AFC Bournemouth were left regretting missed first-half chances as a late equaliser denied them all three points against an in-form Nottingham Forest side.
A 28th-minute goal by Jaidon Anthony got the Cherries off to a promising start, with several more chances following, but a failure to convert left a feeling that they may regret missing so many.
This feeling was proven accurate as former Bournemouth player Sam Surridge stuck the ball in the back of the net in the 83rd minute. To earn a point for the visitors.
Things could have been worse for the home side. Forest had the ball in the back of the net just past the ten-minute mark. But a VAR review decided there was an offside in the build-up, disallowing the goal.
The result, coupled with results elsewhere in the league, leaves Gary O’Neil’s men in the relegation zone for the first time this season. Nottingham Forest meanwhile sit in 13th place, four points above the drop.
Gary O’Neil spoke to the media after the draw, saying how his overriding emotion after the game was “disappointment that we only took a point” but added, “1-1 we take a point and move on.”
Gary O’Neil was pleased with his new signing, Dango Ouattara, and was keen to highlight this to the media after the game, saying: “Dango was a big positive. It was a tough week for him, he hasn’t trained much and we were sort of forced into starting him. He worked his socks off and looked a threat.”
Pre-match, Bournemouth fans were dejected by the news that Philip Billing was not in the squad. O’Neil revealed this was due to a “slight muscle injury” but added he was “close” to making the starting XI.
Lloyd Kelly had come under fire from Bournemouth fans in recent fixtures, but the boss was quick to praise his captain, following a much-improved performance today: “Lloyd showed his quality up against Brennan Johnson, a couple of big tackles.” O’Neil had good reason to praise his captain. Some last-ditch challenges helped maintain Bournemouth’s lead throughout much of the game, and aside from one clumsy challenge, he brought a much-needed calm head to Bournemouth’s back line.
AFC Bournemouth are next in action away at Brighton on 4th February