Friday night, under the lights at Craven Cottage, live on Sky Sports, the two top sides in the Championship head-to-head.
In the end, the two sides couldn’t be separated with the status-quo at the top of the league table maintained. But it certainly wasn’t a dull affair.
AFC Bournemouth captain Steve Cook, back from the wilderness taking centre stage with a dramatic and incredible double block.
Dominic Solanke scoring a spectacular set-play from the re-start of the second half giving the Cherries a slender one-goal lead, which they couldn’t quite hold on to.
The Sky Sports commentators purring in delight calling the two sides “Premier League clubs in all but status”, in a “great advert for the Championship” fixture.
Following the game, AFC Bournemouth head coach Scott Parker told Sky Sports…
“I’m really pleased and I’m proud of my team. There’s no denying we have had it difficult over the last couple of weeks with injuries – there were four or five players out there with one day’s training and I’m very proud of the team, to be quite honest. There are bits of our game we need to improve but tonight, in terms of the circumstances we find ourselves in currently, nothing but pride for the team and the players.
“Hopefully now, in the next couple of weeks, we can get more training in the boys that have been injured and are coming back, and some more back from injury as well.”
Man of the match against Fulham
Travers
Billing
S. Cook
Someone else
💬 "I'm really pleased. I'm really proud of my team."
💬 "This is sometimes the fickle world we're in, and I understand that."
Scott Parker hails his injury-hit Bournemouth squad and reflects on the reception he received from Fulham fans on his Craven Cottage return 👇 pic.twitter.com/kUNX45JMHX
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 3, 2021
Written by AFCB_Liam
Absolutely superb point given Fulham full strength and us missing a few plus us not being on a good run of form. Disappointing we dropped so deep and let the lead go but doubt a single person on here would’ve turned down a draw if offered it 2 hours ago.
– Away support superb throughout
– Cook and Cahill immense
– Solanke looks so lethal even with very little service today
– Great to hear Nonny’s song loud and proud
– Amazing what a bit of confidence does within our team. For 5 or 10 mins after the goal, we looked so much better than the first half in possession
– Travers very good today on crosses, kicking and shot-stopping
– Kilkenny over Lewis Cook for me
Now let’s get a couple more players back and kick on over the Christmas period.
🗣 "It is called putting your body on the line!"
Steve Cook – take a bow! 👏
Magnificent defending from the Bournemouth skipper! pic.twitter.com/NOXaoUpnKq
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 3, 2021
"I thought I'd broke my jaw, it's been hanging on by a thread"
Putting his body on the line 👊
Bournemouth captain @SteveCook28 talking about his epic double-block before half-time #afcb
Listen to his reaction, he's been speaking to @jordanclarkcouk 🔊👇 pic.twitter.com/SakKhBJfad
— BBC Radio Solent Sport (@solentsport) December 3, 2021
Not quite the result we wanted but grafted for the point. Great noise from the 🍒s faithful as usual 🙌🏽❤️ pic.twitter.com/O2IjTaIpvm
— Steve Cook (@SteveCook28) December 4, 2021
billythekid wrote…
What a good game of football and a fair result in the end, although with the minutes ticking away we might have pinched the 3 points.
The signs were back that our blip in recent games had been that just a blip when we were home last Saturday, our side playing comfortable controlled football and seemed always in charge against Coventry City until that sending off.
Tonight we saw our side without Lerma but with Cahill and Smith back.
The central pairing of Cahill and S Cook was a perfect partnership with Cook having an outstanding game in defence, stopping the Championship top scorer getting any real cut chances and also gave a real captain’s performance putting his body in the way two make two great blocks one after the other and was the Sky MOM.
That goal of ours straight after the half-time break was brilliantly worked, which was worked on in training the day before.
So we can now look forward positively for future games and as Scott Parker said we will be getting more players back.
Would have taken a point before the ball was first kicked tonight and that was exactly what we got.
The best set play from a kick-off ever?#EFL | @afcbournemouth pic.twitter.com/Bue41ef0kt
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) December 3, 2021
Tough game tonight, thank you for the support, we go again next Saturday. pic.twitter.com/UISEQF2LtU
— Emiliano Marcondes (@EmilianoMarcon3) December 4, 2021
Important point on the road against a strong team and could make the difference at the end of the season. Travelling Cherries were fantastic as always 🍒👏 #afcb pic.twitter.com/VqQoiQNKpk
— Gary Cahill (@GaryJCahill) December 4, 2021
thegazzyb wrote…
Job done. Decent result after they managed to equalise.
Cookie was damn near immaculate and what a great goal we scored.
Well done lads. Proud of you tonight! Struggling to see how Fulham are significantly better than our injury-ravaged side. Cause for much optimism moving forward !
blandford_cherry added…
What a point. Absolutely fantastic performance, ok all 3 would have been amazing but before the game, I’d have taken a point. Cahill and Cook phenomenal – Join the conversation, click here.
