AFC Bournemouth pulled off their very own Great Escape in the final seconds of the game against League One leaders Swansea, the euphoria of the 60 seconds turn around snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, was probably enough to make even the most pessimistic Cherries fan wonder if avoiding relegation could still be a possibility.
With Danny Hollands and Marvin Bartley out injured for the Cherries, Kevin Bond had to make changes in his midfield and he opted for experience bringing in former England International Darren Anderton to play alongside Jo Tessem and Shaun Cooper. Max Gradel and Jo Kuffour offered pace on the wings, whilst Sam Vokes was set the task of the leading the line up front.
David Forde continued his fantastic form in goal, while Lee Bradbury continued to deputise at right back with Josh Gowling, Jason Pearce and Warren Cummings completing the back four.
The formation and tactics were set out to try and frustrate the home side, who were chasing promotion with a win against the Cherries.
In stages it worked, containing the home sides free flowing football, but Bournemouth offered very little up front with the long ball to Vokes too often just returning to continue the pressure on the Cherries back four.
But the home side struggled to break down the Cherries defence, opting to take chances from distance, with most flashing wide after playing sideways passes, trying to find a gap between the Cherries bank of five followed by a bank of four.
Lee Bradbury then almost gifted a chance to the league leaders and could only apologise after on loan Cardiff ‘keeper David Forde saved his embarrassment.
On the stroke of half time the Cherries offered their first real chance. After one sighter free-kick from Anderton, the former England International came closer with his next free-kick, but Shaun Cooper blazed over with the rebound.
Early in the second half and Swansea got the goal that they were threatening. The corner kick was delivered into the mixer and amongst the general confusion that follows with any Cherries team defending a set piece, Robinson was gifted a free header and the league leaders took the lead.
The containing formation that Bond had employed had to change if the Cherries were going to offer a way back into the game. Brett Pitman almost immediately stripped off for action, but a change of mind saw him get his tracksuit back on for another 10 minutes.
The introduction of Pitman on the hour and the change to 4-4-2 brought some pace to the team that had been lacking during opening 60 minutes, the Cherries midfield had previously been slow, with the main aim to contain Swansea. But with Pitman on and Kuffour up front, Anderton was given more space to perform and the Cherries looked like they could offer a way back into the game.
However they again had to be saved by an immense triple block from David Forde, the on loan ‘keeper again showed his class to deny Swansea from killing off the game, while a Brett Pitman curling effort, began to ask questions of the Swansea defence.
A Jo Kuffour strike then rattled the bar and the jubilant Swansea supporters who had previously been prematurely celebrating promotion went quiet.
Swansea continued to threaten with half chances but the final minutes of the game were all Cherries.
As the game entered injury time, Welsh Under 19’s captain Joe Partington netted the equaliser with a header just minutes after coming on as a substitute for returning captain Darren Anderton and within 60 seconds, Brett Pitman’s cross across the six yard box found Jo Kuffour who found the back of the net to cause pandemonium in the away end amongst the travelling 226 Cherries fans.
squeeryj said…
Tactics
When a manager opts to flood the midfield with five players and plays one up front, it can only go one of two ways for supporters.
He will either be labelled as negative and tactically inept offering no way of winning the game.
Or it will be classed as a clever tactic, of containing the opposition, giving your team a chance to claim victory late on in the game.
A 60 second turn around confirmed the latter.
PaulW said…
Yeah Forde was immense but the triple save came from a huge defensive cock up that allowed Swansea the first shot with no pressure. Yet again the goal against was down to poor marking at the back post and Gradel bollocked the whole team afterwards.
But they were Swanseas only real chances of the match. After the goal we outplayed them with lots of flowing movement but bad luck in the final third.
squeeryj said…
Really was a great result. We were by far the worse team, but who cares about that, and the timing of the goals was so sweet.
The Swansea fans were bizarre though. Couple of minutes from promotion and they were streaming out, not singing and looking mightly fed up for some reason. The ones near us were getting in a right strop when some Cherries were singing ‘going up and you’re sitting down’ etc, which seemed pretty weird. I reckon if it was us we might have the beach balls out a bit more…
Anyway, amazing stuff and i pulled a muscle in my neck celebrating the second goal – it was that good!
