A frustrating and disappointing afternoon for AFC Bournemouth as they hoped to return to winning ways at home to Blackburn Rovers. A 2-0 loss thanks to an own goal from Ben Pearson and a headed finish from Jan Paul van Hecke made it five games without a win. It is the first rough patch in Scott Parker’s tenure.
A frustrating and disappointing afternoon for AFC Bournemouth as they hoped to return to winning ways at home to Blackburn Rovers. A 2-0 loss thanks to an own goal from Ben Pearson and a headed finish from Jan Paul van Hecke made it five games without a win. It is the first rough patch in Parker’s tenure.
Recent form has seen a drastic change in performances and confidence ever since the Cherries broke a 60 year-long club record away to Reading. After going 15 games unbeaten, Parker’s side have now only managed one win from the last seven.
It was an afternoon in which Bournemouth undoubtedly dominated possession, but the stubborn set-up of Blackburn frustrated the home side all game. A back five out of possession, Rovers left no opportunity for Bournemouth to break down the flanks; a phase of play the Cherries love. Absentees such as Jordan Zemura and Adam Smith in the full-back positions made it more difficult for Bournemouth to utilise the wide areas.
Blackburn were smart and assured in their game plan, and Bournemouth were unable to deal with the transitions of play. Very quick and slick on the counterattack, Blackburn created good chances and were able to force themselves up the pitch. The Cherries were unable to retrieve the ball back as quickly as they wished when losing possession.
Analysing the game, Parker admitted: “I felt we didn’t deal with the transitions well enough.
“We knew they were a transition team, and we didn’t lock that down well enough.
“In saying that, it is an offside goal and set-play goal but where they were threatening in certain moments was exactly that. It is something we will look at and need to improve on.”
Questions were raised in relation to the first goal which Parker clearly displayed his annoyance, as calls were made for offside in the lead up to the attack. The Head Coach was seen deep in discussion with the officials walking in at half-time.
“The official said if he has made a mistake then ‘I’m sorry’” Parker revealed.
He continued: “You could tell from his body language he was not sure.
“I just don’t understand when I’ve seen it”
“Our backline is so uniform in that sense that it gives him the line.
“Look, people make mistakes, but it was not even tight.”
Despite being a situation where perhaps decisions did not go their way, Bournemouth had their chances to come back into the game. Both Ryan Christie and Dominic Solanke were given some great chances to level the game, but the keeper came out victorious during both events.
The questions inevitably focused on the current form of the once league leaders. Speaking on the current rough patch, Parker expressed: “We are in a difficult situation at this moment in time.
“We are in the eye of a storm.
“This is part and parcel of football and the long season we are in.
“The real test of anyone’s character is during adversity and we are bang in the middle of that.”
He added: “What is most important is that this group of players man up, face up.
“Everything we do now we look to put right the wrongs.”
Is there cause for concern? Maybe. The instant decrease in the flow of play and rhythm in attack as soon as some injuries come upon is concerning. The remaining games without these significant players will prove pivotal as Bournemouth will hope to avoid the grudges of the play-off places, in which they only sit three points above of. Once the squad is at its strongest, no doubt the form will reappear. But Parker and the squad need to adapt to the missing players, in which they have failed to do so.
The 15 games unbeaten cannot be forgotten however. It is these performances that remind the on lookers what Parker’s squad are capable of. Consideration must be taken to the current list of injuries, especially with Zemura absent at left-back. Very few would have expected at the start of the season for the side to be dearly missing the 22-year-old academy breakthrough. But his enthusiasm in attack and bursts of pace, along with his partnership with Jaidon Anthony, have left the Cherries disjointed in the area they find most success.
With only two games in the coming 16 days, this will be valuable time for Parker to sit down with the squad and analyse the current form.