Solanke scores twice for AFCB to win 4-1 against Leicester City

Match Report

Bournemouth 4 v 1 Leicester City

12 July 2020

It was great to finally see a remarkable fightback from the Cherries last night. Leicester came and played like a top four team in the first half. There looked no way back at half -time, after a Jamie Vardy goal had put the Foxes ahead on 23 minutes. Bournemouth were out of it. But things changed at half-time. The team set up with wing backs and started to win possession. A poor goal kick that hit Ndidi's backside opened the door for Bournemouth. Callum Wilson raced in and he was taken down by Ndidi, a penalty resulted. Stanislas scored and Bournemouth were up an running. Solanke hadn't scored a Premier League goal for Bournemouth, but he took on Leicester's right side and stuck a shot under Schmeichel's legs to make it 2-1. With Söyüncü sent off for swinging a kick at Callum Wilson, Bournemouth had the momentum. Stanislas was setting the pace and his step overs confused the Leicester defence and his shot went in off Johnny Evans. Solanke rushed in for his second with a nutmeg and Bournemouth were 4-1 up. Bournemouth suddenly will need some stopping!

Bournemouth pull off a remarkable win over Leicester City

Bournemouth made three changes to the line-up with Arnaut Danjuma, Dominic Solanke and Jack Stacey coming into the team. Out when Adam Smith, Joshua King with a hamstring problem and Junior Stanislas. was moved to the bench. Jack Simpson and Philip Billing also made the bench.

Match Description
Leicester City kicked off with the pitch under the Main stand in shade. Kelly had the chance to put the ball out for a corner, but hesitated and gave Leicester the ball in a dangerous right wing situation.

Callum Wilson stretched to try and get on a right wing cross from Brooks, but it was too deep. Bournemouth push down the right again, but Callum Wilson fouled Evans.

Kelly goes for a long through but Aké doesn't win it. Danjuma runs out of room on the left touchline. Bournemouth clear well form their box. Pérez down the left. Vardy gets a shot and is blocked.

Aké just gets a chest in the way to clear ahead of  Iheanacho. Ramsdale got nowhere near the cross. Corner to Leicester, Pérez chips the ball over. Fuchs gets a cross in. Bournemouth don't clear but Iheanacho, shoots over on 10 minutes.

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Kelly deals with  Iheanacho well. Solanke does a great turn on Albrighton, but it's been given as a foul.

Ryan Bennett comes on for Albrighton. Brooks runs out of room near the corner flag. Pérez gets the ball in the box, but used his hand.

Vardy puts a low cross in but Ramsdale gets down to make the save. Aké does well clearing up Callum Wilson fouls Ndidi on half way. Rico makes a mess of a ball back, Vardy has a chance but is blocked.

Danjuma is hounded but gives the ball away.  Vardy shots but it's looped up for Ramsdale. A cross from Bennett from the left.

Gosling has lost the ball on the right Kelly tries to clear and Vardy is there in the six yard box and scores on 24 minutes. Awful attempt at a clearance form Kelly. 23 minutes gone.

Gosling has a head injury. Bournemouth free kick. Iheanacho  gives Ramsdale another save to make low to his right. Iheanacho makes space for another shot but it's easy for Ramsdale. Gosling is booked for a foul on Pérez.

Callum couldn't get passed Söyüncü on half way. Rico does well to find Solanke. The cross comes back to Brooks but he can't get a shot away. Leicester on the break and Rico blocks Justin's cross.

Danjuma has give the ball all the way back to Vardy and luckily Vardy can't get past Aké. Great block. Aké has an injury. What was Danjuma doing? Aké can hardly walk.

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Steve Cook is coming on for Aké. Steve Cook heads the corner away. A long shot from Ndidi goes wide. Callum Wilson is feeding off of crumbs. 

Kelly puts a wild pass out of touch. Gosling gives the ball away.  No shots for Bournemouth tonight so far. Bournemouth, just an't keep the ball well enough when in Leicester's half. Brooks loses the ball to Ndidi.

Five minutes of added time. Lerma turns well. A shot from David Brooks is pushed out for a corner by Schmiechel. We have waited 46 minutes for that. Schmeichel catches the ball from the corner.

Bournemouth are having to defend. At least Brooks' shot might help lift the players. Corner for Leicester. Ramsdale has tipped another shot behind from Justin for a corner.

Long shot from Fuchs, but it goes wide. Another corner. It's cleared this time by Lerma.

Bournemouth on the attack. A cross for Solanke, but he is beaten to the ball by Schmeichel.

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Second Half
Danjuma and Gosling are subbed and Stanislas and Billing are on. Iheanacho is off and  Praet os on.

Bournemouth change to three at the back. Stacey and Stanislas are playing as wing backs, but on the opposite wings to normal. Brooks is playing behind the front two.

Stanislas played it into Solanke in the box, but he lost control. 

Brooks plays Wilson but it's a bad first touch. Still, Bournemouth look like they might create something. Solanke has it but runs into a teammate, David Brooks.

Praet in the box has lost it to Kelly. Shot from Pérez is straight at Ramsdale. Callum Wilson goes down but nothing doing. Söyüncü just used his weight.

Stanislas tries to find Brooks but Brooks is unbalanced. It's 38 games since Bournemouth last win a game from being behind.

Brooks tries to find Stacey but it's been cut out. Bournemouth look much better set up this half. Callum Wilson is offside.

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Billing is injured. Bournemouth have a free kick in Leicester's half. Brooks mis-hits the ball, Steve Cook hits it across the box and Callum Wilson didn't shoot - he just couldn't get to it.

Ramsdale catches a Vardy cross well. Kelly blocks from Tielemans.

A goal kick is right at the defender Ndidi. Callum Wilson, and he's been brought down in the box - penalty! Stanislas to take. 1-1 on 66 minutes. Only a yellow card for Ndidi, even though he was last man.

Ball over the top. Wilson misses the header. Down the left ad Solanke has scored on 68 minutes. Callum Wilson goes to get the ball and catches Söyüncü who lashes out with a kick at Wilson and is sent off.

Barnes comes on for Pérez. Stanislas puts a cross in and its cleared by Leicester. Stacey gets a ball in but Wilson can't get a shot off.

Bournemouth haven't won from being behind since August 2018. Barnes but Kelly blocks the pass. Steve Cook blocks a ball going to Vardy.

Stanislas and Brooks, Brooks has won a corner. Some great skill by Bournemouth's number 20. Billing is down. Brooks puts a good ball in but Schmeichel is there. 10 minutes to go.

Brooks is subbed for Lewis Cook. Lerma makes a long pass for Stanislas. Stanislas makes some step overs and it's deflected in on 83 minutes. Stanislas buried it, off Evans' legs.

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Stanislas is getting a lot of the ball. Great interception from Solanke and he is on goal, around Bennett, 4-1 on 87 minutes. Through the keeper's legs.

Surridge is on for Callum Wilson on 90 minutes. Surridge is through and he's hammered it off the cross bar. Evans made a poor header and Surridge was in. It could have been five.

Stanislas plays a free kick in and Surridge heads over at the far post. Barnes has a shot and Ramsdale saved with his feet. Corner to Leicester. Wow, full time.

Summary
A game of two halves - absolutely! Bournemouth were outplayed. Leicester City were cruising. Aké was injured and limped off. What happened at half-time? Eddie changed the system to wing backs and Brooks went through the middle. It didn't have an immediate impact but a bit of luck from a badly hit goal kick, and the game turned around completely. Bournemouth found there scoring boots and Dominic Solanke was on fire. A double from him, one from the penalty spot from Stanislas, and an own goal off Johnny Evans, from another Stanislas shot and goals were suddenly easy to come by, as Leicester went down to 10-men. It is still likely that Bournemouth have too much to do, but what will this win do for confidence. Anything is possible and Eddie How loves a challenge - they don't come bigger than Man City in the next game.

AFCB line-up

AFCB Subs: 1 Boruc, 3 S Cook, 25 Simpson,
6 Surman, 16 L Cook, 19 Stanislas,
22 H Wilson, 29 Billing, 44 Surridge

AFCB Ratings

Ramsdale 5,  Stacey 7,  Aké 8 (S Cook 6),  Kelly 6,  Rico 5,  Brooks 5 (L Cook 5),  Gosling 4 (Billing 5),  Lerma 5,   Danjuma 3 (Stanislas 7), Solanke 9, C Wilson 4 (Surridge 5)

Cherry Chimes MoM- Dominic Solanke closely followed by Ndid'd bottom!

Raf Watch: 8/10 Stuart Attwell - had a good match and took the responsibility of sending Söyüncün off with no hesitation

Leicester City
1 Schmeichel, 2 Justin, 6 Evans, 4 Söyüncün (sent off 67), 11 Albrighton (Bennett 16),
25 Ndidi, 8 Tielemans, 28 Fuchs, 17 Pérez, 14 Iheanacho (Praet  45), 9 Vardy

Leicester City Subs
5 Morgan, 7 Gray, 12 Ward, 15 Barnes, 20 Choudhury, 22 James, 24 Mendy, 26 Praet, 29 Bennett

Bournemouth have no luck in goalless draw with Spurs

Match Report

AFCB v Spurs

9 July 2020

How is your luck? Bournemouth couldn't have hoped to face a more woeful and shy-shot Tottenham Hotspur side, but Bournemouth couldn't get the goal they needed to win the game. Bournemouth almost gave a penalty away, when King bundled into the back of Kane, but it was a strong first half performance by the Cherries with Stanislas going closest to scoring with a low drive on the turn, which Lloris just kept out. Spurs were much better coming forward in the second half, but Bournemouth had chances to win the game. Josh King thought that he had scored, but Stanislas was offside. And on 90 minutes we thought Callum Wilson had scored, but the ball had brushed off Josh King's arm on the way in and was disallowed by VAR. Worse still, Harry Wilson had a chance to win the game in added time and couldn't beat Lloris one on one. One point will be taken, but it's probably not enough. Adam Smith was also worryingly stretchered off with a head injury.

Adam Smith could be out for a while after a nasty head injury. 

Bournemouth dropped Dominic Solanke and Lewis Cook to the bench to allow Callum Wilson and Dan Gosling to come into the side. Diego Rico and Lloyd Kelly kept their places, while Andrew Surman returned to the bench, but there were no places for Chris Mepham or Philip Billing and Jack Stacey was left on the bench, rather than replacing Adam Smith who I had expected to be dropped.

Spurs brought in Vertonghen for Dier, who was suspended and Lamela replaced Son Heung-Min, who moved to the bench.

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Match Description
Bournemouth don't look very settled in the first few minutes. Lerma fouls Lamela and Gosling also leaves a foot in on Kane. Adam Smith can't get his cross in and Brooks fouls Davies. 

Aurier puts a ball all the way across the box from the right and Adam Smith has to put it behind. Kane is clattered by King and VAR is looking at the incident, but no penalty is given.

Spurs are dominating possession. Bournemouth already look second best. Adam Smith gets forward well and wins a throw. Lerma puts a deep ball in but King and Stanislas can't get a shot in. King wins a corner off Lamela.

Gosling is winning possession and Rico's early ball in is cleared. Lo Celso fouls Callum Wilson.it's a bit far out for Brooks. Rico and King are over the ball and it's hung up for Lloris, too easy.

Both teams are giving the ball away. Stanislas passes through to King but he's lost control on the edge of the box.

Rico tackles Aurier cleanly. Callum Wilson is fouled by Lamela on the right side of the box on 18 minutes. David heads away, Bournemouth have a corner but Kelly can't get the ball back in.

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Gosling is fouled by Lamela. Lerma heads it at the far post but Kane clears in the six yard box for a corner. Two corners follow for Bournemouth. Brooks crosses but can't find his man.

Adam Smith is fouled. Bournemouth keep up the pressure. Gosling does well up the left.  A long throw. Callum Wilson turns and shoots but can't get a clear hit. King can't reach a cross and Lloris picks it out of the air.

Tottenham's attack on the right is blocked by Aké bravely ahead of Lamela. Another corner for Spurs and another. Ramsdlae catches the corner ball.

King does well and Brooks into King but Spur's clear. Lerma and Sissoko go head to head and Adam Smith comes in. Sissoko and Lerma are booked on 31 minutes. Aké almost gets on the end of the free kick.

Davies gets behind but Bournemouth clear with Gosling. Gosling is giving some steel to midfield. The ball breaks for Stanislas and Brooks has a pop at a long shot, corner. Stanislas takes the corner. It's too high.

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King keeps losing the ball. Gosling is the saviour again. Rico has to block an Aurier cross for a corner. Ramsdale catches cleanly. Lamela fouls Rico. Good position on the left for Bournemouth. It comes in low but straight at the keeper.

Brooks already has his socks around his ankles. Aké blocks well. Lamela goes for a long shot but it's well over. Bournemouth were slow to close him down.

Rico's cross. Stanislas forces a s save low on the turn from Lloris, corner. Spurs clear. Two added minutes go up.

Gosling has a superb game.

Second half 
Son Heung-Min and Ndombele, are coming on for Bergwijn and Lo Celso. Stanislas is fouled. Brooks almost bursts through. Spurs pick up possession. Sissoko is fouled. Lerma fouls Lamela right in front of the box. A dangerous place to give a way a free kick.

Kane is looking to take it. Adam Smith takes the blow in the wall, lower chest. He's okay. Rico is down now. Stanislas through to Callum Wilson, who goes down under pressure from Vertonghen, no penalty.

Adam Smith takes another blow, this time to the head, from Davies. Stacey is coming on for Adam Smith on 63 minutes. Winks skies a shot from distance. 

Harry Wilson is coming on for David Brooks on 66 minutes. Stacey gets a few passes away well. Aké clears from Aurier's cross. Corner to Spurs. Bournemouth goal kick.

King is in behind but it's off Davies for a corner. King puts the header wide at the back post. Callum Wilson does well to win the ball, but Harry Wilson gives it away cheaply. Kelly stops a ball to Kane on his six yard line.

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Spurs are subbing Sissoko for Lucas Moura on 75 minutes. Ndombele makes a good run, then over hits a pass. Gosling gets in ahead of Kane. Kane to Davies and Bournemouth scramble it away. Another cross and Lamela can't quite direct it in target.

King on the right, and Harry Wilson loses it. Spurs are improving. Rico gets a saving tackle in on Moura and Spurs come a gain and have a corner. Lerma wins the header, Stacey then clears under the bar.

Another shot from Aurier and it's a corner. Moura turns and shots, deflected for a corner. Aké gets it away. Spurs rack up another corner. Lerma gets it out.

Callum Wilson is caught late, Stanislas races down the left and crosses for King to score, but Stanislas was offside. The goal won't count. Ndombele is carded for the foul on Callum Wilson. 

Bournemouth only have a free kick. Gosling is booked. Another free kick to Bournemouth. Wilson has a shot and Lerma heads, Callum Wilson has clipped it in with an overhead kick on 90 minutes! VAR check, did it hit Callum Wilson's arm?  No goal.

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12 minutes of added time. Spurs sub Aurier for Carvalho Fernandes. Corner to Bournemouth. Lloris catches the ball.

Stacey up for Callum Wilson, but Gosling can't get to the ball. 

King makes a cross field pass, Harry Wilson is through on Lloris and the shot is saved! What a chance missed. Six minutes to go. Will Bournemouth get a better chance than that?

Spurs win a corner. King brings the ball out. Ramsdale has cramp. Bournemouth clear their box. Gosling went in on Moura but no foul was given. 

Harry Wilson blows his big match winning chance.

Summary
Bournemouth had chances to put this game to bed, but they just couldn't score despite some major incidents. It feels like two points dropped, and yet it is great that Bournemouth finally have their fifth clean sheet of the season. They are now three points from safety with games running out and move ahead of Aston Villa in the table. The good point is that it was against a top half team, but Tottenham looked as clueless as Bournemouth in front of goal. Harry Wilson will have nightmares about his late chance, but he'll have to live with it. This game was calling out to be won and even though Bournemouth had the ball in the back of the net a couple of times, they just haven't had any luck. Let's hope Adam Smith recovers quickly as well.

AFCB Ratings
Ramsdale 7, A Smith 5, Aké 7, Kelly 6, Rico 5, Brooks 5, Lerma 5, Gosling 8, Stanislas 7, King 5, C Wilson 5

AFCB Line-up

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Stacey, Steve Cook, Lewis Cook,
Surman, Danjuma, Harry Wilson. Solanke, Surridge.

Cherry Chimes MoM - Dan Gosling

Ref Watch: Paul Tierney 2/10 - lots of late calls and perhaps he should have given Spurs a penalty early on.

Tottenham
1 Lloris, 24 Aurier (Carvalho Fernandes90), 4 Alderweireld, 5 Vertonghen, 33 Davies, 17 Sissoko (Moura 75), 8 Winks, 18 Lo Celso (Ndombele 45), 11 Lamela, 10 Kane, 23 Bergwijn (Son Heung-Min 45)

Spurs Subs:  6 D Sánchez, 7 Son Heung-Min, 19 R Sessegnon, 22 Gazzaniga,
27 Lucas Moura, 28 Ndombele, 29 Skipp, 30 Carvalho Fernandes, 53 White

Alonso snatches draw from Bournemouth in final few minutes

Match Report

AFCB 2 v 2 Chelsea

29 February 2020

Attendance: 10,667

Here we go fourth verses 16th in the table.

Every pint is vital in a relegation battle and Bournemouth were close to gaining three points until Marcos Alonso netted his second goal in the 85th minute to deny Bournemouth their third home win in a row. Alonso had opened the scoring in the 33rd minute to give Chelsea a 0-2 half-time lead. Bournemouth had started both halved well though and with a dramatic three minutes scored twice in the 54th and 57th minute of the second half as Jefferson Lerma and Josh King found the net. A shock result was on but then Marcos Alonso pounced when Ramsdale had made a great save to deny Mount an equaliser. The draw was the least that Bournemouth deserved but other results saw them drop into the bottom three on goal difference.

The group hug - it's a massive game for Bournemouth.

Bournemouth made four changes with Steve Cook, Lewis Cook, Philip Billing and Ryan Fraser coming in for Simon Francis, Dan Gosling, Harry Wilson and Andrew Surman.

There are more images on Match Day Gallery.

Match Description
The first attack comes from Bournemouth. Fraser goes down the right plays Stacey through and his cross is hit towards goal by Billing, but Caballero saves.

Billing again goes close but hits the side netting. He robbed Tomori from the throw in and should have done better with the finish.

Chelsea come back with, Alonso winning a corner off of Stacey. A volley from Mount is pushed out for a second corner but Aké clears.

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Billing plays a great ball down the left for King and Callum Wilson shoots but right at Caballero.

Lerma puts in a crunching tackle on Mount on 12 minutes. Jorginho gets booked for a foul on Billing.

Stacey wins a corner. Pedro comes out with the ball. Billing is playing well and makes a good interception, but Callum Wilson can't keep the ball in play.

Stacey wins a corner. There was a penalty shout by Bournemouth players but the referee has given a free kick to Chelsea.

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Aké stops a Pedro pass when Chelsea were looking good for a chance. Steve Cook heads out. Adam Smith concedes a corner. Billing clears.

Aké gives Chelsea a corner. King clears. Kovacic takes down Wilson but there's no free kick. The home crowd aren't happy about that.

Mount has a snap shot but no power and Ramsdale saves down to his left.

Chelsea make a cross from the right from James and Gidroud gets his foot to it, Ramsdale puts it on the bar only for Alonso to score at the far post with a volley on 33 minutes.

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Another Chelsea corner. Lerma clears, but Chelsea have another corner. Steve Cook just gets the ball away in time.

Chelsea corner. James shoots fro range but Ramsdale does well to keep it out to his left.

Mount almost gets in from a ball over the top.

Bournemouth are behind but they started well.

Second half
Chelsea on the break with Mount and Alonso takes it up and crosses, Giroud puts the chance wide from six yards. A bug let off for Bournemouth.

Bournemouth have a free kick, but Fraser goes down. Billing plays on Stacey and he's blocked.

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Stacey clears when King had lost the ball. James shoots over.

Bournemouth corner. Another follows. Lerma rises and heads in on 1-1 on 53 minutes. Jefferson Lerma's name rings out around Dean Court. A belting header!

Fraser into Billing, Billing makes a great turn, Stacey gets down the right and Callum Wilson can't get there, but King scores at the far post 2-1. A long VAR wait, but the goal is given. Bournemouth have turned it around. The crowd has played its part lifting the team.

Adam Smith is booked. The noise is defending. This is why we come to football. Every Bournemouth tackle is being cheered.

Aké heads down and Wilson shot right on front of goal is saved by Caballero.

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Tomori and Jorginho are off for Chelsea. William and Barkley are on after 64 minutes. The rain is driving down.

James crosses and Giroud heads wide. Junior Stanislas replaces Josh King on 67 minutes.

Barkley shoots but hits his own player. Christensen is booked for a foul on Wilson. Giroud is replaced by Batshuayi on 72 minutes.

Chelsea see the offside flag go up. Barkley shoots and its deflected for a corner.

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Lewis Cook blocks for a corner. Ake clears. Another Chelsea corner. It's spooned wide by Azpilicueta. Corner again. Wilson comes away with it.

Dan Gosling replaces Lewis Cook on 80 minutes. Bournemouth are being driven back.

Lerma clears for a Chelsea corner. A shot from Mount deflects and Ramsdale saves for a corner.

Another shot goes wide from Azpilicueta.

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Pedro shoots and Ramsdale puts it onto the post but Alonso is there to head in and make it 2-2 on 85 minutes. Bournemouth were desperately unlucky. They haven't held out.

We have five minutes left. Callum Wilson is booked. Ramsdale is out quickly ahead of Batshuayi.

Five minutes of added time. Pedro is blocked.

It's ended 2-2.

Summary

Bournemouth didn't choke but they fell back on their heels after getting ahead in this game with a period of intense and exhilarating attacking play. Chelsea gathered themselves and came back and the point might just be seen better for Bournemouth in a few weeks time than it seems now with other teams leaping past them.

Bournemouth players put everything into that game.

AFCB line up

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Francis, Rico, Gosling, Stanislas, H Wilson, Solanke

Chelsea
13 Caballero, 28 Azpilicueta, 4 Christensen, 29 Tomori (Willian 64), 24 James,
5 Jorginho (Barkley 64), 17 Kovacic, 3 Alonso, 19 Mount, 11 Pedrom
18 Giroud (Batshuayi 72)

Chelsea Subs
1 Arrizabalaga, 2 Rüdiger, 8 Barkley, 10 Willian, 12 Loftus-Cheek, 23 Batshuayi, 47 Gilmour

Eddie Howe thanks the crowd.

Referee: Andre Marriner 3/10 - came under some stick for not giving free kicks. The foul on Callum Wilson by Kovacic really deserved a yellow.

Cherry Chimes MoM: Jefferson Lerma

AFCB Ratings: Ramsdale 7, Stacey 7, S Cook 6, Aké 6, Fraser 6,  Billing 6, Lerma 8,
L Cook 6, King 6, C Wilson 6

Chimes Newsletter - out today!
Cherry Chimes' March Newsletter brings you the best stories on the blog and the thoughts behind them from last month. The newsletter has a special story - Bournemouth will need to do it the hard way.

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Saints get derby drubbing from Cherries 1-3

Match Report

Southampton 1 v 3 AFCB

20 September 2019

Attendance: 30,168

Last night Bournemouth felt rather at home in a stadium where they had never won before. The fireworks before kick off were soon replicated on the pitch as the Cherries leaped into a first goal lead with Nathan Aké scoring from Bournemouth's first corner and while Josh King had a breakaway goal disallowed by VAR for offside, Billing pulled back a sweet pass for Harry Wilson to make it 0-2 before half-time. Southampton came out with purpose in the second 45 minutes and a penalty conceded by Steve Cook put the game back in the balance at 1-2. But the Cherries got their blocks in and made their saves, and the final insult was to see a defensive mix up for the Saints and Callum Wilson score at walking pace. Fantastic! The South Coast is ours!

AFCB finally get first win at St Marys

Eddie Howe only made one change to the winning team against Everton. Lewis Cook was managed by moving him to the bench, after his impressive comeback from injury in the last match, and Jefferson Lerma took his place in central midfield. Ryan Fraser found himself still stuck on the bench, nursing a bit of a knock, while Josh King kept his place on the wing, rather than up front, so that Solanke could try and break his scoring duck up front. Harry Wilson also kept his place, despite recently falling short of his great performances in earlier games. Bournemouth were in their all new dark navy blue strip for the first time this season. I think we might see that lucky kit again soon.

Southampton brought in Nathan Redmond after recovering from his ankle injury, while Moussa Djenepo was injured and didn't make the bench. Kevin Danso also returned from suspension and replaced Yoshida who moved to the bench.

Match Description

There was a minute's silence for former Southampton Chairman Leon Crouch before kick off. It was a slow start with neither team getting much control of the ball. Bournemouth tried to pin Southampton in their own half, but when they won the ball would give it back just as quickly. 

Boufal was unlucky to see his cross blocked, but another cross from Soares sees Ward-Prowse with the first chance, but he screws it wide. Rico came forward well but ran straight into Romeu and got a speaking to by the referee - looked accidental to me.

Stacey made good progress going forward and won Bournemouth's first corner on nine minutes and the corner is powered in by Ake 0-1 to the Cherries. The zonal marking was a mess from Southampton. Bournemouth keep scoring from set-pieces. Bednarek couldn't climb as high as Aké.

Boufal tries to make space on the edge of Bournemouth's box, but he hits his shot at Steve Cook. Bournemouth just need a period of control now to keep Southampton subdued.

Steve Cook is winning his fair share of headers. King is away like lightening up the left wing but Vestergaard makes the clearance. Harry Wilson has not really got in the game yet and is bundled over by Romeu. Billing is making some good blocks in the middle. Lerma has flattened Højbjerg, but looks like he has got away with it - no he is booked eventually.

Stacey is beaten to the ball but Boufal shoots weakly at Ramsdale. Steve Cook clears from Che Adams' cross, after 20 minutes.

Bournemouth close in on Verstergaard as Saint's try and play out from the back and lump it into touch. Saints haven't settled yet. Bournemouth have a free kick in he Saint's half for a foul on Harry Wilson. It's hit too long and out for a goal kick.

Callum gets space on the right and finds Solanke in the box, but Solanke can't get a shot off and Rico has a shot blocked.

Solanke now in the middle and King on the left has put Bournemouth 0-2 up on 25 minutes. VAR check has said offside! It remains at 0-1. It's the rule, but before VAR we would never has ruled that goal out.

Southampton fire a shot well over. It was from Ward-Prowse. Solanke takes a tumble but s up quickly. King is causing real problems for Southampton.

A chance for Højbjerg, but the Cherries get a block in. Stacey missed the cross but recovered well to stop Højbjerg. Redmond drives a shot right across the six yard box.

The more I watch this game, I think it is made for Ryan Fraser in the second half. Redmond to Adams but Cook is there to block. Bournemouth have a corner and Gunn punches under pressure for another corner, which the Saints clear.

Stacey is caught at the back by Soares. Great recovering block by Billing in the box, using the back of his heel. Billing moves well down the left with Callum Wilson, Billing has it back down the left and picks out Harry Wilson, who makes it 0-2 this time on 36 minutes!

Ramsdale makes a good save from Højbjerg with Lerma losing the ball on the six yard box. King at the other end shoots wide off a Saint's player. Another corner. Bournemouth are well in control now.

Lerma loses it form 30 yards out of his own penalty box, but Romeu chips it wide. Aké clears a Ward-Prowse cross. Ramsdale pushes out a shot from Redmond from distance, nice height for him, but it is a corner. Billing meets the ball well and clears.

Steve Cook has conceded a second corner for Southampton. Billing is down holding his face. He went down with Redmond at the near post.

A drop ball to Bournemouth restarts the game. Southampton are keeping possession while Bournemouth look for an opportunity to counter. We have played the two extra minutes for this half and it's half-time 0-2.

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Second half

Ryan Bertrand has come on for Kevin Danso at half-time. Southampton attack and Adams has gone down with Aké running into hm in the box but no VAR check, it's okay. 

Rico makes a poor pass but Billing saves it for him. Great break by Southampton and Soares puts it into Ward-Prowse but he has hit it just over the bar. That was Saints' best move of the night and should have been a goal really.

King wins the ball well, but can't get a shot off he's run off it by Boufal. Billing has to make a pin-point tackle in the box. Solanke has a chance and looks for Harry Wilson but Bertand clears.

Adams is taken out by Steve Cook and the referee has pointed to the spot on 52 minutes. Cook just didn't time it well and left his foot in. Ward-Prowse sticks it in the top right corner, 1-2. Now Saints are in the game.

Harry Wilson has been booked for fouling Boufal. Easy catch for Ramsdale. Redmond now drives a shot over the left post. Bournemouth have dropped off and need to get back on it. Rico is robbed of the ball by Redmond, but Ramsdale gets the knock down.

King makes a string run he's in the box and has gone down from Soares, but no penalty.  VAR is checking.

Adams back to Ward-Prowse but the shot goes over. That could be Saints best chance.

Solanke goes on a good run, but can't find a pass. Fraser is coming on for Harry Wilson on 62 minutes. Stacey is booked and Billing comes to his rescue. Højbjerg puts a cross in but it's over everyone.

Rico and Soares have a coming together. Neither are booked. Great play by Aké at the back. Boufal fires from range, but Ramsdale gets two hands to it and pushes the shot out to his right. Another shot from Ward-Prowse is horribly wide and high.

Twenty minutes to go. Does Howe risk Lewis Cook? Gareth Southgate is in the crowd tonight. Callum wins the ball well for Solanke but Solanke can't get past the last man.

Ramsdale has to come out quickly to intercept and beat Adams to it. Good cross for Southampton, it's out for Redmond and some how it's blocked by Stacey over the bar! King is away from the corner and takes the ball into the Saint's half.

Lewis Cook is coming on. Good call I think. Bournemouth keep putting in the blocks. Boufal tries to bed one and it's just wide of the far post. Solanke is subbed for Lewis Cook and Che Adams is replaced by Danny Ings on 78 minutes.

King on another powerful run is squeezed out by Soares. Just 12 minutes left. Redmond tries to get round the back but has run it out. Romeu is carded for trying to stop King earlier on the break. Ings gets round the back and Ward-Prowse has it, deflected off Billing and Ramsdale just keeps it out. Great save by Ramsdale and Steve Cook cleared.

Lewis Cook does well in the middle just to give AFCB a breather. Bournemouth have a corner. Aké wins a free kick - all valuable time for Bournemouth. Billing has a go from 40 yards and it's just wide of the left post.

Ings has a shot blocked. Fraser loses it on the break and Ings shot is deflected for a corner. Southampton are bring on Armstrong for Redmond with 88 minutes gone. It's a goal kick off Ings.

King and Fraser and Wilson makes a poor cross and holds his head in his hands. Wilson is offside. Lewis wins the ball and the break is on King shoots wide and not strong enough.

Four minutes of added time go up. Surman is coming on for Josh King, The ball is through to Ings and Aké blocks Ramsdale has to save form Boufal down to his left – what a save! Vestergaardgoes for a volley but its tame for Ramsdale.

Time is nearly up and Wilson has run through to make it 1-3. What happened there? Gunn lost the ball a mix up with Bednarek - Kinder Garden Kopps defending!!

Summary

A great night for Bournemouth. They fought for every ball and simply weren't going to be denied. The blocks just kept going in and even with the penalty for Saints they didn't look like they would beat Ramsdale more than the once. You could pick several players out for having outstanding games. For me it was a close call between King, Billing and Ramsdale. I'm going for Billing. But who cares, it was just great to finally win at Southampton. Job done! Enjoy taking in the table. It was Eddie's 50th Premier League win, and I couldn't think of a better team to get it against.

Southampton
28 Gunn, 2 Soares, 35 Bednarek, 4 Vestergaard, 38 Danso 9 (Bertrand 46),
16 Ward-Prowse, 14 Romeu, 23 Højbjerg, 19 Boufal, 10 Adams (Ings 78),
22 Redmond (Armstrong 88)

Saints Subs
1 McCarthy, 3 Yoshida, 21 Bertrand, 5 Stephens, 17 Armstrong, 7 Long, 9 Ings

Cherry Chimes MoM: Philip Billing

Ref Watch: Chris Kavanagh 6/10 not much to moan about. 

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Surman, Ibe, L Cook, Fraser, Simpson, Mepham

AFCB Ratings
Ramsdale 9, Stacey 7, S Cook 7, Aké 8, Rico 7, H Wilson 7, Lerma 6, Billing 9, King 9 ,
C Wilson 6, Solanke 7 

Score prediction winner Steve Butler @_steve_butler_