AFCB master the second half sleepwalk at Cardiff

While we can say Steve Cook was a bit unfortunate to get caught off-balance and handle the ball for Cardiff's penalty, it was hard for Howe to come up with an explanation for the second goal right at the start of the second half. Somethings are not defendable and it's hard to work out why the ease with which Bobby Reid slipped in Cardiff's second goal came about.

Another tough day for AFCB's backline.

The second goal just summed up what a poor performance it was by Bournemouth at Cardiff. The players had only just come out of the dressing room after words of encouragement from Eddie Howe. Neil Warnock hadn't even got back to his seat and Bobby Reid and Cardiff were celebrating a two goal lead. The timing of the second goal was crucial. Had Bournemouth started tee second half well and got an equaliser, the game could have turned on its head. But Bournemouth sunk really quickly once the second goal went in.

In the past Bournemouth have often managed to find something when they look out of games. But there was no fightback. Howe made three changes in the second half, but none of the subs managed to generate any energy or purpose. The fact that Howe made three subs in the second half tells me that he thought the players looked tiered or drained.

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There is a question over whether Bournemouth ever have a plan B when things don't go their way. I believe it depends on the players Howe has at his disposal on the bench. At the moment the quality just isn't quite there to change games, and while Jermain Defoe celebrates another goal in Scotland, I just wonder if Bournemouth really did good business in letting a game changer sit out so many games at Bournemouth before letting him go on loan?

Bobby Reid bags a brace against blundering Cherries

Match Report

Cardiff 2 v 0 AFCB

2 February 2019

Attendance: 31,939

Bournemouth fall to seventh away defeat in a row.

Bournemouth fell to earth pretty quickly after Steve Cook made a handball in the first five minutes of this match and Bobby Reid made gave Cardiff the lead from the spot. More embarrassment was to come though when at the start of the second half Bournemouth were caught napping and Bobby Reid stole in to score Cardiff's second goal. There was no creativity and no ideas to break down the Cardiff defence. Seven away games without a win is truly disappointing, and Bournemouth found it hard to cope with the fire that Cardiff played with.

Bournemouth only made one change from the last match with Dominic Solanke making his AFCB debut, coming in for David Brooks who has an ankle injury. That meant Ibe was on the bench again as was new signing Chris Mepham and Jefferson Lemra was also among the subs having missed the Chelsea match.

Niasse gets in over the top, but Boruc saves with his legs. Boruc gets an early touch and King is forced out of play at the Cardiff end. Cardiff cross into the box and  Steve Cook has handballed it. Penalty to Cardiff who score on five minutes Bobby Reid with the goal. Cookie lost his balanced and punched the ball.

Fraser attacks down the left but Gunnarsson fouls him. Murphy knocks it down the line to Niasse and Adam Smith gives a corner away. It's at the back post and Steve Cook gets it away after another handball shout.

Clyne is in behind but there's too much on the ball. Bournemouth are starting to get into the game but they have been ht hard with 12 minutes gone. Solanke gets a touch and Adam Smith is away. King just loses control.

Paterson and Niasse Murphy inside the box and Boruc has to dive at the feet of Murphy. Fraser is being tightly marked by Peltier.

Niasse again and Aké' blocks. Paterson to Murphy and Bennett. Fraser gets across in but Bennet clears. Clyne is tackled by Murphy but Bournemouth have the corner.  King and Surman are keeping possession. Adam Smith puts in a cross but Ecuele-Manga clears.

Some 18 minutes gone. King now finds Solanke in the D. back to Fraser right footed but just wide of the right post! Bournemouth want a corner but Peltier's deflection is not spotted.

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Gosling had to make a header. Bournemouth on the half way line. Stanislas looks for Gosling again. Bournemouth not making much progression as Clyne is booed.

Niasse's pace is really troubling Steve Cook. Paterson puts in a low cross but Surman gets it away. Reid crosses and Boruc back pedals, but it is onto the roof of the net.

Steve Cook at the back and it's up to King and Surman left-footed shot comes off the bar! The keeper might have got a touch on that to Etheridge's right. It's a corner Stanislas and Fraser across the face of goal another corner.

Fraser into the six yard box and headed out towards Surman. Smith comes forward and Stanislas shoots wide. Bournemouth are starting to move the ball better now on 28 minutes.

Bournemouth have another corner and Steve Cook heads it off balance for a goal kick. Gosling gets a hand in the face from Paterson. Stanislas and Cook have the ball. Clyne brings down Murphy. Bournemouth still 0-1 down on half an hour.

King is away from Gunnarsson but it's a free kick to Cardiff. Graham Scott is getting a word battering from Jason Tindall. Bournemouth have work to do. Murphy attacks and finds Paterson and Oumar Niasse shoots, but is charged down by Aké.

Adam Smith now and Stanislas. Bournemouth rotate to Gosling and Adam Smith is fouled by Paterson. Fraser to the back post and it's headed clear. Niasse now in the 18 yard area and his pass is behind Murphy. The assistant referee falls down when trying to put his flag up.

Solanke is tackled by Bamba. Gosling to Stanislas and Fraser gets cut off. Boruc has to come out quick to block Niasse. Solanke takes on Bamba. Clyne needs some attention for his ankle. Stanislas goes back. Clyne wins a corner.

Fraser to Aké who was hanging in the air, but Cardiff clear. Not much movement for Surman to hit up front. King in to Solanke but the ball just runs out of play.

Last five minutes of the first half. Solanke again loses out to Bamba. Gosling fouls Reid. Murphy puts an early cross in and Adam Smith clears for a corner to Cardiff. Cardiff have their shots blocked.

It's been a scrappy half for Bournemouth. Steve Cook comes forward. Surman and up to King. Patient build up from Bournemouth. King puts in a cross and it's blocked. 

One minute of added time. Solanke skips past a couple of players and King puts a shot right at Etheridge. It's 1-0 at half time.

Cardiff fans at Dean Court last August.

Second half
Bournemouth have made a mess of the kick off and Reid is skipping past Boruc and makes it 2-0.  Just a chip over the top and Steve Cook made a poor challenge and Clyne couldn't get back in time to challenge Reid. Boruc came out but couldn't get to the ball. That was embarrassing!

Stanislas is caught on his ankle. Solanke wins a ball back well Gosling on to Fraser who shoots over.

Bournemouth are getting caught by the ball over the top every time. Bamba is booked for a foul on King. Clyne has fouled Murphy and gets booked.

Free kick to Cardiff and it's headed out for a corner. Boruc punches clear and Aké makes a block before the flag goes up for offside. Adam Smith is fouled by Paterson.Clyne gets in and puts it through to Stanislas but he is just held off for a corner. on 55 minutes.

Ecuele-Manga accepts a pass from Surman and almost gets Cardiff on the attack until the offside flag is waved. Fraser puts a cross in and it comes off Bamba's arm but no penalty.

Solanke is taken down by Bamba. Some 36 yards out. Bournemouth have a free kick. It's over Aké's head.

Stanislas is subbed on 60 minutes for Ibe and Solanke is coming off to allow Lys Mousset to come on. Bamba bundles over Josh King, is he off? No some how the ref has let him off again when he's already on one yellow.

Fraser puts a cross in but t doesn't fall to a Bournemouth player. Aké fouls Paterson. Akee just gets enough on his header back to Boruc. Steve Cook goes for a long throw. Mousset gets a touch but Bamba clears.

King puts in a cross that Bamba puts out for a corner to Bournemouth. Lerma is coming on for Gosling on 69 minutes. Hoilet comes on for Murphy. Cook puts in a cross that Etheridge catches.

Cardiff get a corner. But Lerma heads away. Ibe puts a cross in but it's across the six yard area with no red shirt. 

Fraser and Ibe through to Smith but Smith has fouled Bamba and gets carded on 75 minutes. Adam Smith wins a free kick. Aké heads well wide.

Free kick to Cardiff who get the decision from a tussle with Lerma involved. Paterson has a go at getting on the free kick.

Last 10 minutes. Cardiff are getting a sub ready. Off goes Niasse and he is replaced by Zohore on 83 minutes. Good cross from Clyne but it's just too high for Mousset. Cardiff are defending well.

Bournemouth break with Adam Smith, back infield to Lerma, Clyne crosses and it bounces around in the Cardiff box but not to a Bournemouth player, 85 minutes are up.

On comes Bacuna for Reid. This is Cardiff's night. Bournemouth have tried everything. It's just not happening for them. Adam Smith shanks his cross out of play.

Four minutes of added time. Mousset loses the ball trying to pick his way through. Josh King does good work on the edge of the box but Fraser's cross is cleared. Clyne keeps putting in the crosses but it only falls to a blue shirt.

Zohore is against Cook and shoots, but Boruc saves well for a corner.  Cardiff keep it in the corner.

Not a great day for AFCB.

Summary
Bournemouth were a poor shadow of the counter-attacking team we saw in midweek. There was no creativity and some terrible defensive mistakes which Cardiff took full advantage of. Perhaps it was bound to be this outcome with the tribute to Emiliano Sala, but Bournemouth didn't have the fight equal to Cardiff or the ideas to breakdown the strong defending. I kind of saw it coming with the banana skin post yesterday.

AFCB line up

AFCB Subs: Begovic, Rico, Mepham, Daniels, Lerma, Ibe, Mousset

AFCB Ratings

Boruc 6, Clyne 7, S Cook 4, Aké 5, A Smith 5, Stanislas 5, Surman 6, Gosling 5, Fraser 5, King 6, Solanke 5

Cherry Chimes MoM: Nathaniel Clyne  

Ref Watch:  2/10 Jonathan Moss How Bamba stayed on the pitch I don't know but the referee didn't see half the fouls that were committed.

Cardiff City

Etheridge, Peltier, Ecuele-Manga, Bamba, Bennett, Gunnarsson, Ralls, Reid (Macuna 86), Paterson, Murphy (Hoillet 70), Niassse (Zohore 83) 

Cardiff Subs

Zohore, Smithies, Bacuna, Cunnigham, Mendez-Laing, Healey, Hoilett

AFCB cool interest in Championship striker

SkySports are reporting that Bristol City striker Bobby Reid has been the subject of a £7m bid from WBA. Local paper Bristol Live has said the AFCB are still in the running but that the Cherries interest may have cooled.

Who will come to Dean Court this summer?

The Bristol striker appears to want to stay at Ashton Gate having done well their last season with 19 goals. Moving to WBA or AFCB would be a big move for the player. I only wonder would the Cherries be willing to out bid WBA and potentially others to secure the striker, when AFCB are yet to see if they themselves can move on players such as Lewis Grabban and Max Gradel? Bristol City are said to be holding out for £10m.

The sale of Benik Afobe has created some space, but the Cherries are quite heavy in striker numbers currently and while only 45 goals were scored by AFCB last season most fans would point to the defence and lack of clean sheets as being the main area of focus for Eddie Howe to improve the team. Priorities may have a say here and if Reid is not thought to be one for the moment, but a good prospect in two years time then AFCB may well have taken a back seat on the Robins' front man.

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What we can say is that AFCB are actively trying to get signatures across the line, even if they have not yet made any bids for players. The Championship is where we can expect some signings to come from with Tom Pearce of Leeds Utd attracting attention in recent days, despite having signed a new contract at the Yorkshire club.

Last summer AFCB brought in some big names and experience, but the rumours this summer are certainly circulating around non-Premier League players. Bobby Reid might be one that AFCB have decided is not ready yet and WBA may well have got in first now. 

Meanwhile, Bournemouth have been said to have monitored Djurgarden defender Felix Beijmo on more than 10 occasions, but the 20-year-old is expected to sign for German side Werder Bremen this week, according to Expressen. 

In other news, AFCB have named Nottingham Forest as a pre-season away fixture on Saturday 28 July 2018 at 3pm.

Will AFCB chase Liverpool striker?

Liverpool may have lost out in the Champion's League Final, but they have a wealth of talent in the forward department. One striker though who isn't going to find it easy to break int the starting line up could be available for a loan next season. Yes, AFCB are again being linked with Danny Ings and now that the former Bournemouth striker has shown he has recovered from his cruciate ligament injury, he has to be seen as a positive boost to Bournemouth's strike force if he could be captured.

If Ings becomes available then Eddie must try and entice him back to Dean Court.

Danny Ings may have aspirations to be a part of Liverpool's fight for the Premier League title in 2018/19. He is going to have to have a chat with Jurgen Klopp though to see what kind of game time he is likely to get up at Anfield. If it is less than to to 15 sub appearances and a few cup competitions it might be tempting for Ings to consider a loan move. Bournemouth have Jermain Defoe who has experience of being an international striker for England and the Cherries have struggled to make any of their strikers become an effective pair in front of goal. Ings could be the missing link.

What I have always liked about Ings is his energy and enthusiasm. Whether he has lost some of that sine his injury is not going to be really felt until he plays a good number of games. That is why a loan move is perhaps an appealing thought for the player and for AFCB. 

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Bournemouth could risk signing a Championship striker such as Bobby Reid at Bristol City but we know that Ings has played in the Premier League and has scored at this level. We have seen how difficult it can be for players like Afobe to adjust to that. Bournemouth fans also need a signing who will add some excitement to the season ahead, and Ings ticks the boxes for me in being a former player who has perhaps still got his best years to come.

Okay, Ings has had bad injuries. The Cherries do have great experience though at helping players who have been recovering from such injuries, and Ings may well feel a real boost from coming home as it were. Eddie should be on the phone now before others take a punt on Ings, because Danny could boost the Cherries goal count and he would be very well-received if he does turn the style back on at Dean Court.

In other news, Nathan Aké grabs a late equaliser for Netherlands against Italy. It was Nathan's first international goal.