For the first time since 1957 and for the first time as AFC Bournemouth rather than Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, the Cherries stepped out on to a football pitch to contest an FA Cup Quarter-Final.
Due to the ongoing global pandemic, it will be a footnote in the clubs history, but not a cherished memory for supporters, even with the contest against near-neighbours Southampton, without supporters, the event bypassed us all…especially Diego Rico.
AFC Bournemouth manager until the end of the 2020/21 campaign Jonathan Woodgate had little options ahead of the game, due to injuries and suspension, he was without his preferred choice full-backs Adam Smith and Lloyd Kelly, central midfielders Lewis Cook and Jefferson Lerma, attacking options Junior Stanislas and David Brooks. Even Shane Long wasn’t involved in the squad seeing as he’s cup-tied and a Southampton player.
Woodgate’s options were so diminished that three of the four substitutes introduced into the game were graduates from the AFC Bournemouth youth team, with Anthony and Kilkenny having never played under Woodgate.
After the game that was also riddled with VAR, disallowing two perfectly plausible Southampton goals, the Cherries boss spoke to Sky Sports…
“They were a Premier League team and we were never expected to win the game. They were better on the day, more clinical in both boxes.
“I’m gutted we’ve gone out; it would have been a bonus if we’d have got to a semi-final, but the objective this season is to get into the play-offs and get promotion.
“We’ve got nine massive games to come, so this game will be put to bed, and we move on.”
Man of the match against Southampton
Solanke
Billing
Cook
Someone else
Jonathan Woodgate reacts to this afternoon's FA Cup defeat. #afcb 🍒
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) March 20, 2021
Jonathan Woodgate says the second goal killed his side
Listen to the Bournemouth boss with @kristemple 🔊👇 #afcb 🍒 pic.twitter.com/1Fv5MBZm5I
— BBC Radio Solent Sport (@solentsport) March 20, 2021
"We've now got nine bigger games than today coming up"
Bournemouth captain @SteveCook28 says all focus is on the play-off push & congratulates Southampton for progressing in the FA Cup
Listen to Cook speaking to @kristemple 🔊👇 #afcb pic.twitter.com/G8OEIMXVRX
— BBC Radio Solent Sport (@solentsport) March 20, 2021
Written by james_AFCB
Go in at half time 0-1 and we have a chance. Rico’s time has to be up in the summer if we can find a buyer.
Also thought Riquelme was poor, today showed how much we now rely on Stanislas. Thought we missed Lerma in the middle of the park too.
Let’s hope a few are back in 2 weeks time and we can give the play-offs a half-decent shot. – Join the conversation, click here.
adam0102 wrote…
We were basically thrashed by a side only, what, ten places or so above us?
They’re not much better in terms of league position, we should have at least been able to compete.
What they are is a team, as opposed to a group of ostensibly talented but gutless and shameless individuals who can’t even be bothered to try. – Join the conversation, click here.
