Thanks to the Vital Bournemouth site I’ve found the stats for the game just gone, and feel the need to reiterate the ‘Don’t Panic’ method – I’ve read reports and heard comments from fans who listened on the radio, and frankly it would appear to me that the media has painted a bleaker picture of the game than really happened. Don’t get me wrong, we were unacceptably poor, but look at the stats – this game could’ve gone either way (Bournemouth on the left, us on the right):
The possession % at the bottom is perhaps the most concerning, but not all that unusual for away games. We had more shots on target (bear in mind a couple of Commons’ first half off target efforts were very close!), more corners – we had chances, and on another day we’d have got a draw or better out of this game. I’m concerned that we have yet to truly dominate a game from start to finish, but I’m willing to forego decent football for a season if it brings success too. We just got unlucky, just as we’ve gotten lucky in other games.
It’s left me feeling vindicated somewhat, as comments and reports I’ve read differ to my memories and accounts of the game; but then again, statistics can – of course – be used to prove anything. These ones don’t differ greatly from what I witnessed on the pitch, though.
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Our first defeat (penalties not included) since the Scunthorpe game. That served as a wake up call, hopefully this will do the same and we can go on another strong run of form. Still 5 points clear though!
To be fair, we completely outplayed you and a huge percentage of those shots which you’re so happy about were from long range. The first real chance you had was after about 70 minutes – you struggled badly to create without Tyson up front, even though we lost a key centre half to injury in the first half. Our two kids up front making their debuts caused your defence all sorts of problems, Vokes who just turned 17 a few weeks ago made your number 5 look like the rookie! Your results this season show that you’re a better team than we saw at Bournemouth, write this off as a bad day at the office and get back to winning on Saturday.
Fair points; definitely about creating to struggle clear chances – we certainly did. I don’t think possession necessarily equals outplaying, I would certainly say Bournemouth were our equals on the night, if not better – but I still say 2-0 is flattering.
Long range shots were the order of the day for us, alas – although most of them from memory missed the target. Admittedly at least two of our “shots” on target were nothing more than backpasses by Neil Harris
Your two frontmen did look lively, and number 5 – Wes Morgan – is still a bit of a rookie, so that’s perhaps understandable!
But yes, fingers crossed for a return to some semblance of form against Crewe on saturday
Front men? Front boys more like!
Only a handful in the stadium had ever seen Vokes play before as he’s in the youth team/reserves. I’m not sure when he heard he’d be making his debut, but it was late on – that’s for sure. He had to go off injured in the second half, poor kid and as we had no strikers (not even youth team!) Josh Gowling (centre half) came on as sub and went up front.
Pitman was a goal machine in the youth team/reserves and got his chance to start since our only two other strikers were both injured. He won the penalty after out-muscling Morgan – which was surprising in itself as Morgan looks like a big lad.
I’m surprised Morgan played so poorly, I’ve heard nothing but good things about him recently – maybe it was just a typical young players’ off day – they all get them! Try fielding a young team like ours and see for yourselves – 3 that played Tuesday night were only 17!
Before the game we’d have settled for a point and even our ever-optimistic red n black website predicted a 2-1 win for Forest. We desperately needed 3 points from somewhere, so often we lose to crap teams and then beat one of the better sides. Never mind though, you’re still top.
One thing we noticed though, your fans don’t sing! Maybe with a bit more support the team would respond better. You had by far the most supporters of any visiting team so far, but probably the quietest too.
You should be ok against Crewe, even we beat them! :p
Good point re: the fans.
We were very uncharacteristically quiet – I won’t write too much about it here as it’s something that’s forming another article in my head.
Wes, I think, had knackered himself out marauding up and down the right flank in the second half by the time Pitman won the penalty – he has been decent lately, but our game at your place was certainly an off day for him and the rest of the defence.
Anyhoo, I’m not too disheartened – hopefully the defeat will kick them up the arse, and equally hopefully it will kick off a run of results to see the Cherries a bit more comfortably placed in the table!
By comfortably, do you mean 6th?!
I don’t remember your fans being so quiet last year at our place, I’ll let you get a big stick out and beat random people until they find their voices again!
Sometimes it takes the team to lift the supporters, other times it’s the other way around – just don’t give up on the team. Every game lasts 90 minutes + stoppages – a few years ago we played Boston in League 2 at our place, after 90 minutes we were 1-0 down and yet still won 2-1!
Keep shouting, singing, clapping and you never know what can happen.
do u kNo the atendence of forest fans there?
I’ve not seen it confirmed anywhere, but believe the allocation was 1,000-1,200 – most of which were sold; there certainly weren’t many empty seats in there.
I’d guess at around a thousand.
Oh, and in response to Steve…
6th would be fine by me! Our fans aren’t normally quiet on their travels, there’s something up with them I think; it was a real effort to raise any spirits amongst the travelling hordes, which is unusual.
You’re right that fans can lift a team – that said, it’s a two way thing and Forest didn’t exactly do a great deal to lift the fans… but we could’ve taken the initiative.
well ithink thats great for a tuesday night down at bourmouth. I just hope we can go to crewe and get some thing then follow it up with a win against leyton orient at home.
Official attendance from AFC Bournemouth is 1,268 away fans.
Great turn out, thanks for your cash – we need it!
Pity the fixtures made it a midweeker in winter – imagine if it was a weekend during a nicer time of year you could’ve doubled that..
yep excelent turnout from us lot , i wonder how many u wud of brought if it was at the city ground? 450 at the most?
We had about that number at Bradford a couple of weeks ago, would have been less on a Tuesday night. If it’s a huge end of season game we get good turnouts of 3,000 or so at away games, but during the season the prefer staying next to the beach and switching on the radio!
yea easyily, we wud fill the empty south stand if it was on a saturday
cant blame u m8