AFC Bournemouth welcomed Fulham to Dean Court on Saturday afternoon. The London club had already clinched promotion back to the Premier League and due to their gargantuan goal difference, knew that a victory over the Cherries would clinch the Championship trophy, albeit not quite mathematically.
AFC Bournemouth welcomed back Philip Billing with Jamal Lowe dropping back down to the bench, Adam Smith continued in the left-back role with Ethan Laird at right-back and Nat Phillips and Lloyd Kelly completing the back four.
The familiar midfield of Lewis Cook, Jefferson Lerma joined Billing, with Ryan Christie and Jaidon Anthony in the wide areas supporting Dominic Solanke.
After the game, Parker told Sky Sports…
“They scored a goal which looks a little bit dubious. It doesn’t look like the whole ball has crossed the line so I think that’s a little bit harsh. Maybe technology was faulty or the camera was not lined up properly, I don’t know. It was well-deserved point for sure. It was a match between two very good sides.
“In the second half I felt we took them to certain depths and really nullified their opportunities. In the end I thought physical prowess and endeavour got us the penalty. I didn’t see why Marco got sent off. It was edgy at times, it was a bit nitty gritty and I don’t think anyone would have wanted it any different. There wasn’t a cooler man in the stadium than Dominic Solanke.”
Man of the match against Fulham
Smith
Solanke
Phillips
L. Cook
Someone else
"𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗮𝘀 𝗗𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀!"
The gaffer on today's draw 🎤
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) April 23, 2022
𝐈𝐜𝐞. 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐥.
Hear from the man himself 🎯
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) April 23, 2022
Written by afcb_rednblack
It was always going to be a difficult game today, that said I didn’t think Fulham were anything special while the referee was pretty poor and I thought Fulham took full advantage of this with some dirty play at times.
Well done to the lads for persevering, we got what we deserved at the end and I thought Parker made the right decisions at the right time with the subs he brought on. Onwards and upwards!
fritter added…
Shame the ref didn’t turn up today but nice of him to send his dad. He did his best but his best was awful.
Yellow cards very strange. Two of their players, 6 and 23, got away with foul after foul. Three of ours booked for first foul. (Cook deservedly so).
Goalie wasted time and was warned maybe 3 times before finally being booked. Then he delayed the penalty and wouldn’t move back. Should have been a second yellow.
Overall the worst refereeing performance I have seen for some time. And the nastiest visiting team all season.
That equalising goal is the reason why I go to football. How on earth can people leave early?
"It was a game of fine margins" #AFCB defender Lloyd Kelly reflected on a tough clash with Fulham
He's been speaking with @kristemple 🔊 pic.twitter.com/du19LLsELs
— BBC Radio Solent Sport (@solentsport) April 23, 2022
Your say…
TCherry wrote…
I thought the ref was far too lenient in the first half, Reed (6) and Bryan (23) were booked way too late. This then meant the ref lost control of the game for a while and then he tried to catch up on his bookings.
Fulham certainly practised the dark arts today, they time wasted and fell over for the slightest thing but were able to foul our players because the ref let them get away with it without getting booked in the first half.
Not the worst team here for the dark arts here this season, I felt Hull took it to another level.
Glad Wilson gave away a penalty because I think he’s overrated.
Well done Smithy.
Well done to Fulham for their promotion.
📋 The #SkyBetChampionship standings#EFL pic.twitter.com/bbhyL8xiKx
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) April 23, 2022
