Match Day Bournemouth v Stoke, Saturday 3rd February 15:00

[SALTIRE]

Match chat.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Stoke had their game plan, setting their stall out by absolutely clattering Fraser, Wilson, and Stanislas within the first 10 minutes. Smash the midfield and get it up to Crouch basically, and it was incredibly effective. We didn't settle one bit. After Cook cleared one off the line, we were soon behind when Shaqiri of all people headed in. Getting between Ake and Cook, neither picked him up.

S.Cook went off injured and the formation had to change, frankly it was a mess.

The first half was one of the poorer halves of our entire season. Perhaps it was inevitable after the highs of Chelsea. Stoke had us sussed to a tee, the ref was giving them carte blanche to slap us around, and we had no answer to Crouch. Thankfully it was just the one goal to claw back.

Second half we improved, not difficult after that first period. Slowly we gained more of a foothold, especially in midfield. L.Cook and Gosling slowly forced and pressed their Stoke counterparts and the game turned. Once they got control, all our attacking options suddenly got in the game.

King finishing cooly after Gosling forced his way between two or three defenders.

And then the tricky and gradually more impressive Mousset gets his breakthrough first PL goal. A header from a freekick. Bournemouth beating Stoke with a headed set piece! Fantastic delivery from Jordon Ibe.

Stoke had little response once we got in front, instead we might have made it 3 on a few occasions.

Interesting to see so many of our creative players on the pitch at the same time. Ibe, Mousset, King, Wilson, Fraser. Totally unstructured in its formation, but some lovely combos, Stoke were swamped by the end.

Up to 9th