AFC BOURNEMOUTH VS WIGAN ATHLETIC

AFC Bournemouth bounced back to winning ways when they saw off a much fancied Wigan Athletic at Dean Court.

Wigan were visiting Dean Court, after playing in the Charity Shield against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium last Sunday.

The North Stand in full voice

The Cherries could have taken the lead in the first minute when Lewis Grabben through on goal had his effort saved by Wigan keeper Scott Carson.

The visitors dominated the early possession keeping the ball well without really creating too much of an opportunity.

The teams line up

Wigan’s best opportunity of the first half came when Ryan Allsop tipped over a long range shot from James McCarthy.

The Cherries improved as the half went on and broke the deadlock two minutes from half time, an awful back pass by James Perch was pounced on by Grabben who took the ball around the on rushing Carson and slotted the ball into the net to score his fourth goal of the season.

AFCB came out strong in the second half and had a great chance to double the lead when a clumsy challenge in the box by Jean Beausejour on Brett Pitman led to referee Graham Scott awarding a penalty.

Pitman returning to the starting line up after an injury picked up in pre season, stepped up to take the kick but  former England keeper Carson saved the penalty and the ball was cleared to safety.

Owen Coyle responded to the penalty save by making a double substitution, introducing wingers James Mcclean and Callum Mcmanaman.

Wigan keeper Scott Carson

Mcmanaman made an instant impression on the game when his two footed lunge on Pitman saw him sent off after just two minutes.

The decision led to ugly scenes with Coyle confronting a number of the Cherries players including veteran defender Ian Harte.

The sending off rattled Wigan and they seemed to lose their discipline and although they had a good amount of possession, they failed to really break down the Cherries.

The best chance of the second half for the visitors came from a corner when Marc Pugh cleared a Leon Barnett header off the line.

Pitman came close to making up for his penalty miss when he took a quick free kick, he tried to chip Carson but the Wigan keeper scrambled back to make a fantastic save.

All in all I think that the Cherries deserved the three points, Wigan only had two attempts on target and we defended very well.

Grabban has scored four goals in three games

The referee got the two big decisions correct; even though the penalty looked soft it would have been a foul anywhere else on the pitch so the penalty had to be given.

The sending off was clear cut despite what Owen Coyle may think, if you jump in with both feet off the floor nine times out of ten you will be sent off, it is the rules.

I was impressed with the defensive display and think the lads bounced back really well after the Watford game.

Hopefully we can get our first away victory against Huddersfield this Saturday.

Final Score: Cherries 1-0 Wigan

Attendance: 9,097

Essential Cherries Man of the Match: Simon Francis

AFC BOURNEMOUTH VS PORTSMOUTH CAPITAL ONE CUP

The Cherries continued their unbeaten start to the season with a one nil victory over south coast rivals Portsmouth.

Eddie Howe made seven changes to the side that beat Charlton on Saturday; Captain Tommy Elphick was recalled along with Ryan Fraser, Richard Hughes, Donal McDermott, and Eunan O’Kane.

Pompey boss Guy Whittingham before kick off

Howe also handed full debuts to Ian Harte and loan signing Andrew Surman, the Cherries also changed formation opting to play five in midfield and only one striker, Wes Thomas.

Pompey was visiting the Goldsands on the back of a 4-1 home defeat to Oxford United on the first game of the season.

Steve Cook shows off his skills

 Both sides started cautiously with the visitors holding their own early on, they even came close when Patrick Agyemang had an audacious shot from 25 yards that just flew passed Ryan Allsop’s post.

The Cherries started to dominate possession as the half wore on and Thomas spurned a great chance when he rose unmarked to head over.

The match sparked into life just before half time when Pompey keeper Phil Smith made a succession of stops, the first from a curling Andrew Surman shot and then pushing away a Ryan Fraser effort.

AFC Bournemouth started the second half the better side and were rewarded when a defensive mistake let in Fraser whose shot was blocked but O’Kane was on hand to expertly finish and give the Cherries the lead.

AFCB continued to dominate the second half and Surman came close to doubling the lead, Howe made a number of changes which included taking off Thomas and bringing on Charlie Daniels leaving the Cherries with no recognised strikers on the pitch.

The teams line up

McDermott filled in as a makeshift striker for the final 15 minutes and in truth Pompey failed to really put any pressure on the Cherries goal and the game fizzled out to a one nil victory.

A changed AFCB team look comfortable for the 90 minutes and it is understandable that Howe would want to change things up before we visit Vicarage Road on Saturday.

Fraser was man of the match

Let’s hope we get a home draw for the second round as I am sure most of us won’t be able to travel away on a Tuesday night due to work/family commitments.

The draw to the second round takes place on Thursday afternoon.

 Final Score: Cherries 2-1 Pompey

Attendance: 7,620

Essential Cherries Man of the Match: Ryan Fraser

AFC BOURNEMOUTH VS CHARLTON ATHLETIC

 The Cherries started life in the Championship with a fantastic 2-1 victory over Charlton Athletic.

Two goals by Lewis Grabban was enough to see off the Londoners and earn Eddie Howe’s men three valuable Championship points.

AFCB were without last season’s top scorer Brett Pittman, who was only fit enough to make the substitutes bench and League One’s player of the year winger Matt Ritchie, who is still out injured.

The Cherries warm up

Eddie Howe handed full debuts to centre back Elliott Ward and tricky winger Mohamed Coulibaly, he also surprised a few people when he opted to pair Steve Cook with Ward in the centre of defence and leave club captain Tommy Elphick on the bench.

Charlton were without key man Johnnie Jackson but where boosted by new signing Marvin Sordell, who was handed his debut.

The Cherries backed by a noisy crowd started the match at a fast pace and dominated the opening exchanges.

The deadlock was finally broken when a quick short corner and cross was met by an unchallenged Lewis Grabban.

AFCB continued to have the better of the first half chances and Wes Thomas came close a minute later, but could not convert from a Marc Pugh cross.

The two sides line up

Chris Powell’s Charlton started the second half the brighter team, a Rhoys Wiggins cross was deflected into the path of Yann Kermogrant who acrobatically equalised for the Addicks.

Mohamed Coulibaly picked up a worrying knock and was replaced early in the second half by Ryan Fraser.

Howe would have been pleased with the reaction of his players to conceding the equaliser, backed by ferocious support, Bournemouth dominated the play and where rewarded when a wonder strike from Lewis Grabban restored the lead.

Charlton clear their lines

Charlton tried to get back into the match and managed to have a good twenty minute spell and came close to an equaliser when Bradley Pritchard had an effort cleared off the line by Elliott Ward.

Pritchard  all but ended Charlton’s chances with a poorly timed two footed lunge on Fraser which was penalised with a straight red card from referee Andy D’ Urso.

Pugh spurned a good late chance to seal the victory for the Cherries, but in the end it did not matter as the home side saw out six minutes of added time to gain their first victory in the Championship.

I was very impressed with the pace and intensity of how we played against a good championship side.

The Steve Fletcher Stand

The players really stepped up to the occasion and the fans created a great atmosphere.

Defensively we looked solid, Cook and Ward worked well together and Howe was proved right with his selection.

Arter and Macdonald controlled the midfield and Coulibaly and Fraser both looked dangerous on the wings.

Portsmouth visit the Goldsands on Tuesday evening in the Capital One Cup, let’s hope we can continue that winning feeling.

Final Score: Cherries 2-1 Charlton Athletic

Attendance: 10,108

Essential Cherries Man of the Match: Lewis Grabban