During my 10-month period looking for work, following my departure from my previous employer at the end of March 2011 I promised myself that my next away match wouldn't be until I was back in to full-time employment. Now that initial tick-in-the-box has been achieved, I thought a day out in Sheffield would be a good way to 'celebrate' my new job and relative freedom to go to away matches again. A good day out (yes), but that was tempered by the first 10 minutes!
The game was barely 200 seconds old when the Cherries were 1-down when Batth netted from close range (following a corner), in a crowded 6-yard area (3 Owls attackers to 2 Cherries defenders + keeper). The initial corner came as a result of an Antonio shot which Flahavan did well to parry round the post. Straight up the other end a poor Wednesday clearance fell to Malone whose well struck shot went a whisker wide of the left hand upright as we looked at it from behind the goal.
Within 5 minutes of going behind, the deficit was doubled when another corner was swung into a crowded penalty area, the Cherries failed to deal with it, with Miles Addison being adjudged that the he was the last person to touch the ball which some members of the Cherries defence claimed had not crossed the line. Replays later in the evening, and on the iPlayer, suggest otherwise! One thing was clear, the Cherries simply cannot defend!!
Barely another 75 seconds were been played Antonio made a Daniels look like a right charlie, as he jinked past the right back to fire home at Flahavan's near post to make it 3-0 to the visitors within the first 10 minutes!
As the half wore on, the Cherries did come more in the match - not that it would have been too difficult given how out of the match they were to start with.
A Scott Malone ball across the face of goal in the 26th minute saw Wes Thomas miss with an outstretched leg with Wes Fogden managing to somehow clear the cross bar (the ball not the player I hasten to add) from barely 2 yards out! Our goal scoring prowess was summed up by Thomas in the 44th minute when with the entire target to hit, with the keeper rooted he managed to somehow manage to find the right hand up right instead.
HT: 3-0
The second period was a very different affair to that we saw in the first half the Cherries managed to see more of the ball and managed create a few half chances. But to be honest the number of clear-cut chances were few and far between from AFC Bournemouth. I certainly don't recall their keeper being forced in to a meaningful save.
In the meantime, Francis and Flahavan, at the other end, had to be alert to prevent a 4th as both put in successive blocks.
Wes Thomas is a man firing blanks in front of goal at the moment (sadly). It cannot be denied that he leads the line (solo) pretty well, but in front of goal ...... is **** out of luck as one might say! The post denied him in the opening 45 minutes, and a lack of posture and probably balance saw the ball fly off the top of his boot and away to safety rather than anywhere near the Wednesday goal.
Our supposed record signing Matt Tubbs had the final gilt edged chance to score the first Cherries goal in 4 matches when an Addison header came to him on the the penalty spot. Sadly his effort was hit straight in to the ground, which then flew harmlessly over the cross bar.
Overall ........ a very poor performance
Flahavan - for a skipper I noticed that our captain on the pitch is very quiet.
Francis - Improved at the game progressed, but hardly a sparkling performance by anyone at the back.
Addision - For someone of his supposed experience, it wasn't showing today.
Cook - His choice of pass at times was woeful to say the least, putting his colleagues under needless pressure when a more intelligent ball was called for.
Daniels - was caught napping too often for my liking.
Fogden - I cannot fault Fogden too much for his performance. He ran his little legs off, was in a position to shoot on a couple of occassions even though he failed to score.
Gregory - Was he on the pitch? Largely anonymous today.
McDermott - Like Fogden, he tried but without help from those around him, it was never going to happen!
MacDonald - Put in a shift, showed some neat touches and skill to set some moves up.
Thomas - Am sure the goals will come for Wes if for no other reason than the effort he puts in, but at the moment couldn't hit a barn door if it were marked barn door (sadly)!
Tubbs - Am sure the goals will come for Matt as well ......
Stockley - Tried when he came on, but was never going to have a huge impact given the lack of support coming out of midfield.
Bradbury - One word based in the first 10 minutes of the match - CLUELESS!
AFCB: Flahavan, Francis, Addision, Cook, Daniels, Fogden, Gregory, McDermott, MacDonald, Thomas
Subs: Baudry, Zubar, Cooper, Tubbs (for Malone, 62 mins), Stockley (for Thomas, 71 mins)
Andy Burton, Portsmouth