Rico doesn't need to look at goal to score

The win at Barnsley was a welcome three points. Just as pleasing was the goal that Diego Rico scored in the second half that was most unexpected. Diego has been well noted as a crosser and for putting balls in the box, but we haven't really seen him shoot at goal very often and his first goal for AFCB is something we will remember for some time.

Diego Rico has a sixth sense when it comes to taking free kicks.

The way Diego looked when lining up the free kick, I thought why doesn't he have a go at goal. He didn't even look at the goal, but was signalling for players to get in the box. It was a clever tactic and very brave of the Spanish defender as if he had missed he would have had the rath of his teammates to contend with afterwards. As it was, he struck the ball very cleanly and it rocketed into the net with the keeper having no chance. I liked his celebration as well covering up one eye, as if to say, I don't need to even look at the goal to know where it is.

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Bournemouth have suddenly started to look like a team that can score from set-pieces again. While the corner routines have not been coming off there has been plenty of practise on the training pitch with free kicks it seems. That is probably due to the absence of Harry Wilson this season. The players will know that some of them have to step up and fill that opportunity. 

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Junior Stanislas has been the regular free kick taker, but it is good to see he has competition. Junior scored his trademark free kick against Preston North End and now I suppose all eyes will be on David Broks to see when he can pop a free kick in from outside the box. The shooting from outside the area has been terrific this season. Philip Billing also chipped in for the first goal against Barnsley and with Lewis Cook's first goal for Bournemouth the other week, and Danjuma's long-range winner against Norwich a while back, AFCB are accruing quite a catalogue of spectacular goals from distance.

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Whether Rico will be allowed to take more free kicks remains to be seen. It seemed that Steve Cook was certainly hoping that a few more free kicks and corners could be sent his way, so that he could head in a goal and get his scoring off to a start at some point.

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