Where do the Cherries' need to improve?

Happy Christmas everyone! It is perhaps a good time to just consider how the season has gone so far and what expectations we may have for the second half of the season. Bournemouth are just five points off the lead with a two-point gap over the third-placed Swansea City. Are we confident that Bournemouth can do as well if not better between January and May?

Happy Christmas

When we look at the league, Bournemouth have played 20 games which is almost half and they have played most teams once. So with only two defeats, it has been a good start and the real need for the Cherries is to try and convert a few more of the draws into wins. That is how Norwich have clawed themselves ahead.

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Bournemouth can also set themselves the tasks of doing better against the teams in the top six. They have beaten Norwich City but they have drawn with Swansea City, Watford and Middlesbrough. If they can beat these teams second time around they will be opening the gap much quicker on those teams below them.

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Defensively Bournemouth have sharpened up well with nine clean sheets so far. That is still two behind Stoke City and Swansea City. While six of these clean sheets for the Cherries have been at home there are just three away clean sheets. In the away games clean sheet table, Bournemouth are down in 10th and it's a clear indication of where they can improve.

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With 35 goals scored, the Cherries top the goals for table with Blackburn Rovers just a goal behind. The stat which is not so good is goals against column,  as Bournemouth have conceded 16 goals from their 20 games. But that is still the fourth-best record behind Swansea City, Watford and Middlesbrough.

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From Bournemouth's position it would be costly to see them fall back into the third to sixth places, and this is what Bournemouth have to be aware of the most as the pressure builds. It may be a good thing that they have Norwich to chase, as it will give the players more to think of rather than thinking of being caught.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Danjuma only has eyes to get AFCB back to the Premier League

The clean sheet was hard-earned at Swansea

A second clean sheet in a row was a good result for Bournemouth at Swansea despite not getting the win. Bournemouth made enough chances to get the win, but they didn't find the finish they needed to score. Jason Tindall made reference to the penalty decisions going against Bournemouth and the poor quality of the pitch, but was still pleased with the performance on the road.

AFCB don't find the target at Swansea but keep their clean sheets going.

The defence will need a little tinkering as Diego Rico picked up his fifth card and will miss the next game against Huddersfield. It is helpful that Lloyd Kelly is back though and playing well, alongside Steve Cook who has been magnificent at the back. Chris Mepham also seems more settled now in the side and having three central defenders is working well.

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Asmir Begovic is continuing to build his confidence in goal. He isn't making mistakes and teams are having to do something special to try and beat him. I think Adam Smith is also bang in form again having come back into the team recently and is making some telling crosses.                               

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We are certainly seeing more shooting from Lewis Cook and without Jefferson Lerma for most of the match against Swansea, Bournemouth didn't look under too much pressure from a side that is going to be around the top six, come the end of the season.

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The Swansea result might not have put smiles on faces, but it was a solid platform from which AFCB can build. I felt it was a more solid performance in some ways than the Barnsley game when lots of gaps had opened up at the back, and a better side might have scored a few goals against the Cherries on that night.

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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Swansea hold Bournemouth to a 0-0 draw

Swansea hold Bournemouth to a 0-0 draw

This top of the table clash was keenly anticipated. Bournemouth pushed hardest to take the lead in the first half, but couldn't take advantage when Dominic Solanke and David Brooks had good chances. Bournemouth came closer still when Billing's cross, early in the second half, was volleyed wide by Junior Stanislas. David Brooks may well have been unlucky to get a penalty call, but that was perhaps the last chance that Bournemouth had to get a win.

Bournemouth have to be content with a point at the Liberty stadium.

Junior Stanislas returned to the starting line-up for AFCB with Sam Surridge relegated to the bench despite scoring and starting against Barnsley. There was still no Josh King, who is perhaps getting ready for a January move, but Lerma was back on the bench.

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Match Description
Bournemouth set up 3-4-3 and they have started dominating the ball. David Brooks puts an early shot over the bar and Adam Smith also misses an early chance.

Korey Smith has trouble tracking David Brooks and is yellow carded. Steve Cook is already making sure Lowe can't get away.

Swansea are finding their way with some possession. But they are over hitting their passes. Solanke gets into the box from a pass from Brooks but hits his shot over.

Brooks wins a free kick and Swansea are having problems keeping him quiet. Brooks in the area after grabbing an astray Woodman pass and he's blocked for a corner.

Begovic has to make a save from Lowe, having got away from Steve Cook. Solanke is working hard and it's a Bournemouth corner. Steve Cook goes for an overhead kick, but Swansea clear.

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Bournemouth are winning the second balls. Solanke has been booked after shoving Cabango. Bournemouth are overloading the middle of the park and Stanislas and Brooks are dominating the play.

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Dhanda has a run at the Bournemouth defence but hits a shot too high. Billing on the counter is pulled down by Lowe, but Lowe isn't carded.

Kelly is coming forward more now. Lewis Cook has shot wide from distance. Swansea are having to defend deeper.

Dhanda plays it into Lowe, there are calls for a penalty but Rico's block is okay. Swansea are defending well and Bournemouth have only had two chances so far. Latibeaudier stops Solanke from getting in behind.

Adam Smith crosses but Roberts clears.

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Second half
Bournemouth are still taking the game to Swansea. They are intercepting well. Rico into Brooks and the shot is blocked.

Billing crosses and Stanislas volley's wide by about a yard. Brooks has been everywhere tonight and wins another free kick.

Dhanda is on side and hits a shot into the side netting. Rico has been booked and will miss the next game. Roberts crosses but Mepham clears. Latibeaudier again stops Brooks from finding Solanke.

Adam Smith is putting some good crosses. Ajew has won a free kick off of Mepham. 

Stanislas and Rico do well and the cross goes to Solanke who nudges it on for Smith and the ball is in the six yard box, but Brooks is just prevented from scoring.

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Brooks goes down in the box from Latibeaudier, no penalty. Billing has been booked. Grime drives the kick through the wall, but Bournemouth win a free kick. Lowe is subbed for Gyokeres and Dandah is replaced by Palmer on 75 minutes.

Lewis Cook puts a drive just wide from 30 yards. Ayew and Roberts around the box and Bidwell is tackled by Mepham. Sam Surridge is coming on for David Brooks on 82 minutes. 

Solanke is offside. Lerma replaces Billing. Smith drives but is blocked and Stanislas shoots over. Lewis Cook fouls Palmer outside the box. It's flicked wide by Bidwell.

There are three minutes of added time. Bournemouth have some defending to do. Kelly is going to make a long throw. Rico and Kelly is blocked.

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Summary

Bournemouth met a stubborn defence tonight. The Cherries dominated possession but just couldn't find big enough gaps to make a breakthrough. Jason Tindall's decision to leave out Sam Surrdige will be questioned, but Junior Stanislas had a good game and Bournemouth controlled the midfield. it was a frustrating night in front of goal but Bournemouth couldn't buy a clean sheet a few games ago. Going away from home and getting a point against a top-four team is no disgrace and Bournemouth sit top of the table at the moment.

AFCB: Begovic, Mepham, S Cook, Kelly, Smith, L Cook, Billing (Lerma 86), Rico, Brooks (Surridge 82), Stanislas, Solanke

AFCB Subs: Travers, Simpson, Ofoborh, Gosling, Lerma, Kilkenny, Riquelme, Anthony, Surridge.

Swansea City: 1 Woodman, 24 Bidwell, 26 Naughton, 22 Latibeaudier, 44 Cabango, 23 Roberts, 7 Smith, 8 Grimes, 21 Dhanda (Palmer 75), 10 Ayew, 9 Lowe (Gyokeres 75)

Swansea City Subs: 13 Benda, 38 C Evans, 3 Manning, 6 Fulton, 45 Palmer, 15 Routledge, 41 Garrick, 20 Cullen, 14 Gyokeres 

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Rival Lines: "This is our toughest test yet at the Liberty," says Swansea Oh Swansea

Rival Lines: "This is our toughest test yet at the Liberty," says Swansea Oh Swansea

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Match Preview: Swansea City v AFCB

Blogger Interview: Swansea Oh Swansea
Twitter: @StevenSOS1987

I managed to catch a quick word with Steven Caroll at the Swansea Oh Swansea Fanzine ahead of tonight's game. Swansea City have had a strong start to the season and sit in fourth place just a point behind Bournemouth and they have a very good home record.

CC: Are Swansea City better equipped to make a sustained promotion push this season?

SOS: I think so, we have more squad depth this year which is vital with the schedule being so hectic. All in all, I would say a top-six finish should be the target.

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CC: Steve Cooper has done well in management since he took the Swansea job. What do you like about him as a manager?

SOS: His contacts have enabled us to get high-quality players on loan which is vital when your finances aren’t good. Last season wasn’t convincing at times but once we changed to a back three we clicked and had a late surge into the Play-Offs.

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CC: André Ajew is still banging in the goals for you. Does he look as good as ever this season?

SOS: Yes, he’s still doing the business, we’d be lower in the table without his goals and round play. Keeping him fit is vital for the rest of the season.

CC: What have you made of young striker Liam Cullen?

SOS: Not seen much of him, to be honest, I’d like him to have a run of games to give him a real chance. If not I’d loan him out so he can play regularly.

CC: Do you still wish you had Sam Surridge at Swansea?

SOS: Yes, because we need a striker. He was decent last season and was improving when he returned to your club. But in truth, he wasn’t as good as Rhian Brewster who we replaced him with.

CC: You have only lost one game at home to Huddersfield, so do you see this game as a real test of your home form?

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SOS: Definitely, I think relegated clubs have a fair advantage this term having not lost as many players as they usually would have. Plus you gave Barnsley a hammering last week. This is our toughest test at the Liberty yet.

CC: As I write this, Swansea have the best defensive record in the division with 10 goals against. So who has been the star at the back so far?

SOS: Joe Rodon until he left was immense but Ryan Bennett has been great since replacing him. Marc Guehi has come on leaps and bounds since last year and Connor Roberts is in form of his life.

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CC: Which game would you say was Swansea's best win of the season and why?

SOS: Probably Millwall in October (2-1 win). Purely because we usually struggle against sides who sit deep against us at home

CC: How have Swansea been doing with goals from midfield - anyone we should look out for?

SOS: Goals have been a struggle in general, no one in middle has chipped in with many, Palmer has one, as does Grimes and Fulton.

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CC: How might Swansea line up for this game?

SOS: I’d guess Woodman, Roberts, Guehi, Cabango, Naughton, Bidwell, Smith, Grimes, Dhanda, Lowe, Ayew

CC: What is your score prediction?

SOS: I think we’ll lose this one 2-0.

CC: I was expecting a bolder score prediction from Steven at SOS. Swansea City's home form is impressive and Bournemouth have a habit of losing form very quickly just when you think they have found their stride. I was not overly convinced by the win at Barnsley. While the scoreline was good a better team would have put some of Barnsley's chances away. Swansea might not be scoring many but in André Ayew they have a striker that doesn't miss too many chances. I am playing this one safe expecting a much closer game and a scoreline that might be seen a better result after the game than before - I am going for a 1-1 draw.

Make sure to drop in on the  SOS website to check out more on Swansea City. Thanks to Steven for his fabulous insight on the Welsh club.

Swansea City Home Form:

WWWDW

AFCB Away Form:

DLWDW

Previous post on Cherry Chimes: Bournemouth are finding the back of the net from all angles

Has Surrdige been unlucky not to get more minutes?

When Sam Surridge was recalled for from his loan at Swansea City, I thought we had a good chance to see a lot more of our home-grown striker. But despite a goal in the FA Cup against Arsenal, his first team opportunities might be sliding away as Josh King and Dominic Solanke slip past him in the pecking order. The Aston Villa home match was Surridge's last sub selection.

Sam Surridge's time is coming but it could be next season.

Sam Surridge has done nothing wrong and has probably elevated his case of being a first team player next season, but breaking into the Cherries first 11 is going to take time and he may have to choose whether he is happy enough with getting odd minutes or going out on loan against next season. His appearances have suddenly dried up, although he is getting time to play for the U21s. Eddie Howe will be pleased that Sam has some Premier League experience under his belt now, but he is clear with young players that it takes time to perform consistently at the higher levels of the game.

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It will be intriguing to see what happens this summer. Josh King could well be departing now after the January interest and several teams have made it no secret that Callum Wilson could be a potential target. It all probably depends on where AFCB finish this season as either a Premier League of Championship club. But if Bournemouth are relegated, I'd imagine that Sam Surridge will suddenly become a top priority for AFCB to hold on to.

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Surridge is well acquainted with the Championship and has already made a name for himself, so I am sure he would be up for the challenge. But Bournemouth would loose an awful lot of experience if they were to lose a couple of their strikers in the summer. It could of course be the making of Dominic Solanke, if he played at the Championship level, but AFCB will not want to have to test that. Even if Bournemouth do stay up it is likely that another new striker would be sought this summer and that could again put Sam Surrdige further back in the pecking order.

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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Can a fit Lerma, Ake and Brooks make the difference for AFCB?

Clyne fits the AFCB profile

AFCB have been reported to be making enquiries about the availability of Nathanial Clyne from Liverpool after a successful loan period on the south coast. For me, Clyne is the perfect player to keep making AFCB progress. He is an international who has been with one of the top six clubs and he works hard at his game.

Where does Clyne see his future?

The right-back position could well be Nathaniel's next season if he does sign on a permanent deal. While Simon Francis will be making his comeback and Adam Smith is often seen as the utility man, Clyne has a great chance of having a starting spot and perhaps vying to get his England place back. From Clyne's point of view, he knows how AFCB play now and he has a choice to make with going back to Liverpool and being the player behind Alexander-Arnold in the pecking order.

The five months that Nathaniel did have at AFCB were fairly successful. He was dropped for a couple of games before getting his place back at the end of the season, but it was perhaps important for Eddie Howe to show Clyne that he had to keep progressing if he was to keep his spot in the Bournemouth team.

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AFCB could find that other teams are also willing to pay for Clyne's services - Napoli are said to be one such club and West Ham are also interested. Still AFCB have to be in a good position after Cardiff, another interested team last January, have been relegated and Clyne knows he can get game time at AFCB. The defining matter might be the price. While suggested figures of £15m have been murmured, AFCB would be buying an international player with some great experience and that makes him a superb buy in my opinion. He can fit in from game one and you can't say that about every purchase you make in the summer window.

An alternative option is Connor Roberts as Swansea City whom AFCB have been linked with on Wales online. AFCB are not afraid of dropping down to the Championship for players, but not all of them have been as successful as David Books.

Is Swansea keeper a big improvement on Begovic?

The keeper position has been very much settled all season at the Cherries Asmir Begovic is the undisputed number one, but if rumours from Wales Online are correct in identifying Lukasz Fabianski at Swansea as a summer target for the Cherries, would we see Fabianski taking the number one shirt?

Fabianski lining up for Swansea at Dean Court.

Eddie Howe knows that the team is still leaking far too many goals to be a top 10 side. Fabianski is arguably better at making shots than most in the Premier League with only Jack Butland topping the Swansea City keeper's 137 saves in 38 matches. I suppose the Polish connection with Boruc is something that would give Bournemouth a potential advantage in attracting Fabianski.

Asmir made the seventh highest amount of saves in the Premier League with 111 saves. So we have to ask whether changing keepers would really make that much difference to the Cherries' points tally?

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Goalkeepers are worth a good few points and yet Fabianski could not make the difference to keep Swansea City up. I also wonder how much it matters bringing players into a club that have felt the low of being relegated as Jermain Defoe was last season. Bournemouth don't need too many players that have been in sides that have tasted relegation.

The possibility of Fabianski joining the club may mean that Adam Federici is now ready to leave and to have three keepers pressing for the number one shirt would give the Cherries a very competitive line up of stoppers. But Eddie can only play one and if it would still be Asmir Begovic, I wonder whether the money would be better spent elsewhere in the team.


In other news, former AFCB player Chris Weller has passed away.

Callum will end his goalless run

I felt a bit sad for Callum Wilson when he was subbed at the end of the game against Swansea City. He had run tirelessly for 90 plus minutes and it was another match where he had been unfortunate to not get on the score sheet.

Callum is just going through a bad spell.

Eddie Howe has been pleased enough with Wilson's contribution in games even if he is not sticking away his chances. Callum might have been annoyed at his first half misses but he can't do anything but credit Fabianski for his late save to deny Wilson from breaking his scoring duck. It must be hard for Wilson getting into positions to score and seeing it all fall apart when he is expected to score but his team mates have not lost faith in him. As we saw in the first half King made a great run before spotting a surging run from Surman who might have looked to shoot himself but he favoured passing to Wilson even though the striker has not been scoring.

Wilson may wonder himself why he is not putting chances away at the moment. The ball that Fraser put in from him in the first half kind of ran high up on his left foot and the speed of the cross perhaps got away from Callum. It was kind of a repeat of the chance early on against Crystal Palace he had at home the other week, it was just that the chance came on his other side. But in both instances Callum didn't manage to get over the ball and was hurried.

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I think it is best for Callum just to forget about the run he is on though and just play football. If he is picked at Burnley, he should be just looking forward to playing and to helping the team. Sometimes goals just come to you and he may just be due so much good fortune that when a goal comes he really cashes in with a few more.

Have Bournemouth really beaten the odds to stay up?

Eddie Howe says it is a fantastic result for AFCB to have retained its Premier League status for a fourth consecutive season, but I doubt the fans feel quite as sure that AFCB fully delivered what they were capable of in 2017/18. It's not that staying up is insignificant for a club that has spent most of its history in leagues One and Two, but when the team can go on an unbeaten run that was only bettered by the top four after Christmas, there is a question mark over the consistency of this team.

Is it enough just to stay up?

Going on a winning run in the Premier League is difficult at any time but the Cherries do know how to get on a roll and when they do they the points start to flow. This team is better than the players in 2016/17, according to Howe who feels the club has progressed even if the points total is not as big and the league position has slipped to below ninth. I would say that injuries have again scuppered some of the chances the team would have had to pick up more points, but it is in the lap of the goads to get a season with few injuries and a regular starting eleven.

For me there was more change and lack of consistency this past season than in any of the other Premier League campaigns for Bournemouth. It made it a real struggle in the end and I'd have to say every season at this level has been a struggle. Whether the club can move away from having that prospect of battling just to stay up is when I'd say AFCB are an established side in the division.

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When established teams like Stoke City, WBA and Swansea City are relegated though perhaps AFCB do seem to be hitting above their weight for a club that has gates of 10,000 -12,000. It does make me wonder what is special about AFCB rather than say Rotherham, Walsall or Peterborough? Town teams don't often make the Premier League but Burnley, Brighton and Huddersfield like AFCB have created a special spirit of togetherness that I believe is a major part of the success of some smaller teams to challenge the biggest clubs in the land. How long that can continue for is anyone's guess but I feel privileged that my club is one of those that has been able to offer its fans a fantastic time over the last decade, and I hope we don't start taking Premier League survival as a poor season, because every season at this level should be special for AFCB fans when they consider our overall history.

AFCB are beating the odds to stay up all the time and while the spending budget is very different from what it used to be, the risks are also much greater. Keeping the club on an upward trajectory is going to be a massive problem for Eddie Howe, but he is wiling to take the challenge on and that should endear him and the players to AFCB supporters, because many have tried to do as well and have failed long term - Blackpool, particularly, spring to mind.

Premier Talk - All done and dusted

Getting over the line was a struggle

It has been hard to be a Bournemouth fan this last month. The team has been on the edge of safety without really looking like it would ever get over the 40 point mark and while it perhaps wouldn't matter greatly if the Cherries had been stuck on 38 points, the team was losing its way and had started to find everything becoming difficult.

Will Bournemouth be b ack to their free-flowing selves at Burnley?

I don't know what the turning point was in mid-week, but the attitude for the Swansea City game was much better and it showed. Why it should make a big difference knowing that you are nearly safe, without being mathematically safe, is a strange human trait. Pressure can either be stifling or find welcome relief. For Bournemouth it was the latter against Swansea and while we can ponder why it was that AFCB found their rhythm again, the fact that it was the last home match of the season and a carnival atmosphere must have had an impact on morale.

There is no doubt that the players had felt the pressure up at Southampton and they didn't mange to respond to it then. Playing in front of the home crowd though was easier and it was like getting back to doing the basics well. Ryan Fraser has commented that against Southampton the team didn't know whether it was a passing team or a pressing team and it did neither very well. But Swansea City were doing all the work against Bournemouth, having to chase runners and stop the movement of the front players who were not getting starved of possession.

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I'm just glad that AFCB have now got over the line. They have had a bit of a scare in recent weeks and that might not be a bad thing for next season.


In other news, the Bournemouth Echo reports that AFCB are tracking Porto teenage defender Diogo Queiros.

Playing Swansea equals clean sheets for Cherries

Bournemouth secured their sixth clean sheet of the season with their 1-0 win over Swansea City and in terms of clean sheets they did the double on Swansea in 2017-18 having got a nil-nil at the Liberty stadium. The match last weekend though was far from easy for the Cherries and keeping the Swans out needed a bit of luck, as well as some brave goal keeping from Asmir Begovic.

Asmir made some fine saves first half.

Ryan Fraser said in his post-match interview how they have worked as a unit to help each other and it showed on Saturday. Bournemouth have not felt confident at the back and when results are going against you it is hard to find what is lacking in a team's performance to get a clean sheet.

One aspect the Cherries did need was a big performance from the keeper. Asmir was immense in the way he made his smothered saves and when that went well for him it gives the team confidence that they could stop Swansea from scoring. A few misses as well from Jordan Ayew will have made the Bournemouth players feel like it could be there day.

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Poor shooting from Swansea wasn't the only reason why Bournemouth got a clean sheet though. There was more commitment and a grit about the Cherries that wasn't seen against Southampton. Sometimes it needs a game to hurt to get a reaction and AFCB were free-falling into trouble and the players knew that what they had been offering on the pitch wasn't good enough at Southampton.

Now they have a clean sheet at home though, it will still be a test to get something in an away match against a top 10 side, but the pressure is off now and it will be intriguing to see how that affects the AFCB players.

The Cherries find safety in last home game

Match Report

AFCB 1 v 0 Swansea

5 May 2018

Attendance: 10,820

Bournemouth welcome Swansea City to Dean Court.

The prospect of not getting a point in the last home game of the season might have made a few Bournemouth fans anxious, but the sun came out and so did the Cherries' A game to grab the points they really should have earned weeks ago. Swansea City were supposed to be fighting for their lives, but they offered only a couple of moments of worry for Bournemouth's defence and Asmir Begovic proved to be a barrier they couldn't beat. Callum Wilson continued to get in great scoring positions but just couldn't score, so it was left to a well worked free kick that led to a 18 yard deflected shot from Ryan Fraser to separate the sides. For once Bournemouth controlled the game and earned their clean sheet which now takes them to 41 points and gives them a place in next season's Premier League.

Eddie Howe brought in Marc Pugh on the left wing in what many feel could have been his last match for the Cherries. He replaced Lys Mousset who moved to the bench. Gone was the ill-fated back three of last week and Adam Smith made the substitutes bench.

All ready to go.

More pictures are posted on Match Day Gallery.

Bournemouth started with Callum Wilson going down in the box, but referee Kevin Friend ignored all penalty shouts. Begovic invited pressure on Nathan Ake with his short pass rather than kicking long when Ake was clearly marked.

Wilson was getting much of the ball, turning well and Mawson had to get a last ditch clearance in at the near post. The referee was letting rough challenges go in these opening minutes, but Bournemouth kept pushing forward winning a couple of corners.

Then Cook squared the ball to Josh King who slipped Marc Pugh through for the winger to finish well, only for the offside flag to go up on seven minutes.

Swansea then got their game going. Andre Ayew was fouled fairly centrally 35 yards out. Surman won an early header only for the ball to stick in AFCB's box and Mawson found Mike van der Hoorn who shot from six yards only to pick out Begovic.

Another chance swiftly fell to Nathan Dyer, but he also couldn't beat Asmir from close range and Bournemouth managed to survive when they should have gone one down.

Bournemouth still attacked with pace and Fraser put in a fast cross for Wilson on the far left, but the Bournemouth striker blasted his shot over from a good position.

A Swansea corner was soon cleared only for another AFCB attack that King running at Swansea and Surman breaking through the middle before Wilson again shot over on 20 minutes.

Steve Cook made an important block from Jordan Ayer's shot as the game started to become end to end. Steve Cook then got frustrated when he expected King to be making a run down the right and found his pass looked like it had been banged wildly out of play.

The opening goal came when Wilson had been fouled cutting inside Federico Fernandez on 35 minutes. A free kick was awarded but it took an age for Kevin Friend to get the Swansea wall to retreat and Olsson was booked. In all the time taken AFCB came up with a great plan to get a strike on target. Surman squared the ball to Fraser on the edge of the D and the wee man hit through his shot precisely, despite just flicking off Mawson's head, to beat Fabianski on his left and put the Cherries 1-0 up on 37 minutes.

Swansea kept the ball well around AFCB's box following the goal and Tom Carroll and the two Ayews worked the ball so that Jordan Ayew was staring the goal down only to miss the target when it was easier to score.

AFCB are 1-0 up at half time.

Second Half
Swansea came at AFCB straight away with Jordan Ayew testing Begovic from the D with a shot that Begovic scrambled past the post for a Swansea corner.

While King won a free kick he soon found himself book for taking the free kick too quickly. AFCB fans had more to laugh about when Dyer got to the by line and then promptly lost his footing.

Van der Hoorn was then booked for a foul on Wilson.

Josh King did some excellent work turning his defender and crossing only for Steve Cook to head over from close range.

A Swansea sub on the hour saw Dyer replaced by Tammy Abraham. Another free kick for AFCB saw Francis try his luck with a strong drive that skimmed over the bar. Lewis Cook started to take more charge of things in the middle and while Carroll was pushing forward he could only shoot over.

Swansea started to get more desperate in holding back King and Mawson was booked. Fraser was also making plenty of runs up the left which was keeping Swansea on the defensive.

On 72 minutes Swansea took off defender Mike van der Hoorn and put on Andy King. Bournemouth kept the pressure on with a corner following a deflected shot from Surman. Ake and Wilson went for the same header off the corner from Lewis Cook but Fabianski caught the effort clearly.

Lewis Cook did a bit of showboating with a cool step over to release Daniels up the left as he started to enjoy more control in the middle.

Swansea subbed Ki Sung-Yueng on 77 minutes and brought on Luciano Narsingh. Meanwhile Pugh was applauded off and Gosling replaced him. The substitute almost worked straight away for the Cherries with Wilson battling with Fernandez before Gosling had a shot saved twice.

Andy King was next to get a booking for a foul on King. All looked set for Callum Wilson to make it 2-0 when King played him in on the right side only for Fabianski to make a fantastic point blank save with his hip.

Swansea pushed for a goal with a corner as 90 minutes were up, but Bournemouth defended well. In the three minutes of added time AFCB used their subs taking off King first for Mousset to come on and then Tyrone Mings replaced Callum Wilson. Holding the ball in the Swansea right corner Mousset and Gosling ensured AFCB ran out as 1-0 winners, safety assured!

The three points that AFCB so desperately wanted - safety assured!

Summary

This was the job we wanted to do a few games ago and while it has been difficult for Howe to get a response out of the players he did it in this game. They could have had a more comfortable ride had Callum Wilson found his form in front of goal, but the running of Ryan Fraser, Callum Wilson and Josh King kept Swansea on read alert all afternoon. At the other end Begovic was like a brick wall, nobody was going to beat him. It was great to see the players come back onto the pitch after the game with their families to than the fans. It became a real celebration and with Nathan Ake walking off with a car load of silverware we could all say job well done for another season.

AFCB line up

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Mings, B Smith, Gosling, Ibe, Mousset, Defoe 

AFCB Ratings
Begovic 8, Francis 7, S Cook 6, Ake 6, Daniels 6, Fraser 9, L Cook 7, Surman 6, Pugh 6, King 8, Wilson 6

Cherry Chimes' MoM: Ryan Fraser

Swansea City

Fabianski, van der Hoorn, Fernandez, Mawson, Roberts, Ki Sung-Yueng (Narsingh 78),
Carrol, Olsson, Dyer (Abraham 59), J Ayew, A Ayew

Swansea Subs
Nordfeldt, Clucas, Rangel, Narsingh, King, Renato Sanches, Abraham

Referee Watch: Kevin Friend 3/10 I though Friend improved as the game went on but there were several clear fouls that he chose to ignore when no advantage was given. He did book more Swansea players, but I can't understand why King was booked for trying to take a free kick quickly.