AFC Bournemouth returned to Dean Court for the first of three successive home games. All three against sides battling for survival at the foot of the second tier of English football.
First up was Peterborough United, managed by Grant McCann, who had already caused somewhat of an upset when he was manager of Hull City and took all three points from the south coast.
AFC Bournemouth head coach Scott Parker opted to drop Jamal Lowe, who had scored in three consecutive games, in favour of the returning Ryan Christie.
With Adam Smith suspended Jack Stacey returned to the right-back role, in favour of Ethan Laird, who Parker has deemed not quite ready for a start.
After the match, Parker told the Daily Echo…
“…22 shots today.
“I don’t think anyone can say we are not getting in right areas.
“But where we can be critical is two on target. It’s not good enough. We can’t suffocate a team like we are doing and not converting at times.
“I also think there’s a little element where – like I said – this is the part of the season pressure ramps up and we need to handle and relish the pressure because we worked tirelessly hard.
“This team have done incredible to be where they are.
“And I will not have anyone say anything different, no matter what the expectancy is.
“This team are second in this division and have done incredibly well.
“I just sense the pressure is ramping up and may be that’s an element of that. I need to address that, I need to take that off them.”
Man of the match against PeterboroughChristie
Phillips
L. Cook
Zemura
Solanke
Dembele
No one
Someone else
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Scott Parker gives his thoughts after tonight's draw with Peterborough 🗣
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) March 8, 2022
"My job now is to get the players to understand we need to play more free at times"
Scott Parker speaking to @kristemple #AFCB 🔊🍒 pic.twitter.com/ofrzJRsTUf
— BBC Radio Solent Sport (@solentsport) March 8, 2022
Written by billythekid
Not sure what has happened to our finishing from earlier in the season, players like Solanke who were getting goals and shots on target seem to have lost that touch.
Tonight in the first half there were other attempts on goal, but only one on target and all the others going wide or well over the bar.
But in one moment of the first half, Marriott found himself with only Travers to beat and it was 0-1.
Second half was more of the same from our team, but one moment of good individual play by Christie and it was 1-1.
Looking at the stats, AFCB 22 shots and 2 on target.
Peterborough United had 6 shots with 2 on target.
Our side go back into second place again on goal difference, but if our players had been more critical in front of goal, this game could have been put to bed by half-time. – Join the conversation, click here.
#FootballStandsTogether 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/ufnjdbQwgG
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) March 8, 2022
Your say…
Matt Stevenson wrote…
Here’s the xG timeline from last night, which represents an independent view of the chances created. At half time I’d texted a friend saying we couldn’t hit a barn door. For reference, when Huddersfield recently be Peterborough 3-0 the xG was 1.18 vs 0.46. On another night our chances go in, and the atmosphere immediately changes.
We had more shots than in any recent game, although in contrast to our normal approach many were low percentage (<5%). There were 3 really big chances (rated better than 1 in 3) in the game, two for us and one for Peterborough. Ours came in the first 10 minutes, as Billing put one wide that earlier in the season he would have scored (3 in 5) and Solanke dragged one wide on the turn (about 1 in 3). Peterborough’s key effort was the goal, I haven’t seen the right camera angle, but I suspect Zemura played Marriott onside. In terms of chances greater than 1 in 10, we had Nat Phillips’ second effort from a corner, and three efforts from Solanke (all 1 in 9) the last of which hit Lowe when it looked like it could go in. Peterborough had one shot from the D also 1 in 9. Christie’s goal was rated 1 in 11, with the keeper strangely flat-footed.
Whilst we are all frustrated by the result, looking coldly in the aftermath, we really should have won the game given the chances we created. I don’t think it’s a lack of effort from the players, just a bad day at the office in front of goal. Let’s hope they put their shooting boots on against Derby. UTCIAD
"There are standards that have to be met and we didn't do that in the first half"
A frustrating night for #afcb as they were held at home by bottom side Peterborough
Hear from Nat Phillips, speaking to @kristemple 🔊👇 pic.twitter.com/GNCpUXOUKt
— BBC Radio Solent Sport (@solentsport) March 8, 2022
