AFC Bournemouth traveled to London on Saturday to face Championship outfit Queens Park Rangers in the third round of the FA Cup.
AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola made a few changes to the starting XI, most noticeably starting Mark Travers for the first time following his recall from his loan spell with Stoke City. Dominic Solanke was also omitted from the squad entirely, but this was still a very strong Cherries squad that was hoping to get their name in the hat for the 4th Round.
At half-time, that wasn’t looking likely, but a 20-minute spell after half time, turned the fixture on its head with former AFC Bournemouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic beaten three times in quick succession to dump his new side out of the cup.
Iraola told the Daily Echo after the game…
“I think we didn’t start the game well. It has happened to us also in the Carabao Cup games.
“Sometimes cup competitions have these things. You are out at half-time and you have to score at least two, three if we wanted to win, like we did at the end.
“But we had to play with a much greater sense of urgency. We were keeping possession, but without really attacking spaces, playing faster with the rhythm we want.
“If you play slow, you don’t make differences. You don’t feel the division that each team plays in.
“In the second half I think we played with a much higher rhythm and we could make the difference.”
Man of the match against QPR
Tavernier
Moore
Scott
Kluivert
Philip
Sinisterra
Christie
Someone else
Flake
I thought Christie was instrumental in our improved second-half performance. I also love watching Senesi hoof the ball forward. One of the best things about this new style of play is not having to watch our defenders pass the ball backward and sideways while being pressed by the opposition.
Thank you for your efforts today, Cherries fans 🍒 pic.twitter.com/b1hcCAMkvu
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) January 6, 2024
Waz afcb
Completely disjointed first half.
Ryan Christie comes on at half time to play in the middle and we win, shock horror.
It was similar against Spurs how it fell apart when he came off, he’s our most important player. The glue that holds the team together. Iraola’s football doesn’t work for us without Christie in the centre of the park.
What an away end today 🙌 pic.twitter.com/XPTdEHwwUx
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) January 6, 2024
Vlad_The_Impaler
Andoni tactical masterclass, I know we had a couple of players out but the audacity to go 1 at CB at HT being 2-0 down and correct his starting line up was inspiring and brave makes me proud. I’ve seen many PL club in past FA Cup matches make a few changes and get swallowed into the abyss by hardened Championship teams away from home. But we came back and said no we’re not losing to you lot on this day we’re different.
Game changer. pic.twitter.com/rsVjk4rsZK
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) January 6, 2024
Neil Dawson
Tactical masterclass that with the second half change. Putting Cook to centre back because he knew they wouldn’t attack so why have a redundant defender when you can have a ball player. Fantastic. Then changing it back to a defender when leading.
Felt sorry for Brooks today, not a player for this system and with his lack of energy and Moore not being mobile all the fluidity broke down. The arrival of Christie and Kliuvert upped the press and then the quality took over.
Good points were Christie and Cook who were fantastic. Kluivert was buzzy and we saw elements of Billings class especially for the winner.
Negatives… Senesi being murdered for pace too often by the impressive Armstrong (where we need Kelly), Brooks, Scott was untidy and Moore offers little although granted he scored.
Great day out, always a favourite ground to visit although shame so few of their fans . View on top of pitch is great. – To join the conversation, click here.
A message from @dan_adu9 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/eqgrt8OezD
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) January 6, 2024
