A stunning home debut Hattrick from Yann ‘Kermit’ Kermorgant gave Bournemouth their biggest win in the second tier of English football and established a crucial 12 point gap to the drop zone.
Fans crying out all season for an attacker of crosses in the box will have been overjoyed with the Beast of Brittany’s second two goals – headers that Fletch in his pomp would have been proud of.
Eddie made two changes from the Derby defeat, Fraser replacing Pugh and Kermorgant in for Rantie up front. This also signalled a change in style with Fraser more of a pacy attacker and Kermorgant offering an option to hit and someone to ping crosses at. The changes were demonstrated in the first attack when Fraser cut back on to his right and Kermorgant headed straight at Johnstone with less than a minute on the clock.
Doncaster were showing no signs of what was to come though with some early decent possession and Furman blasted wide when well placed at the far post. Their possession soon lessened though against a high pressing Cherries and the pace of Grabban and particularly Fraser stretched the Rovers back four.
The little Scot was very impressive on his return and forced Johnstone into a great save beating the ball out at his near post. From the resulting corner Johnstone made an even better save to deny Surman’s curling drive from the edge of the box. The Cherries then worked that ‘step over’ corner routine that has featured in our play for years…..Arter left it and Kermorgant thumped a drive that must have missed the post by milimetres as everyone stood stunned.
Cherries fans were wondering if this was going to be our normal battering of the opposition only for them to break and score but such was the midfield dominance that Donny, playing with Brown isolated up front, were struggling to get the ball at all at this stage.
The worries were assuaged on the half hour mark. Fraser caused havoc again and laid the ball back for Harte to swing in a cross that missed everyone except KERMORGANT who volleyed in through the keeper’s legs for his first Cherries goal.
Bournemouth were rampant and Surman broke into the box and was tripped but the referee waved the apparent stonewall penalty away. Back at the other end Furman reminded Bournemouth they were only a goal up when he ghosted in at the far post and flicked a header wide.
Kermorgant was linking play superbly and he played a great wall pass back to Fraser to release the winger one on one with Johnstone who parried his shot. Rovers couldn’t hold out though and Cherries lead doubled on 44 minutes when Ritchie found Francis who boomed in a right wing cross. Many times this season similar crosses have sailed majestically out for a throw in but this is where KERMORGANT completes our jigsaw. Rover’s centre halfs were by far the favourites to clear but the French tour de force arrived between them with a towering leap to power the ball into the top corner and set the ground alight.
HT Bournemouth 2 Doncaster 0
Dickov rang the changes at half time bringing on a second forward and a winger to try and keep Francis occupied. It didn’t change the impetus of the game though and on 50 minutes they were 3-0 down.
Arter had been having a superb terrier like game and it was a fitting occasion to score one of his ‘specials’. Another period of great play saw Kermorgant cushion the ball to the edge of the area for ARTER to thump a majestic net busting left foot volley low past Johnstone.
It was game over and Bournemouth’s football became more expansive as a result, one great one touch move saw Grabban just miss out on Richies low cross as the goal of the season contenders were queuing up. It was time for another moment of the spectacular and it was the club’s new found hero that was to be the deliverer. ‘Imperious’ is a word that often gets attached to headers by broadsheet journalists. As a pre-google kid I used to wonder what it meant. The definition of a perfect imperious header was seen at Dean Court today. Francis swung in another fizzing cross to the far post where KERMORGANT had timed his run to perfection leaping above Kumalo and Meite to absolutely blister a header across goal into the opposite top corner. I would love to see a re-run of it next to Fletcher’s hattrick goal v Brentford as in my head they were identical…
Eddie removed the Frenchman to a standing ovation and also rested Fraser to let Rantie and Pugh have a go back in the team. The game quietened as the team adjusted and allowed Rovers a couple of shots on target but Robinsons drive and Keegan’s header barely troubled Camp.
Then it was business as usual as Bournemouth finished the game with four great chances. Rantie fired across goal and then blazed over when it seemed easier to score, Ritchie thumped one of his specials just wide but they were not to be denied a fifth. Harte’s set pieces were again excellent and Johnstone could only punch one to the penalty spot where it was returned past him with interest by the predatory ARTER.
Bournemouth 5 Doncaster 0
Camp 7 – Could have sat in a deckchair with a book
Francis 8 – Two great assists and a performance of great energy.
Elphick 7 – Very tidy and dominant in air and on ground.
Cook 8 – Fought hard and one great double block lives in memory.
Harte 8 – Great in air and attacked more than normal. Set pieces!!
Fraser 8 – Scared stand in right back Tamas to death – penetrative.
Surman 7 – Snooth game ticking over performance – more involved.
Arter 8 – Best game in ages – terrier like and two trademark strikes
Ritchie 7 – Clever feet and vision – returning to old form.
Grabban 7 – Energetic and mobile performance with usual intelligence
Kermorgant 9 – Supreme link play and hattrick – 2 ‘imperious’ headers!
Verdict
All season fans have been saying the same thing. If we just had someone to attack the ball in the box with the crossing ability we have we would give someone a proper going over. It took us till January to sign one and strangely March before we gave him a debut but today Yann Kermorgant confirmed what we all knew with a performance of heart warming brilliance. Cynics might point to Rovers not being Derby or Leicester but they are old resillient adversaries of ours and no push overs.
Finally we looked like a team with goals in our blood and not a pussy footing Southern pretty footballing team there to be picked off. The encouraging thing was that moving to a flat four midfield didn’t leave us exposed possession wise. Something that is crucial if we are to be able to keep two up front. We need to because Kermorgant can’t play the role alone and it would be a shame after today not to have him in the team.
It was a joy to watch from start to finish – good structure in the side but people gambling forwards and four or five in the box. Today we doubled the goal tally from central midfield all season as a result. Even when Kermit didn’t get the ball his pressure meant it couldn’t be headed far away and this kept the play permanently in the opponents third for large periods.
A word for Fraser too who was dynamite for the first half hour. Now that we have 1) a centre forward with aggression and 2) midfielders in the box if we could just get 3) wingers on their correct feet the sky could be the limit!!
A day where it felt like proper football and old fashioned centre forwards returned to Dean Court. Fletch would have been impressed! Vive la difference!
Report by Neil Dawson
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