With an unusually long ten-day gap between games for AFC Bournemouth due to the match with Millwall, which had been scheduled for Boxing Day, being postponed, the Cherries travelled to Brentford with AFC Bournemouth manager Jason Tindall picking an unchanged starting XI, with Joshua King shaking off his headache and back complaints to be included on the bench.
The Cherries took the lead with a goal from Dominic Solanke and with the game evenly poised, Tindall made a substitution in a bid to chase all three points.
Joshua King was introduced to lead the attack, with Lewis Cook withdrawn and Brooks, Stanislas and Solanke dropping deeper. With the central midfield conceded due to Brentford having the extra man, the Cherries dropped deeper with the high press also conceded, giving Brentford more time to work the ball.
It was a bold move and one that could win the game against lesser sides in the division, but against one of the better sides in the Championship, it swayed the game and momentum into the home sides favour and they took the spoils.
Tindall told the Daily Echo after the match…
“…I felt we started the game very well. First 20 minutes we were very good and we created some excellent opportunities and we didn’t take the opportunities we had.
“We got punished for the two defensive errors we made, and Brentford took both of the chances.
“That was the difference and that was the reason why we lost the game…”
“…That’s what frustrating and disappointing for me and the team, that we have ended up losing the game where I feel we didn’t deserve to, due to the chances we created.”
Man of the match against Brentford
Begovic
Billing
Solanke
Someone else
"We didn't punish them when we had the opportunity."
The manager's take on the final game of 2020 👇#afcb 🍒
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) December 30, 2020
Deserved something from the game today, we go again on Saturday. Felt good to get back out there and add another goal🙏🏾.
— Dom Solanke (@DomSolanke) December 30, 2020
Written by Red_Dez
Credit where credits due, Brentford are a well-oiled machine with players who are comfortable on the ball and work it about quite nicely. Always on a knife-edge once we had let them back into it via a soft set-piece – thought Jefferson Lerma had a decent game otherwise.
Don’t want to knock Tindall too much for changing shape in search of the win, but was this the game to do that? I’d have taken a draw quite happily before the game.
Most frustrated that Tindall still sees the need to involve King in the squad, if he wanted to make that change Surridge should be the man to come on, our youngsters should then be next in line.
Your say…
Sandman2 wrote…
What a wasted opportunity and that could well come back to haunt us at the end of the season. I think Brentford are a decent team but we were bossing that second half when they broke, the Brentford player wasn’t even looking when he crossed it, and Smith, as he has always done, just watched it sail over his head for a free header to the opposition. I’ve seen a few games with Brentford this year and they are the same as Norwich in that they don’t always deserve to win but somehow find a way to do it. Something we don’t currently seem capable of. – Join the conversation, click here.
