Bournemouth get stuck in the starting blocks against Palace

Match Report

AFCB 0 v 2 Crystal Palace

20 June 2020

Project restart didn't begin at all for the Cherries. A master free kick from Lika Milivojevic in the first 12 minutes, and with Jordan Ayew made it 2-0 on 23 minutes, Bournemouth were chasing shadows. Zaha pulled the strings in the first 45 minutes, and Bournemouth fans expected Eddie Howe to give the Cherries a rocket at half-time. The second half offered little consolation with Josh King hobbling off from a Gary Cahill challenge. Bournemouth offered little on the big night and deserved nothing. Keeping Bournemouth up looks beyond even Eddie Howe at this moment.

Guess who's back?

Bournemouth made three changes to their last match against Liverpool. In came David Brooks, Harry Wilson and Josh King. Dropped were Ryan Fraser, Philip Billing and Junior Stanislas. Lewis Cook also got the nod over Dan Gosling in centre midfield.

It was a sunny evening with the players standing around the centre circle before kick-off ready for the Premier League music, before they took the knee for black lives matter campaign.

Crystal Palace started fast, but Bournemouth got into their stride by the second minute. David Brooks was seeing a bit of the ball early on and Bournemouth were passing well to keep hold of possession. Brooks ran well down the right but couldn't keep the ball in play, despite beating McArthur. Lewis Cook knocked the ball in on five minutes, but it was never going to stand.

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Lerma was getting stuck in, and Lewis Cook made a good run down the centre of the field before he over hit a pass. Callum Wilson then put an even worse pass out on half way.

McArthur beat a few players in Bournemouth's right side, before Zaha hit a shot over in Palace's most menacing move of the opening minutes. Brooks then gave away a free kick on Zaha outside the box. The momentum was with Palace. Milivojevic struck the free kick right in the top left corner on 12 minutes, even though Ramsdale got a hand to it. 

Brooks did a good reverse pass, then Josh King got a good ball through to Callum Wilson, but Cahill defended well for a corner. Brooks knocked the ball back in and Callum headed over on 17 minutes.

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Stacey put a weak clearance out before Milivojevic hammered a shot over. Bournemouth have been shaken by the goal and it is all Palace for the moment. 

Zaha bides his time. Van Aanholt then ran around the back of Bournemouth's right side, past Harry Wilson and Jack Stacey, and Jordon Ayew made it 2-0 from around the penalty spot, right in the bottom left corner on 23 minutes. Harry Wilson didn't track his runner and Adam Smith let Ajew run free as well.

Bournemouth look completely out of sorts. King's shot goes wider than the corner flag! Steve Cook then over hits a long ball. Brooks battles away before Lerma stabs a shot wide. If anything is going to happen for Bournemouth, it will be via David Brooks you feel.

Bournemouth finally win a corner on 35 minutes from a Stacey cross. A short corner ends up with AFCB winning another corner. At the other end, Steve Cook puts the ball out for a corner. Aké wins the header before King is fouled. 

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Bournemouth win a corner five minutes before half-time. Aké goes down and Benteke heads the ball out. The VAR check says the block on Aké was accidental. Harry Wilson is clipped. Brooks with a free kick over hits it. 

Ayew is carded gong through on the back of Lerma. Two added minutes. Stacey gets in behind, but is blocked for a corner. Lewis Cook sops a breakaway but Adam Smith us carded for a late challenge on Zaha.

Bournemouth host the first BBC Premier League
match ever but it's a game we'll want to forget.

Second half

Harry Wilson was replaced by Arnaut Danjuma at half-time. Lewis Cook gave away a foul straight away. King is fouled on the break by Cahill. King has signalled to go off. King is on his feet but the challenge went straight through his left ankle. Solanke is coming on after 49 minutes for King.

Lerma has a shot blocked by Scott Dann. Danjuma made a good turn, before Lewis Cook slipped a shot wide.

A free kick to Bournemouth on 54 minutes was bent high by Lewis Cook, but Lerma was offside. Danjuma does well and wins a corner. Brooks and Stacey work well to get another corner.

David Brooks is subbed on 61 minutes for Junior Stanislas. Solanke plays well to win a corner taking on three players. Aké heads at goal, but the keeper saves. Aké collides with Cahill. Aké's header as the first Bournemouth attempt on goal on 64 minutes.

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Milivojevic us subbed for McArthy on 65 minutes. Lewis Cook is carded for a challenge on Ayew. Crazy, he got the ball. When King had a challenge like that earlier, Cahill was not booked.

Solanke bursts through but stubs his shot wide. Ward is carded for fouling Adam Smith. Stanislas takes the following corner, but Palace come away with the ball. Stanislas tries to curl a shot but it doesn't bend. Benteke is subbed for Townsend.

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Palace get their second corner. Callum Wilson is fouled on the edge of the box. Stanislas hits the wall with the free kick. Steve Cook is carded for a foul on Ajew. 

Riedewald replaces MacArthur. Six added minutes go up for added time. Lerma gets frustrated with Palace keeping the ball in the corner. Callum Wilson tries to get on the end of a long ball, but Guaita wins the ball. Kouyaté takes an elbow from Lewis Cook, but VAR says not violent conduct.

A final corner fro Bournemouth. Adam Smith stops Zaha. Aké blocks Zaha and Palace have a corner.

Summary

Bournemouth made it easy for Palace. Sloppy free-kicks on the edge of the box given away and far too much space given for runners. Palace were organised and just set a line of two walls up to keep Bournemouth at arms length. Bournemouth had one shot on target and they didn't have any threat. David Brooks was the only bright spark and Eddie has much thinking to do, because on this performance Bournemouth can start planning for the Championship.

AFCB line up

AFCB Subs: 1 Boruc, 4 Gosling, 6 Surman, 26 Kelly, 21 Rico,
33 Mepham, 14 Danjuma, 19 Stanislas, 9 Solanke

AFCB Ratings

Ramsdale 6, Stacey 5, S Cook 6, Aké 6, A Smith 5, H Wilson 5, Brooks 7, Lerma 6,

L Cook 5,  King 6,  C Wilson 5

Cherry Chimes MoM - David Brooks

Crystal Palace

31 Guaita, 2 Ward, 6 Dann, 24 Cahill, 3 van Aanholt, 8 Kouyaté, 4 Milivojevic (McArthy 65),

18 McArthur (Riedewald 89), 9 J Ayew, 17 Benteke (Townsend 76), 11 Zaha

Crystal Palace Subs

7 Meyer, 10 Townsend, 12 Sakho, 13 Hennessey, 22 McArthy, 36 Tracers, 39 Michell,

40 Patrick Keutcha, 44 Riedewald

Rival Lines: "We haven't really missed Wan Bissaka," says The Eagles Beak

Rival Lines

Match Preview: Crystal Palace v AFCB
Blogger Interview The Eagles Beak
Twitter: @TheEaglesBeak

CC: I had a quick few hours to try and get a word wit jay at the Eagles Beak ahead of the match tonight against Crystal Palace. They are on a reasonable run away from home and will want to bring that form to Selhurst Park. While they sit ahead of the Cherries, a win against Palace could put Bournemouth back ahead of the Eagles. So what have Bournemouth to be worried about?

CC: You have played a lot of the top teams in recent weeks so are you confident of a good run of results in December?

TEB: We were handed a rough deal by the fixture computer, that's for sure but we have got through with perhaps not the points some of our play has deserved. There was a concern that the confidence would be hit but seeing the win at Burnley at the weekend, it is clear that has not been the case which is good news going into a kinder run of games. No game is easy, but December hands us fixtures that we need to be looking to take points from and we have started in the best way possible.

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CC: How do you fee about the team's home form?

TEB: Better than we have become used to when comparing with previous season's. We were unbeaten before hosting City which was pleasing, and it has been nice to see some results at home. It could be better but there has been a distinct improvement. I do find we struggle more at home as the onus is on Palace to take the game to the opposition and that often presents it's own problems. But, for the most part, we have done well this season.

CC: What is the injury situation like at the moment?

TEB: Pretty good, we only missed Joel Ward and Gary Cahill at the weekend - Ward could miss a couple of weeks while Cahill could be back on Tuesday. Connor Wickham is pushing for a place on the bench but Scott Dann left the pitch injured against Burnley, so we will have to see how he is. Good to see Mamadou Sakho back in his place at the weekend who has missed most of the season so far.

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CC: Who would you say was the most improved player for Palace this season?

TEB: Good question - a lot of fans were disappointed by the fact we failed to replace Aaron Wan-Bissaka after his sale to United in the summer so we only had Joel Ward to step in. Ironically, he lost his place to AWB and the youngster never looked back, but Ward has done a great job this season and while he has a completely different style, it may sound odd but we have not really missed AWB which is testament to his performances.

CC: Whose form is dipping at the moment?

TEB: That has to be Patrick van Aanholt. He struggled last season, but while he has had one or two decent games he has not really got himself of the rut that he found himself in. He has a horrible habit of pushing a winger inside too many times rather than forcing them out wide and not getting close enough. Going forward, he really gives us something extra but defensively he really has regressed.

CC: What position needs to be strengthened in January?

TEB: Striker and we need to start planning for life without Wilfried Zaha but the latter will probably have to wait for the summer. We have actually done okay up front this season which is largely thanks to Jordan Ayew making the lone striker role his own since sigining on a permanent deal. However, we do need to give him some support. Christian Benteke has been a shadow of his former self and with not being able to rely upon Connor Wickham we could do with a third option.

CC: Would European football be great or would it come to soon if it happened in May?

TEB: Wolves have really taken it in their stride this year while Burnley struggled with the additional games. Whichever way it comes, yes, it would be fantastic to see Palace qualify for Europe. You cannot plan these things and you have to take them when they come along - a little like our promotion back to the Premier League, many fans said we were in no position to compete in the top division but we've done alright.

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CC: What's your score prediction for Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth

TEB: After the result at Burnley at the weekend I'm hoping that we can follow that up with a good result to force ourselves back into the top ten. It will be a tough game as always against the Cherries but I fancy us to take advantage of your dip in form and take a 2-1 win.

CC: Thanks to Jay for some great inside information on Crystal Palace from the Eagles Beak. I might be able to put a smile on my face if Scott Dann is unable to play - he's caused AFCB loads of problems in the last few meetings. It seems that AFCB have been falling and Palace rising in recent weeks and they now meet when the top 10 place is up for grabs for either of them. The loser though would be perhaps slightly behind the pace for this season, while 19  for Bournemouth or 21 points for Palace would a good return from 15 games. Back-to back wins are difficult for any team apart form the top three, but Bournemouth need to pick up points now to avoid problems by the end of December.

In other news, AFC Bournemouth have a home draw for the third round FA Cup weekend in January when they'll be playing Luton Town of the Championship.

Chelsea are a familiar foe

Having already played Chelsea this season at home and lost it will be a very big job for Bournemouth to go to Stamford Bridge to get a result. Chelsea got the the fifth round or quarter-final of the Carabao Cup having got passed Everton 2-1 at home on 25 October. The team they had out that day was not star studded, but then Bournemouth are unlikely to field their strongest side for this game either.

Chelsea at Dean Court earlier this season.

Well Chelsea should be a familiar foe, but I expect there will be a few names that fans don't recognise in Chelsea's starting line up. It will be a chance for Conte to play a few senior players that are not getting games as well as youngsters and I'll be keen to see if we do get to see a few top class players like Willian and Cahill who played in the last round. If Eden Hazard is on the bench as a safety net it won't be a comforting sight for Eddie Howe. Even the players that are not playing regularly for Chelsea would walk into Bournemouth side.

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But Bournemouth have to concentrate on the 11 players that do start off and look to win early tackles and try and build some confidence by getting on the ball. I'm more worried about what side Bournemouth are going to put out than the quality of the players they will be facing. Whatever ambitions fans may have or hopes of getting to the Semi-final it will be probably shattered when we see the line up. But there are players that do deserve a game against a top side like Chelsea and if we can get to see players like Jack Simpson, Conner Mahoney and Emerson Hyndman I would be more then happy as we have not see enough of how they might be developing over recent months.

The game also gives Eddie Howe a chance to pit his wits against one of the best managers in the Premier League and every game he gets to try and out think a manager like Antonio Conte has to be good for his own development. Howe has not got a win against Conte and he probably keeps a note of when he has beaten Mourhino and Klopp and what he learnt from those games. Sadly, the wins have not been as frequent as we'd like against Chelsea, but playing  these kind of players more and more often can only help Bournemouth's players to feel that they are working on a stage where they can hold their own.

AFCB will have to be at their very best for Chelsea

At some point the Cherries were going to have to play the former Champions and while the timing might not be the best with the Blues starting to improve their form, it should not be underestimated how Eddie Howe's side are now in full battle mode as they look to start getting the wins to prolong their time in the Premier League.

For all the improvements that AFCB are now showing, they still only have two wins out of 14 games and that statistic will be difficult to improve on at Stamford Bridge. Don't be fooled by Chelsea's low league position they are capable of playing at Champions League standard at any time and this has to be one of the biggest tests of the season for Eddie Howe and his side. Should that frighten AFCB fans? No, but there has to be some reality about how huge the task is ahead of the Bournemouth players that have had moments when they have been shaky at the back even against Everton in their last game. Now they have a third choice keeper as well and Harry Arter might also be up against a late fitness test.

Cancelling out the nervous moments are something that the side just has to try and work at. It is simple to want to play at your best and yet it is another thing to do that when you have players running at you like Diego Costa and Eden Hazard. The aim though has to be to give Jose Mourinho another bad day at the office, and with Chelsea having already had three home defeats already at Stamford Bridge, there will be an edginess to the home crowd if things don't go according to plan for Mourinho's men.

The Cherries should enjoy the next challenge.

Chelsea play the power game and look to win set-pieces - a real weakness of AFCB to defend. They will try and dominate and force errors and so the Cherries will know what is coming. Finding an outlet will be crucial to relieve the pressure and the running abilities of Adam Smith and Junior Stanislas might be something that Eddie Howe employs from the start, as Chelsea's back four are no longer as quick as they once were. The pace of King will be a headache for Chelsea but the runs of Stanislas and Dan Gosling have to test Cahill and Terry if he plays.

At the back for Bournemouth, Distin has to have a big game. I would not be surprised if Simon Francis now comes in next to him at centre back again, as that would allow Smith to start with Ritchie on the right. Eddie must look to find as many problems for Jose as he can and by having a few more dynamic players who will run at defences on the pitch we just might see AFCB's A game prevail in a match that the pundits won't give the Cherries a hope of winning.

Probable AFCB team

Allsop (GK), Smith (RD), Francis (CD), Distin (CD), Daniels (LD), Ritchie (RM), Gosling (CM), O’Kane (CM), Surman (CM), Stanislas (LM), King (FW)

Cherries Subs
Holmes (GK), Bennett (LD), Cook (CD), MacDonald (CM), Tomlin (CM/FW), Kermorgant (FW), Murray (FW)