. ‘Bournemouth would have been hovering just above the bottom three if they hadn’t beaten Everton. By changing the team to get the result, Eddie now has a happy bunch of players all eager to try and get into the game for the Friday night fixture against Southampton.’
I added that ‘the match against Everton was not all perfect by any means. Before Bournemouth took the lead, Everton had hit the bar and looked the most likely to score, but a corner kick gave Callum Wilson his chance to add to his goals this season. Heading in the goal showed how he doesn't care how the goals come, as long as they come to him.’
Even more evident was that Lewis Cook’s return had been massive for the team. He dominated the early part of the match and he looked like he had never been away.’
Unbeknown to us he [Lewis Cook] had two games in the weeks running up to his first league match and was able to play a good hour against Everton. Eddie Howe said his team needed him to play and his impact could be seen right from the start.
‘The crowd enjoyed seeing Lewis back in action and the way they responded to his every touch will have given him an even better feeling inside, which certainly helped his game. For me, he was the man of the match, because he shouldn't have been that good coming back into the team after having a horrendous injury. But he was brave and was pleased to start, which was throwing him in at the deep end.'
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The Disrupted Season (2019-20) is available now as a £9.99 ebook or as an £11.49 paperback. The book gives a full view of last season and discusses not only the matches but all the turmoil around the decision to stop playing football, project restart and the drama of the nine game run-in.
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