AFC Bournemouth traveled along the south coast on Sunday to face Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Sussex side had just returned from their first fixture in European competition, having qualified for the UEFA Europa League this season following their strong season in the Premier League during the last campaign. They made a number of changes and in part due to clever tactics from AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola, struggled during the first half.
The Cherries press was once again rewarded, Ryan Christie putting in the running and clever timing to force the error. The ball fell to Dominic Solanke, who still had a lot to do to take advantage from 25 yards out, but the striker made it look effortless.
The Cherries first-half showing probably deserved more than going in at the break level, but that’s what happened, the unlucky Kerkez being awarded the own goal.
During the second half, Brighton brushed the Cherries aside to claim all three points, leaving AFC Bournemouth in the bottom four and without a win all season.
The caveat to that particular statistic however is that AFC Bournemouth have played 4 of the current top 7, with the other two games coming against Brentford and Chelsea.
After the game, AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola told the Daily Echo…
“I think it was a tough one to accept, this game, Especially the way we played in the first half. To end the half at 1-1 with the goal we conceded just before half-time was difficult because I think we were in control of the game.
“After the first play of the second half, we were losing a game that we think we were playing well.
“From there we tried, we had chances.
“But it was much more difficult because they were not under pressure and they could play with the result.”
Man of the match against Brighton
Tavernier
Solanke
Semenyo
Kelly
Kluivert
Someone else
Kicks_On_66…
This match was the most disappointing of the season for me, considering how things started. AFCB showed up with a good plan, well executed. I would have been content to see Brighton’s keeper stand around at the top of the D with the ball at his feet all afternoon. Things were going well until a ball that Neto should have come for ended up in the net.
At the very start of the second half, we looked panicky. A bit of sloppy play cost us. I thought our effort was decent at times as the half wore on. More disappointment as Zabarnyi lost track of the dangerous Mitoma, and that was that.
Still, I decline to panic about our situation at the moment. One more match in the brutal Block 1, and then I foresee brighter days ahead. No one is being relegated this week.
Garbo…
We played okay and yes we should have taken more goals from the chances we had but the worry for me is the soft goals that we conceded…first one Neto should have come for…the second we didn’t get a decent tackle anywhere close…the third was a totally unmarked player planting a header where he wanted under no pressure at all…
I do hope that Kelly is not seriously injured as he is our best defender by a mile!
Christie was my man of the match and Semenyo should play more minutes
Positive was another goal for Dom
Another poor ref too
hba1…
The first half today we more than matched Brighton in the second half we didn’t. The OG was one of those things should Neto cone for it, perhaps not his natural game, but a collective error.
Similarly in the second half, various personal mistakes let the cause down. In the Premier League any team cannot afford to make mistakes so tight are the margins but they and we are human after all.
Like the Chelsea game there were some encouraging signs but can we afford the time to learn on the job such are the fine margins. – To join the conversation, click here.
