Match Preview | AFC Bournemouth (A)

24 September 2021

The Hatters take on table toppers AFC Bournemouth tomorrow afternoon looking to claim a third league win this season.

Coming into the game on the back of four consecutive draws, Nathan Jones’ side will hope to inflict defeat on the Cherries for the first time this season, who have made a good start to life under Scott Parker.

The opposition:

With five wins and three draws thus far, Bournemouth are proving why they are serious contenders for promotion after narrowly missing out last season.

Following a play-off semi-final exit last term, the Cherries are hoping to get back to the top flight at the second time of asking, following their relegation in 2020.

Dominic Solanke has five league goals to his name and he will be hoping to supply the fire-power to keep alive their hopes for a positive campaign, whilst they have goal threats in midfielders Philip Billing and David Brooks - who have seven goals between them already.

Last time we met:

It was an away trip to remember the last time the Hatters visited the Vitality Stadium as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's second half strike helped Town secure all three points on their travels.

Follow the action:

Key match updates via our Official Twitter feed
Supporters can purchase iFollow audio passes

UK-based fans will not be able to watch the match on iFollow as this is a Saturday home match.

However, supporters can tune into Simon Pitts’ match commentary through iFollow by purchasing an audio match pass for a single game, a month or for the reason. Prices for all three options can be found HERE.

We are sorry to inform our overseas based supporters that the live video stream will not be available for iFollow Hatters subscribers, apart from in the dark market territories for our game against Bournemouth.

This is due to the match being selected for live international broadcast and a list of territories where the EFL do not have an international broadcast partner can be found listed HERE.

Ref watch:

Referee: Tim Robinson

Assistant Referees: Lee Venamore and Michael George

Fourth Official: James Linington

Tim Robinson took charge of the away loss against West Bromwich Albion earlier this season and has officiated eight matches in total this term, dishing out 28 yellow cards in that space of time.

Match Reports

Report | Bournemouth 2-1 Luton Town

Second half fightback not enough as Hatters fall to defeat...

25 September 2021

The Hatters put in a battling performance at Bournemouth this afternoon but slipped to a 2-1 defeat against the still unbeaten Championship leaders.

An own goal from Lloyd Kelly midway through a second half the Hatters dominated looked like it might spark a comeback, but ultimately the last season's beaten play-off semi-finalists took another three points thanks to first half goals from Philip Billing and Dominic Solanke.

Manager Nathan Jones made one change to the team that drew 3-3 at home with Swansea last Saturday, with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu picking up an injury in training in midweek and Jordan Clark returning for his first start since being injured at West Brom in August.

Town started brightly, with Luke Berry breaking forward on the left and sending in a dangerous low cross that former England defender Gary Cahill had to slide in at the near post to get a touch back to his goalkeeper Mark Travers.

Bournemouth had the first attempt on goal in the ninth minute, Sluga comfortably saving from recent signing from Celtic, Ryan Christie, low by his near post.

Elijah Adebayo spurned a wonderful opportunity to put the Town in front with just under quarter of an hour played, James Bree releasing Cornick down the right and the ex-Bournemouth man'slow cross for his strike partner measured to perfecting, only for the joint top scorer to play the ball against his own ankle and see it go agonisingly over the bar.

A minute later the ex-Walsall striker almost profited from Travers dwelling on the ball on the edge of his six-yard box, charging down the keeper's clearance, but the ricochet landed back with the Bournemouth stopper rather than in the beck of their net.

By the 17th minute, the hosts were in front, Christie scooping a brilliant pass into Billing's path and the Danish midfielder made no mistake in volleying past Sluga into the corner.

Christie was the architect of the Cherries' second goal just after the half-hour, crossing from the left this time for Dominic Solanke to direct a header past the Croatian keeper.

Jefferson Lerma and Jaidon Anthony went close to extending the lead as the hosts dominated the remainder of the half, with Clark's volley, that was blocked by Cahill, the only real sight of goal the Town had, in the dying seconds of added time.

Jones introduced Amari'i Bell in place of Gabe Osho at the break, and his side went out on the front foot in search of a route back into the match, Adebayo sending a cross into the six-yard box that Cahill did well to repel, before Cornick, Bree and Lansbury all tried to make inroads, the latter being fouled by Ben Pearson, earning the Cherries' midfielder a yellow card.

Lansbury got up to deliver the free-kick from wide on the left and his inswinger flicked off home midfielder Adam Smith's head at the near post, calling Travers into action with a smart save.

The Bournemouth keeper was on his toes again in the 55th minute to turn Adebayo's fierce shot from a tight angle over his crossbar, as the Town's impressive start to the second period continued.

Adebayo was causing the home defence problems, although he lost his footing when in a good position to cross for Berry, then Berry picked Pearson's pocket in midfield, only for the Bournemouth man to do similar to Cornick as the Town forward looked to get his shot off on the edge of the hosts' penalty area.

By the 64th minute the pressure had paid off, Cornick and Lockyer heading the ball back into the box as Bournemouth struggled to clear a corner, then Berry sending a low cross towards Burke in the six-yard box, with Cherries centre-half Lloyd Kelly turning it into his own net.

Jones introduced Carlos Mendes Gomes and Cameron Jerome, for Berry and Cornick, and it was the former who had the Town's next attempt at goal, but his 20-yard shot as the Cherries struggled to clear another set piece was too high.

Lansbury arced another free-kick towards the far post in the 83rd minute, and although he lost his man to meet it on the volley, Naismith was at full stretch and couldn't generate the power to beat Travers.

Another chance presented itself with four minutes to go, when Clark picked out Adebayo, but his header was off target. Then more pressure mounted as Jerome looked to get on the end of a cross from Bree, with Bell recycling the ball on the left of the Bournemoutgh area to tee Naismith up for a shot that Travers held.

Goals:

Bournemouth: Billing 17, Solanke 31

Town: Kelly (OG) 64