Following AFC Bournemouth sacking manager Jason Tindall it was Jonathan Woodgate thrown into temporary charge of the Cherries for the game against Birmingham City.
The former Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur defender had barely walked through the door at Dean Court 48 hours earlier, before being asked to takeover.
With just days to get to know the players, he will have leaned heavily upon assistant manager Stephen Purches and the rest of the backroom staff, who have worked under both Tindall and former manager Eddie Howe. With that in mind it was hardly a surprise to see Woodgate make little change to the formation, but four changes from midweek. The most notable changes were Cameron Carter-Vickers coming into central defence alongside Steve Cook, whilst Shane Long, on loan from Southampton came in up front.
After the match, Jonathan Woodgate told the Daily Echo…
“I just wanted to get three points, no matter how you get it,”
“In the situation we’ve been in with four losses on the spin, you just need the win. I thought at times we could’ve been a bit naïve. We made a couple of silly errors early on, individual mistakes, but I thought at times when we passed it through the pitch, we looked quite good.
“It was a battle. It’s the Championship, it’s a tough league…”
Man of the match against Birmingham?
Danjuma
Wilshere
Someone else
"I just wanted to win no matter what"
Fighting talk #AFCB caretaker boss Jonathan Woodgate 👊
He spoke to @kristemple after the victory over Birmingham City today
Listen to his reaction 🔊👇 pic.twitter.com/112cUDM6zt
— BBC Radio Solent Sport (@solentsport) February 6, 2021
Very well said, Jonathan 👏
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) February 6, 2021
Should Woodgate be considered for the managerial post?
Yes of course
No we need more experience
No idea
"I've missed the feeling of winning"
Relief from Arnaut Danjuma
The #AFCB goalscorer spoke to @kristemple after a 3-2 win over Birmingham City today
Listen to the reaction🔊👇 pic.twitter.com/2wutWsatjj
— BBC Radio Solent Sport (@solentsport) February 6, 2021
📸 Super @JackWilshere 📸 pic.twitter.com/8uzgB3DslI
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) February 6, 2021
Happy birthday son.
Love you loads ❤
Great win for the 🍒 today, we need to build on this ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/a05yFtnywk— Jack Wilshere (@JackWilshere) February 6, 2021
Written by Kudos
That was a baffling game, not a convincing performance by any means not sure we deserved a point let alone three but as mentioned by others the win will hopefully build confidence.
Topfarrier wrote…
What a difference it makes when you play Lerma in the right position….people on here criticising his passing!…. Jesus wept he’s not Iniesta!…..put him in front of the back four and he does what he was bought to do and what he did imperiously for us in the PL……hopefully that first half is the last time a manager sacrifices our best player for Lewis Cook…..if we are to play Cook play him alongside Wilshere or Pearson further forward…..let Jeff do what he does best….win tackles ….headers and all the dirty stuff in between.
Doofus wrote…
Brooks and Kelly either need a rocket or a comforting arm around them. They look so lightweight and error-prone. Confidence lacking or couldn’t give a monkeys? I can’t decide. I hope the coaches do because they are way off.
Despite the weaknesses, we graft out a win. Onward! – Join the conversation, click here.
Your say…
AFCBade said…
Lot more movement esp first half against a defensive side so three goals is a big plus. Wilshere, Cook and Lerma impressive. CCV offers a more physical presence than meps.
However, two awful goals conceded. Bego now on a run of errors again. Really concerned at lack of tracking of runs.
kelly is a big liability now. Sad to see. – Join the conversation, click here.
The best league in the world!#EFL | #SkyBetChampionship pic.twitter.com/veAsw48nhw
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) February 6, 2021
