Spot-kick hero turned villain Josh King scored a first-half penalty but missed another late on as Bournemouth and Wolves played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
The Norwegian put Bournemouth ahead before Wolves were able to tie up the Premier League clash inside the final ten minutes. But the drama wasn’t over, as King missed a second Bournemouth penalty just moments after Wolves got back into the encounter.
Wolves were quick out of the blocks at the Vitality Stadium and created the majority of the early chances, several corners and free kicks which were aimed into the Bournemouth box had to be headed away by the home side.
But within ten minutes, the visitors had the ball in the back of the net, though referee Roger East disallowed Raul Jimenez’s neat finish past Artur Boruc following an alleged foul in the build-up.
An absorbing contest ebbed and flowed throughout while the Cherries created the lion’s share of the chances, with Jordon Ibe hitting the crossbar with a rasping drive in the second half.
Chris Mepham was drafted in for his full Premier League debut as boss Eddie Howe made three changes to the hosts starting line-up. The defender, a January arrival from Brentford, replaced Steve Cook who missed his first game of the season due to a groin injury. Mepham was joined by fellow newcomers Dom Solanke and Nathaniel Clyne as Diego Rico, and Andrew Surman dropped to the bench.
VAR gets its weekly reminder
If ever there was a game week to suggest the introduction of a Video Assistant Referee could be beneficial, it was this. Javier Hernandez’s handball goal had Claudio Ranieri fuming on Friday, while on Saturday both Bournemouth penalties were generous at best and incredibly the most blatant offence inside the area – Chris Mepham’s handball in the first half – was not given.
Despite the controversy, neither manager criticised the referee, something they should be commended for. “It is a very difficult task for referees. I don’t want to talk about VAR, as long as the officials are fair nobody can complain,” Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo said.
Bournemouth’s manager Eddie Howe proclaimed “My initial reaction to the first one was that it was a penalty. You’re always slightly biased, but I thought theirs was harsh on us”. On the basis of this 90 minutes, next season’s VAR induction can’t come soon enough.
Home fans see the benefit of Howe’s defensive work
The Cherries have now lost only once in six games and haven’t conceded a goal in three of them at the Vitality Stadium. Boss Eddie Howe maintains defensive solidarity is fundamental while singling out special praise for defender Nathan Ake’s superb display. Ake was also complimented for his marshalling of young centre-back partner Chris Mepham, who was making his first start for the club since his switch from Brentford.
“Nathan was excellent today,” Howe added. “He was aggressive on the floor, very good aerially and showed real leadership qualities – I’m delighted for him”. Bournemouth were heading towards a third straight clean sheet at home before it was wiped out by Jimenez’s goal seven minutes from time.
Up until that point, the Cherries had restricted the visitors to one effort on target, Leander Dendoncker’s header which was tipped over the crossbar by Artur Boruc. Netherlands centre-back Nathan Ake was at the heart of his side’s excellent defensive work, making 14 clearances as well as winning the ball back four times and contributing three tackles.
On-loan Liverpool right-back Nathaniel Clyne was also outstanding, but two other former Reds could have decided the contest. Dominic Solanke, signed for £19m in January, had a glorious opportunity to make it 2-0 but shot straight at Rui Patricio when through on goal and also flicked a header straight at the keeper, while winger Jordon Ibe smashed an effort against the crossbar.
Roger East will have better days
Referee Roger East stepped in as a last-minute replacement, but he ended up taking centre stage on Saturday due to his decisions.
He started poorly when he pointed to the spot for Bournemouth’s first penalty, despite there appearing to be little contact on King in the box.
With uncertainty surrounding the opening goal, East then made another controversial decision. Arguably the most questionable one of the afternoon, by deciding to keep Jefferson Lerma on the field and only dishing out a yellow card – just one of 10 yellow cards handed out in the match.
The Colombia midfielder jumped for a high ball with Moutinho, but the Portuguese international was left furious about the challenge and needed medical attention due to his mouth bleeding. “Joao Moutinho is bleeding heavily from his mouth,” added Espirito Santo. “He was not happy at all, and when a short man is angry, it’s tough.”
Later, striker Jimenez had a goal ruled out but grabbed a point with seven minutes left after Doherty’s coming together with Smith. Rodger East felt this warranted a second penalty of the game.
Shortly after he was at it again, back in the spotlight by awarding a third penalty for Ivan Cavaleiro’s challenge on Ryan Fraser, though TV replays suggested contact was outside the area.
Wolves favourites to be the best of the rest
Wolves are right in the mix for a European spot at this moment in time, especially if the FA Cup final is contested between both Manchester sides. This draw took Wolves to 40 points from 27 matches, which equals their best Premier League tally, set back in 2010-11. A year later, they finished bottom of the table and only returned to the top flight this term after a six-season absence.
Santo’s side were far from their best on the South Coast but he will be pleased to have nicked something from the game. They have shown their battling qualities throughout the campaign and did so once more, netting their 26th second-half goal of the season.
Santo added: “We dug deep in the second half. Both teams could win, but the draw says that it was a competitive game and a good spectacle.”
Despite penalty miss, King impresses
When you watch the Cherries, you’d be forgiven for forgetting Callum Wilson is absent. In his place, Josh King has carried the Cherries well, through his partnership with David Brooks or Ryan Fraser.
The 27-year-old was a handful for the Wolves back line all game. The margins are fine in professional football though and instead of celebrating a match-winning performance King will be left to rue a missed penalty that denied his side victory.
He is now the third-highest-scoring Norwegian in Premier League history with 39 goals, only Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (91) and Steffen Iversen (40) have netted more. King is also only the second Cherries player to score in three top-flight home games in a row, after Junior Stanislas in October 2018.
