Bournemouth like playing at St Andrews. They soon found themselves going ahead when some slick inter-passing saw Lerma weave his way across the Birmingham defence and Stanislas thread through a ball for Bournemouth's sharp shooting Arnaut Danjuma to score on nine minutes. Bournemouth lost Lewis Cook to injury halfway through the half. We have to wait to near the end of the first half for Bournemouth to extend the lead, when David Brooks saw his shot deflect in off Marc Roberts. Bournemouth extended the lead with David Brooks following up Solanke's shot that hit the post to make it 0-3, before Scott Hogan headed a goal back for Birmingham City. Bournemouth kept their heads despite a strong late flourish by Birmingham.
Jason Tindall made four changes from mid-week. In came Lloyd Kelly, Lewis Cook, Junior Stanislas and Dominic Solanke. Out went Steve Cook, Dan Gosling, Josh King and Adam Smith. There was still no place for Cameron Carter-Vickers in the squad.
Match description
It's Birmingham with the early possession and McGhee has the first shot from the right side of the box and its wide.
Kelly wins a free kick. Bournemouth has won a corner with their first attack. Danjuma is looking lively and links well with Brooks. Lerma has been caught by McGhee.
Lerma beats a couple of players and gets it forward to Solanke. The ball is moving across the box. Stanislas takes over. Stanislas makes a great pass through to Danjuma who has finished well. Cracking goal, curled into the far corner - Bournemouth 0-1 up on nine minutes.
Bournemouth have the start they wanted and have another corner. Stacey plays it to Solanke and his shot is on target but saved by Etheridge in the centre of the goal. Good start by Bournemouth. Much better than the last few games.
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order
Solanke is fouled on the edge of the box. Free kick chance for Bournemouth. Stanislas hits the wall and Brooks has shot over. Brooks is found in acres of space but can't get the ball down and Birmingham clear.
McGee shoots from distance but Begovic is there. Long ball from the keeper and Scott Hogan shoots wide. Lerma has fouled Jutkiewicz. Lerma gets forward and into the area but Etheridge makes a save.
Solanke has a shot that is saved. Lerma shoots over. Brooks puts in a low cross and Solanke's touch comes off a Birmingham player for a corner. Birmingham have changed to put four in midfield now as they try and stem the attacks from Bournemouth. Stansials shoots but is blocked.
Jutkiewicz gets a header on target but Begovic is there.
Lewis Cook runs into a Birmingham player and is hurt. Dan Gosling is coming on for him. Birmingham attack, McGhee's cross is headed wide by Gardner.
Advertisement  |
Danjuma wins a free kick. Corner now to Bournemouth. Brooks inside two defenders and shoots. The ball has deflected off of Roberts and its 0-2 to Bournemouth. Kelly plays it to Danjuma but he shoots too high.
Begovic has to make a save and tips it wide after Rico sliced his clearance. Birmingham corner.
AFCB Possession 63%, 9 Shots, 4 Shots on target, 4 Corners, 1 Fouls
Birmingham Possession 37%, 8 Shots, 2 Shots on target, 1 Corner, 5 Fouls.
Second half
Stacey has been fouled. Lerma has gone down in a good area just outside the box. Danjuma hits the wall before Brooks is fouled.
Kelly makes a good tackle. Mepham gets the ball and Solanke through on goals and hits the top of the left post, Brooks follows up and its 0-3 to Bournemouth. McGree is subbed for Bela on 53 minutes.
Rico fouls. Free kick to Birmingham. Bela takes it and Hogan has headed it in 1-3 at the near post. Rico concedes a corner. Kelly knocks it off for another corner. Stacey clears, another Birmingham corner.
Bournemouth now have a corner. Another corner off Roberts. Kelly's shot is blocked. Gardner's shot is blocked. Gosling and Brooks gets down the wing and shoots but Etheridge saves.
Leko replaces Hogan on 66 minutes.
Rico plays it across to Solanke and San José is booked for a foul. Danjuma to Brooks and his shot is saved. Bournemouth have a corner. The ball hit Roberts' hand but no penalty is given.
Roberts crosses but Dean heads wide. Stanislas picks up a yellow card after time-wasting following a foul on Kieftenbeld. Bournemouth are back in control and pick up a corner.
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order
Solanke to Gosling who shoots but is blocked by Roberts. Lerma's shot is saved, but it's another corner. Kelly's shot is blocked.
Jutkiewicz fouls Kelly and is booked. Jutkiewicz from the edge of the box fires wide. Bela goes close with a drive. Birmingham are finishing strongly. Begovic concedes a corner. Dean shoots wide from outside the box.
Four minutes of added time. Kelly wins a free kick. Bournemouth have seen it out.
Summary
Only Bournemouth's second win in seven games. Birmingham came on well at the end but Bournemouth were too good for them early on and fully-deserved the win. David Brooks will be pleased with his two goals, but it is the in-form Danjuma who leads the goal chart for the Cherries. Solane came very close to scoring when Brooks finished off his shot that came back off the post, and at the back it was a good performance without Steve Cook although the clean sheet wasn't quite possible.
AFCB Subs: Travers, Simpson. Smith, Riquelme, Gosling, King, Surridge
Birmingham
Etheridge, Colin, Dean, Roberts, San José, Boyd-Munce, Kieftenbeld, Gardner, McGree (Bela53), Jutkiewicz, Hogan (Leko 63)
Birmingham Subs: Prietro, Dacres-Cogley, Toral, Davis, Bela, Sanchez, Leko
Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Can St Andrews remain a happy hunting ground for AFCB?
No comments:
Post a Comment