Hull snatch late winner to sink Cherries

Hull City frustrated AFC Bournemouth as they snatched all three points at Vitality Stadium courtesy of Ryan Longman’s 77th minute winner.

The away side frustrated Scott Parker’s side throughout the second half as they broke up play with players going down for treatment regularly not allowing the Cherries to build any momentum - resulting in nine minutes of added time.

Emiliano Marcondes had come closest for the home side before the break as Bournemouth dominated the first half.

The Danish midfielder struck the post from 8 yards whilst Dominic Solanke steered a free header wide of Nathan Baxter’s post from a similar position leaving Parker’s side rueing their missed chances as Hull went on to snatch the win.

Parker made three changes from last weekend’s 3-2 defeat at Luton for the visit of McCann’s Hull.

Gary Cahill and Jaidon Anthony were dropped to the bench with Chris Mepham and Jamal Lowe stepping in.

Phillip Billing also returned to the starting line up having missed the defeat at Luton for Lewis Cook who was left out of the matchday squad.

McCann named an unchanged side from the 2-0 win over Blackburn in midweek as the Tigers looked for back-to-back wins in the wake of Turkish businessman Acum Ilicali’s takeover of the club.

Bournemouth had started the game on the front foot and an early corner from Ryan Christie flashed agonisingly past three Cherries players. Jefferson Lerma, Dominic Solanke and Jamal Lowe all failed to connect with the Scots corner.

The first 10 minutes was completely dominated by the home side who had three-quarters of the possession and looked comfortable on the ball looking to get both full backs into play on the overlap.

Dominic Solanke almost carved out the opener after Leif Davis had won the ball in the left-back position to then find the striker’s run with a wonderfully weighted ball over the top of the Tigers defence but was beaten to the ball by Baxter who was quickly off his line.

Moments later Solanke had another opportunity to put the Cherries in front. The striker rose highest to meet Christie’s cross from the right but the Bournemouth number nine put his header a foot wide of the far post - and perhaps should have got his effort on target from eight yards.

Bournemouth kept the pressure up and it was Marcondes who tried his luck next. The Dane picked up on a loose ball in the box after Solanke’s low driven cross was deflected into the midfielder’s path. But Baxter was there again to deny a goal as the Hull keeper spread himself to block the Dane's shot.

A raft of chances kept falling the home side's way as Marcondes struck the post after connecting with Billing’s clever flicked pass, before Solanke had the opportunity to turn in the box but was denied by the outstretched arm of Baxter who dove low to his right-hand side.

With 20 minutes on the clock Bournemouth had already amassed a total of seven shots as they dominated the opening quarter.

Solanke came close again with another header after Davis' cross was met well by the striker

but again could not direct his effort on target.

With half an hour almost played, Marcondes had another effort saved from Baxter as the midfielder ran onto a through ball from fellow Dane Billing, but the game had slowed after the Cherries initial bombardment of Hull’s goal.

Marcondes looked like a player who had scored four goals in his last two games as the Cherries number 11 had yet another shot from the edge of the box but watched his shot take a deflection and go out for a corner.

Mepham had to be replaced by Cahill with just under 10 minutes left of the half after the defender pulled up with what looked like a potential hamstring injury and will be disappointed after not putting a foot wrong.

Just before the break Hull did manage a shot on target as Ryan Longman cut in from the left to force Mark Travers into a diving save - Bournemouth were left outraged though as moments earlier Davis had been sent crashing to the floor but the Tigers played on before the referee chose to stop play with Davis clutching his head.

It was Hull who fashioned the first chances the second half though as Hull’s top scorer, Keane Lewis-Potter, came close on two occasions. First the striker almost latched onto a ball over the top but sent his shot wide before forcing Travers into a save low to the keepers’ left moments later.

Tom Eaves then forced Travers into a speculative save after Hull’s number nine sent a venomous strike from 20 yards towards goal.

Whatever McCann had said to his team during the break had clearly had an effect on his team as they continued to push the Cherries back with a series of corners leaving the home side on the back foot for the opening 10 minutes of the half.

As has often become the case this season, Bournemouth’s second half display was far from the open and creative first half. Having missed several chances earlier in the game, the Cherries looked bereft of ideas after an hour with Hull slowing the game down with several of their players needing treatment and wasting time - much to the despair of the home crowd.

Jaidon Anthony was brought on with just over 20 minutes left to play as Parker looked to find a solution to Cherries lack of creativity in the second half.

Bournemouth had a shout for a penalty waved away by referee Matthew Donohue after Anthony had linked up with Davis down the left, leaving Richard Smallwood to slide in on Solanke but was judged to have won the ball.

Anthony’s introduction seemed to add some energy into the home side’s play but more stoppages due to Hull player’s receiving treatment looked to halt any momentum from Bournemouth.

As the game entered the last 15 minutes there were discernible moans and groans from the home fans who were getting more and more frustrated with Hull’s players taking to the floor and holding up play.

Longman was then on hand to put the away side in front with 13 minutes to play after cutting back from the byline to rifle home his shot from twelve yards into the far top corner - leaving Travers no chance - and Bournemouth just over 10 minutes to salvage a point.

It wasn't to be though as Hull held on for what would be nearly twenty minutes after nine minutes of time was added on at the end of the game and sinking Bournemouth to their second straight defeat and leaves Blackburn with an opportunity to leapfrog the Dorset club when the face Middlesbrough on Monday night.