A Yann Kermogant brace has helped AFC Bournemouth back to winning ways and to within two points of second placed derby after the Cherries  beat Wolves 2-1 at a freezing Goldsands Stadium.

Yann-Kermorgant
Kermorgant sealed the win for the Cherries

Kermorgant opened the scoring for the Cherries after 10 minutes when Matt Ritchie pulled the ball back to the Frenchman who finished with a well-executed volley across Thomaz Kuszczak who was helpless to stop it.

Benik Afobe drew Wanderers level on 38 minutes after he snuck between Cook and Elphick and then calmly finished past Artur Boruc into the bottom left-hand corner.

Kermogant got his second straight after the restart as Callum Wilson was bought down in the box by Stearman. It took a while for the spot kick to be taken as there were lengthy protests from the Wolves players who felt Wilson had been far too dramatic for it to be a penalty. After referee James Linington had cleared the white shirts he brandished a yellow card for Edwards and Kermorgant converted from the spot, his effort just sneaking under keeper Thomaz Kuszczak.

The Cherries started the game well with Marc Pugh threatening down the left hand side as he did at the weekend and Matt Ritchie flashing a shot just off target in the first ten minutes. After the Kermorgant goal the Cherries went on to dominate the next twenty minutes restricting wanderers to very few chances with Afobe’s goal coming out of nothing.

Following the equaliser Howe’s side continued to limit their visitors to very few chances as they went in search of an instant reply with Matt Ritchie finding Kermorgant on the edge of the Wolves area whose attempt was blocked and turned behind for a corner.

Wolves looked for a way to take the lead with McDonald and Afobe both testing Artur Boruc but only from long range. Sako began to worry the home defence as the half drew to a close winning a couple of corners and a free kick after a challenge from Steve Cook.

After the break Wilson was quick to break into the box and was subsequently brought down by Stearman, although Wolves boss Kenny Jackett believes the challenge was outside the box. Kermogant converted and Bournemouth went onto to dominate once more.

Wilson had a couple of attempts which he watched run wide of either post and Pugh had to see his shot blocked off the line by Stearman as the Cherries wound up the pressure.

From there on Howe’s side were efficient and organised in stopping any attack from the men in white. The only real chances for the visitors coming from two late free-kicks on the left hand side, the latter of which was a very soft decision against injury time substitute Adam Smith. There were claims of a hand ball from the Wolves bench as Sako swung in his second free-kick but they were quickly waved away by the officials and the Cherries left the pitch with their first win after a run of five games without victory.

 

REACTION:

Bournemouth Manager, Eddie Howe:

“I’m very proud of the players tonight. I thought we showed another side to our game tonight in the second half, real discipline.”

“Yann and Callum today were a real force…Yann’s technique for a big guy was top draw and Callum was really back to his best today.”

On the backing from the fans: “Your supporters are so important, I thought they were really good for us today, we’re going to need that in every home game.”

Wolves Manager, Kenny Jackett:

“I felt the penalty was outside having seen it again, I thought that we should have had a penalty from Sako’s free kick at the end, Elphick handled the ball.”

“Key moments in the game have gone against us, that’s divided a very tight game”

“I thought we challenged Bournemouth very well but ultimately those two decisions were big in the game”