AFC Bournemouth traveled to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night for their second part of a midlands doubleheader following the defeat to Aston Villa.
Former AFC Bournemouth head coach Gary O’Neil always takes the spotlight before games with the Cherries, after his sacking over the summer as AFC Bournemouth opted for a different direction and style of football under Andoni Iraola.
But it was AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola who made a few headlines of his own before kick-off with his team selection, dropping goalkeeper and captain Neto in favour of Mark Travers.
The 24-year-old hadn’t played a minute of Premier League football for 11 months, having previously started just seven league games under former head coach Gary O’Neil, who dropped him as first-choice goalkeeper last season.
Travers made an early save in the first half as AFC Bournemouth soaked up some late pressure to keep a clean sheet, in a dominant performance that probably should have been rewarded with more goals.
The officials will also take some of the headlines for this game, with Wolverhampton Wanderers having one goal disallowed by VAR, but confusingly a deliberate elbow only warranted a yellow card. Whilst Milos Kerkez aggressive, but well-timed tackle was seen as a red card offence.
A stoppage-time equaliser by Wolves was disallowed for offside by the linesman, with VAR checking the decision was indeed correct.
After the game, Iraola told Sky Sports…
“We deserved to win today, probably earlier. The first 60 or 70 minutes were good. Probably, we were thinking (of the) Villa game, if you don’t score a second goal, take the chances, it always happens, they will find the moment to push. Especially after the red card.”
“I think we will appeal. Milos is late but I don’t think it is dangerous. To miss three-and-a-half games for this foul is too much.”
Man of the match against Wolves
Senesi
Christie
Semenyo
Travers
Smith
Cook
Zabarnyi
Scott
Solanke
Kluivert
Someone else
Milos Kerkez is sent off with a red card and Bournemouth are down to 10 🟥 pic.twitter.com/NEUVUuqFrB
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 24, 2024
🅰️ ,3points and unbelievable red card ,football is getting really soft.
Proud of the boys🍒 pic.twitter.com/tl97gXYdwD— Kerkez Milos (@kerkezofficial) April 24, 2024
NWCherries98
I’m not hearing any complaints about VAR tonight. You can’t swing your arm at someone and not give a foul. He’s lucky he didn’t get a red, if you think that Cook got a red in the reverse fixture for delicately, tenderly pushing his nose into Hwang. I don’t care whether it’s interfering with play or not, it’s technically violent conduct during the passage of play. Inarguable decision.
The offside is offside, all there is to it. It’s not the ones I like to see as a football fan, but that’s how it’s been for years now, we’ve all had them.
The Kerkez red card is probably a red; it’s debatable, but he went in with a lot of aggression and it could’ve been very reckless. Unfortunately but it is what it is.
I don’t think there can be any complaints at all. Every decision was understandable and correct. Semedo could easily have seen red for all his fouls, but whatever. The better team won. The better manager won. Up the Cherries.
northstandmark
Should have been out of sight after 45-60 mins, in the end had to hang on for dear life, benefit from a dodgy decision, and age about 10 years during stoppage time (all 13 mins of it).
If we could just take our chances…
All the talk from Wolves understandably on the disallowed header. But it does give them and O’Neil convenient cover for the fact they were poor and created little.
WHAT IT MEANS ✊ pic.twitter.com/LoTuT04Eeb
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) April 24, 2024
fritter
The fewest games lost in any Premier League season for AFC Bournemouth is 16 in 2016/17 and 2017/18.
We’ve lost 13 so far
The most games won is 13, in 2018/19. We’ve won 12.
The most points so far is 46 in 2016/17. We have 45.
The highest league position is 9th in 2016/17. We’re currently 10th.
The best goal difference is -12 in 2016/17. We’re on -11
Most goals scored 56 in 2018/19. Currently stands at 49.
The fewest goals conceded 61 in 2017/18. Currently 60.
Dominic Solanke has 18 goals beating Joshua King’s record in 2016/17.
Most points clear of relegation is 18 in 2016/17
Currently 20 points.
"I think it was a very complete performance!" đź‘Ź pic.twitter.com/RuggndJ4uw
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) April 24, 2024
table
Very happy and chirpy Riverside Rocket trundling along the Motorway home in the light of a very full moon. Speaking of full, the points bucket is chocker with not 1 but 3 points : )
Had scored the second goal our play deserved it would have been an almost perfect away performance. As it was, we allowed a poor Wolves team the chance to hope they might get something from the match when their first hours of play deserved what they got : )
Missed their first VAR goal but they took long enough to decide. I assume the correct decision was made. Anyway, anything less than 3 points for us would be a travesty : )
Travers or Neto both have strengths and weaknesses, I’m no goalkeeping coach, for me they’re about the same but Travs edges it because he gave the Good Lady his shirt after the Blackburn away in the Championship : )
I thought Kerkez might get a red at the time but hoped he wouldn’t. Is it a one or three-match ban : (
Great support tonight from everyone, hope the lads heard us. Great job from the singers. We had 7 wheelchairs there tonight, another great turnout for a midweek non-glory match. Spoke to two young wheelchair users up from Gloucester, really nice people, unfortunately, they can’t get the points to do home games. We really need a bigger stadium for everyone : )
Andoni (with Bill’s backing) is doing something great here. Our one major failing is converting our attacking play into goals. He’s strengthened so many of our weaknesses in less than a season, I’m confident it’ll happen, hopefully against the pebble dashers on Sunday : )
Wolves fans we spoke to feel the same about Gary O’NEIL as we did last season. He’s come in at the last minute with a weak (to them) squad, got survival assured early and beaten some of the big clubs. Not sure how much patience they’ll have, if they find out he doesn’t have any other tricks : )
I was very glad that Gary O’Neil was in charge last season.
I am overjoyed that Andoni Iraola is our manager this season.
red_house replied
Progress from a forward-thinking board and owner.
We’re starting to look ‘proper’ Premier League. Really solid and as dangerous as hell thanks to AI.
I always felt on this incredible journey that we were kind of winging it at times but this looks the real deal, in all departments to use a pun. I think its absolutely incredible. – To join the conversation, click here.
