AFC Bournemouth travelled to bottom of the Premier League table Norwich City on Saturday, hoping for a result that could turn their season, lift the player’s heads and create a platform to build a recovery from.
Instead the game was all but decided after half an hour when Cherries captain Steve Cook handled the ball inside the penalty area. Cook was sent off and Norwich City scored the resulting penalty.
Pukki’s spot kick was the only goal of the game, so AFC Bournemouth left Norfolk empty-handed with Norwich City taking all three points.
AFC Bournemouth now host Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday looking for another chance to claim some points.
AFC Bournemouth are now 19th in the Premier League, 3 points behind Watford in the safety positions.
AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe told the Daily Echo…
“We are well aware every game goes by is an opportunity lost – (Saturday against Norwich City) was an opportunity lost but it’s gone and we have to focus on the next one.
“We have to stick together and we have to keep fighting. We have to turn the tide very quickly or we’re going to run out of games.”
Your say…
bigfatolly wrote…
We have to pick a formation and stick to it for the rest of the season, regardless of injuries.
We have five fit midfielders so must stick to 4-3-3.
For Brighton, I would stick to pretty much what we had Saturday, but with one tweak. Lewis Cook for Philip Billing, and tell him to get forward, and pass forward at every opportunity.
Rammers
Smith Franno Ake Rico
Lerma
Gossa L Cook
H Wilson C Wilson Fraser
I still think Callum will score if given the service.
SteveJonesLegend added…
Whilst not saying we follow this religiously, I do agree with this stance. I don’t actually recall the last time we fielded the same XI for a run of games… which was always part of what we do… we lack cohesion, partnerships and leadership… With ref to the latter, is it Cook, is it Franno… Just give it to one and tell them to send a rocket up players arses every five mins to remind them what each game means… Phil Thompson ripped into Frannos lacklustre hand gestures in an attempt to get the lads going… sums things up right now…
We need the lads to understand each other, what they’re going to do, know where they’ll be and understand that they have support without being told they do… This is what a settled side does for players.
Another post on this thread highlighted the poor timing of the likes of Mepham, Brooks, Stacey etc. being better options… This 100% highlights that we are still Full of injuries right now and regardless of our starting XI being decent on paper… the list of people Eddie would have wanted to be starting is still BIG
Mepham, Stacey, Brooks, Kelly, Danjuma, King… All of which can not only make impacts but offer options… which we currently don’t have.
The crux of our issues is the midfield tho. They are not functioning and it’s the one area we do have an almost full complement… get them functioning and Callum will score… He just needs a lot better service… alright to mug him off in isolation but it shows a lack of football knowledge to ignore the bigger picture. One decent bit of service v Luton and in 15 seconds of being on… goal…
So for BHA I’d stick with the line up as best as you can… Franno will obs come in for Cook to give us Rico-Ake-Franno-Smith at the back.
Lerma and Gosling stay but I would sack Billing off for L.Cook (he has to be a better option for his energy alone), and then stick with Fraser and H.Wilson (give him a free role) behind Callum…
One last thing, stats highlighted our interceptions v Norwich was high which tells me Eddie is still persisting with this ‘keep it narrow, not much press, concede possession and grab the ball when we can to break’ style of football… It needs to go… we need high press and energy… for 90… – Join the conversation, click here.
