The Cherries found themselves 3-0 down in 43 minutes as they struggled to contain the hosts. While Danjuma looked lively early on, it was Reading that were hitting the target with Laurent and McIntyre firing Reading well ahead before sharpshooter Lucas João made it three before half-time. At this point, it looked like a salvage respectability mission in the second half. While their subs were the immediate response, it took until the last 10 minutes for Bournemouth fas to have something to cheer when Junior Stanislas converted a free kick into the top corner.
Bournemouth made three changes to the starting line up. David Brooks, Jack Wilshere and Lloyd Kelly made way for Dominic Solanke, Jefferson Lerma and Chris Mepham. The other big news was that Junior Stanislas was back on the bench. One onlooking spectator would also be Ben Pearson who signed from Preston North End, but there were also rumours that Matt Ritchie could be heading back to Bournemouth, while Josh King announced he would be staying until the end of the season at Bournemouth.
The Cherries started in a 4-3-3 formation with Danjuma on the left-wing and King on the right side. Danjuma had the first pop at goal with a shot from outside the box which was saved on five minutes.
Reading looked closer to the opener when João raced between Mepham and Begovic to pick up a back pass. He passed to John Swift who shot just wide of the post with Steve Cook covering the goal.
Reading scored following a corner as Mepham blocks a shot from McIntyre only for Josh Laurent to find the net from close range. Danjuma then had his shot blocked.
Things got worse for the Cherries when Rico made a foul and was booked. The free kick from Olise was saved by Begovic but the ball spilled out to McIntyre who made it 2-0 on 30 minutes.
John Swift was also booked for a foul on Solanke. Solanke had a header blocked following a corner before Solanke's header was saved in the top corner.
Bournemouth mounted the first attack of the second half with David Brooks' cross was met by Adam Smith's header which was too high. Begovic then had to make a save from John Swift's attempt from outside the box.
While Lewis Cook shot wide from distance, it was Reading looking more likely to score. John Swift was getting in good positions and had another shot go over.
Reading then attacked with Ejaria firing wide. Bournemouth switched with King playing alongside Solanke up front. But the change didn't work as Reading went 3-0 up after João cuts inside and beat Begovic on 43 minutes.
Bournemouth made three changes for the second half on came Brooks, Wilshere and Smith to replace, Danjuma. Lerma and Rico.
Josh King's burst of speed took him to the box but his shot was deflected for a corner off Rinomhota. Dominic Solanke missed a chance from the center of the box, before Billing had a shot saved that was headed for the corner of the goal. Steve Cook added the frustration with a header from a corner that was saved.
Lewis Cook was next to miss following a corner. Semedo replaced Swift for Reading who had had a good game. Reading were back testing Begovic with João having a shot saved and Laurent shooting from distance. Aluko then came on for Ejaria.
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Stanislas made his return coming on for Billing in the last 10 minutes. Wilshere won a free kick and Stanislas founds the left corner - Bournemouth were on the score sheet 3-1.
King then had a shot blocked. Reading subbed Olise, João and Holmes for Esteves, Meite and Yiadom. Six minutes of added time go up.
Esteves shoots too high. Wilshere's cross is headed over by Solanke. Meite's shot is saved.
Summary
It's hard to know how Jason Tindall is going to turn this around. The team were out of their depth and just unable to compete. There's no leadership or willingness to make things easier for one another. The pressure is on and Bournemouth haven't been able to respond. They are in free fall and this is a problem that may not be a quick fix. The players have lost their confidence and their motivation under Tindall. It will be quite something if the Cherries can pick themselves up from this. There have been too many off days and it's really starting to show now.
Reading: 33 Cabral Barbosa, 29 Holmes (Yiadom 88), 4 Morrison, 5 McIntyre, 3 Richards, 8 Rinomhota, 28 Laurent, 7 Olise (Esteves 88), 10 Swift (Semedo 73), 14 Ejaria (Aluko 77), 18 Lucas João (Meite 88)
2 Esteves, 11 Meite, 15 Gibson, 17 Yiadom, 22 Southwood, 24 Aluko, 30 Semedo,
34 Tetek, 46 Onen
AFCB Subs: Dennis, Smith, Simpson, Carter-Vickers,
Wilshere, Stanislas, Brooks, Riquelme, Surridge.
I like others was not sold on the Tindall appointment however,last night was down to players in my view, they let him down. His substitutions stopped the rot, essentially 1 nil to us. No grit... Billing lost the ball and just trotted back to watch Reading score was just one example.
ReplyDeleteHarsh to query if Tindall should stay but results need to come soon.
Thinking JT has to look back to 8 weeks ago when we were scoring goals and winning games. What's changed? There is one key player back in the mix who has already stated that he wants to leave the club but when January arrived no one came knocking and now he is in the starting line up and not having any real impact, we are scoring less goals and dont seem to be playing as a team anymore. A bad apple in the basket that has affected the way we were playing!
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of the season I was thinking it would be good if we could keep him but when he was out injured or recovering from covid we were winning games, scoring goals and were chasing for the top spot and now since his return we look awful, we are not playing as a team, lack imagination and have lost our spark. Sorry to say but Josh King just is not helping us one little bit and i think we were better without him on the pitch!!
Yeah poor business Fraser all over again, that said Josh is going to to play a blinding second half season to get the move he wants
DeleteWhy does the team play so bad in January? Wonder the Cherries record the last two or three January? My memory say really really poor.
ReplyDelete