This was another chance for Bournemouth to go top with Norwich City playing on Wednesday, but Bournemouth didn't have it all their way. Preston North End have a good away record though and they scored on just 16 minutes when Tom Barkhuizen scored at the far post. Bournemouth were shell-shocked when Sinclair broke and lofted the ball past Begovic from deep to make it 0-2 just after half-time. Preston were simply devastating on the counter-attack and Bournemouth fell into the trap all too easily. While Junior Stanislas struck back with a free kick and Sam Surrdige pulled another late goal back, Bournemouth succumbed to their second defeat of the season.
Bournemouth brought back Lewis Cook and Diego Rico to the starting line-up, while Rodrigues Riquelme got his first start. Dan Gosling, Philip Billing and Lloyd Kelly dropped to the bench, but Arnaut Danjuma was still missing from the squad.
Match Description
Bournemouth found it hard to get going, giving away a few fouls early on until Junior Stanislas found Jefferson Lerma who shot high and wide. Preston had more of the possession in the first 10 minutes, but Begovic had nothing to do.
Alane Browne barged into Adam Smith but the referee wasn't interested in a penalty shout. Preston North End took the lead on 16 minutes. Bournemouth messed up a free kick and Preston counter-attacked. Tom Barkhuizen then put the visitors 0-1 ahead by putting away Daniel Johnson's cross. It was Barkhuizen's fifth goal of the season.
David Brooks cut inside well but saw his shot saved by Rudd. Preston were pressing home their advantage with Maguire shooting from distance and forcing Begovic to tip over for a corner.
Lerma did well on an overlap and Riquelme fired over. Mepham almost converted at the far post from Riquelme's initial cross but put it wide.
Adam Smith put a good ball through to Brooks but his shot was saved. Preston the took a free kick and Barkhuizen missed with a header. Solanke tried to get to a header but couldn't get it on target. Browne then put a header wide from Ryan Ledson's free kick.
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Lewis Cook crossed well and Stanislas had a header saved. Further attempts saw Adam Smith miss a header and Junior Stanislas drags a shot wide. Nothing was coming off for the Cherries and Lewis Cook was booked.
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The game was pretty much decided when Preston scored again following a set-piece. Johnson passed to Bauer who scored on 68 minutes.
Bournemouth struck back almost immediately through Junior Stanislas who converted a free kick to make it 1-3 on 71 minutes. Bournemouth subbed Stanislas, Lewis Cook and Rico to bring on Jaidon Anthony, Philip Billing and Lloyd Kelly.
Ben Davies and Jefferson Lerma were booked. Begovic then made a save from Johnson.
Jaidon Anthony crossed and Sam Surridge made it 2-3 with a strong header. It was going to be a tense last four or five minutes.
Lerma put a ball in for Anthony, but the shot goes over. Ben Pearson is booked and Bauer has been subbed for Huntingdon. Bayliss also replaces Johnson. Ledson has been booked.
Lerma shoots over.
Summary
Bournemouth slipped up to Preston's strategy to hit Bournemouth on the break. They didn't make the most of the possession they had and were ruthlessly punished by an away side that has done this to other top teams. Bournemouth were 0-3 down before they found a way through. While Junior Stanislas added to his goal tally and Riquelme and Surridge got a half each, the absence of Danjuma is certainly being felt. Sam Surridge will also be pleased to have got off the mark, which might tell Tindall that he does deserve more games than he has been getting.
Preston: 1 Rudd, 4 Pearson, 5 Bauer (Huntingdon 90+3), 6 Davies, 8 Browne, 11 Johnson (Baylis 90+5), 15 Rafferty, 18 Ledson, 14 Maguire (Potts 90), 29 Barkhuizen (Riis 90), 31 Sinclair
Preston Subs: 25 Ripley, 23 Huntingdon, 14 Storey, 7 Bayliss, 10 Harrop, 44 Potts, 27 Holland-Wilkinson, 19 Riis, 20 Stockley
