AFC Bournemouth have been promoted to the top flight of English football for only the second time in the clubs history.
With two games remaining of the Championship season, the Cherries welcomed Nottingham Forest, a side where former AFC Bournemouth captain and legend Steve Cook and former youth team graduate Sam Surridge have found a new home.
AFC Bournemouth knew that a win for their side would clinch promotion to the Premier League, however, the visitors knew that a win for them would see them leapfrog the Cherries into the automatic promotion slots and be heavy favourites to complete promotion on Saturday against lowly Hull City.
It was by near definition, winner takes all.
AFC Bournemouth head coach Scott Parker stuck with an unchanged side with Mark Travers, Adam Smith, Nat Phillips, Lloyd Kelly, Jordan Zemura, Lewis Cook, Ryan Christie, Jaidon Anthony, Jefferson Lerma, Philip Billing and Dominic Solanke.
On the hour mark with Lerma struggling, Parker rolled the dice and put Kieffer Moore on. The rest is history.
After the game, Parker told Sky Sports…
“First and foremost, I’m delighted for the fans and my group of players. They deserve this moment. They deserve to get into the position we’re in, in terms of getting promoted into the Premier League. I’m delighted for everyone associated with the football club. It means a lot. I was disappointed with the first half – for everything we spoke about in the week, we never wanted the game to turn into a basketball match.
“We were playing against a good side – a lot of their goals come from counter-attacks. Which suits Nottingham Forest and not us. [At half-time] we spoke about control, we spoke about being calm. I never wanted the emotion of this game to get the better of us. That was key. I spoke about our game plan. Second half, we showed our dominance. Physically, we are the best team.”
Man of the match against Forest
Billing
L. Cook
Kelly
Moore
Anthony
Zemura
Christie
Phillips
Smith
Lerma
Travers
Solanke
Pearson
Mepham
"๐'๐บ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐น๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐."
Good morning, #afcb fans โค๏ธ pic.twitter.com/y01uTs1OkS
— UP THE CHERRIES ๐ (@afcbournemouth) May 4, 2022
Written by Red_till_im_ded
Nights like that are unforgettable. It will be imprinted in my memory forever. The game, the result, the atmosphere. Being part of something like that is special. Its the reason I love football and it’s the reason I love my team.
๐ฃ๏ธ "I dreamt of this moment from the start."
Kieffer Moore and Philip Billing reveal how their promotion winning goal came about…pic.twitter.com/w7h3yNsXVb
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 3, 2022
dragonm8 wrote…
Thought we thoroughly deserved the win.
They had better spells in the first half, but we annihilated them in the second.
We weren’t at our best by any means, but on the day deserved the win.
Kieffer Moore, well, what can you say.
3 goals, 2 games.
It’s basically what got us over the line.
A point at Swansea when almost dead and buried and a win tonight.
Was nice to see him almost crying after the goal, as he had a weight on his shoulders after his injury lay off.
Came up with the goods.
Getting on a bit, but he has a season or two in him at Premier League level.
The perfect day ๐
David Brooks given the all-clear from cancer and Bournemouth promoted back to the Premier League
Listen to @DRBrooks15 with @jordanclarkcouk ๐๐ #afcb ๐ pic.twitter.com/ngzzwisC2C
— BBC Radio Solent Sport (@solentsport) May 3, 2022
Neil Dawson added…
Thoughtsโฆ Fantastic night, the crowd were awesome, team was on it for 98 minutes with full concentration. Good tactical change and an intelligent goal.
I was shaking like a leaf for the last twenty.
Moore overtakes Kenwyne for heroes that havenโt played much. Billing was majestic but Cook ran the show I thought (the little one)
One of those special special Bournemouth nightsโฆ
Missed my dad as Iโm sure a few people did theirsโฆ
๐ฃ๏ธ "They deserve this moment."
Bournemouth manager Scott Parker believes the club's fans and players deserve promotion to the Premier League ๐pic.twitter.com/BRPoQYQixl
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 3, 2022
NWCherries98 said…
Every single player wanted it and was up for it. All the guff about the style of play and stuffโฆI get it, but this lot are United and they fought for each other, for their manager and for the club. They deserved it. Couldnโt be prouder of every single one of them.
A special mention to all our players, but specifically; Kelly was absolutely colossal tonight. They didnโt get a sniff. True, true captain’s performance. Lewis Cook. The heartbeat of this team like he always should have been. Always brave on the ball, always positive, a fighter. PL class and date I say might be destined for the very top once more. Billing. Always unfairly treated, did he lose a header tonight? How many miles did he cover? How many second balls did he pick up? Who else wouldโve thought on their feet to pick out Moore like that? A class act tonight. Anthony, Zemura, and Travers. Winning tonight with these three starting, the word again is pride. Academy players like it should be, a credit to the club and to themselves. Absolutely phenomenal โdebutโ seasons from them all.
And of course Brooksy watching on from the stands. All this pales in comparison. Heโs healthy and happy and I canโt wait to see him in red and black once more.
๐ #EFL | @afcbournemouth pic.twitter.com/8wDs2CaxhO
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) May 3, 2022
Def_II_Royalz wrote…
Regrettably, my 11-month-old was sitting on my lap when the goal went in and the next thing I was holding him above my head Lion King-style shouting in triumph and my word, he was upset at me. As was my wife.
Not much to add here that hasn’t already been said.
Special mention to Chill Phil Bill, I haven’t always been his biggest fan, particularly when we went down and during the terrible spell that lead to Tindall’s departure, but he’s been bang up for it the last two matches and his free-kick showed a delightfully devious, deceptive side to him that was hitherto unknown. Being chill isn’t always so bad, it turns out.
Moore: a club legend in the space of two matches. You couldn’t make it up. Fair play to him.
What a great story for Anthony, Zemura and Travers, they must be on cloud nine right now and well done to Scotty for showing faith in them to do the job. Brilliant stuff.
Yes, we’ve been well supported by Max and have made full use of the parachute payments but looking at what’s happened to other relegated clubs who also share a similar natural level in the scheme of things… it’s pretty remarkable to have a seat at the top table once again. This doesn’t usually happen.
A lot of work to be done but I have no expectations this time round. If we stay up, I’ll be delighted, if not, it’s not because we didn’t try.
๐พ #EFL | @afcbournemouth pic.twitter.com/Xbo0SiybYO
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) May 3, 2022
table wrote…
First thoughts, I don’t think I was as relaxed as I thought yesterday, only just feeling confident enough to fart without worrying about the consequences : )
Second thoughts, there should be enough money in the club for another season of Riverside Rockets : )
Third thoughts, the crowd were exceptional tonight, backed the lads, so loud getting them over the line in the closing stages. Different to the first time ” popping our Prem’ cherry” but flipping exhilarating none the less : )
Fourthly, it’s still difficult to get my around. 20+ years ago we were happy to see us scaping wins against the likes of Orient ad Hartlepools, upset about losing at home to Rochdale ad Port Vale. The feelings involved in winning crucial survival matches against Chester ad Grimsby. Who in the ground on Supa’s saviour goal day thought we would see not ONE but TWO promotions to the Premier League : )
5 thly, a pity we didn’t have time for Motd theme but there’s always Saturday : ) – Join the conversation, click here.
A look at the #SkyBetChampionship standings!#EFL pic.twitter.com/8RgcJJtaHG
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) May 3, 2022