A run that saw us relinquish a cushion at the top to the chasing pack, but despite our faltering others around us were also stuttering so at this point no lasting damage to our quest, just a concertinaing of the top 7. This league is really there for the taking, all we need do is hit that vein of form which had taken us to the summit before Christmas.
It was another packed Goldsands and the atmosphere excellent with the North Stand in full voice. Despite the talk of changes the only one was Ritchie back in for Fraser. From the start we took the game to the Wolves and were threatening with every touch. Matt Ritchie sent an early effort over having fashioned his usual opening.
The usual probing runs down the flanks were causing the normal levels of anxiety in the opposition defensive ranks. The early pressure bore fruit when on 10 minutes a long pass by Andrew Surman found Callum Wilson out by the far corner flag. He evaded his marker and finding sufficient room floated a cross that Yann was able to meet with a ghosting header and beat the flailing Kuszczak on his near post.
Despite having the majority of the possession and seemingly in control, Wolves did look dangerous on the counter, Sako a particular thorn down the Wolves left flank. All of a sudden a composed dominant start looked in danger of coming undone by some flaky defending but always just in the nick of time a Cherries foot would clear the danger.
Efforts by Ritchie and Arter were wide of the mark whilst Sakho and Afobe were causing problems at the other end. Just beyond the half hour mark, Wolves central midfielder McDonald was offered some freedom of the pitch with his probing run ending in a incisive pass that found Afobe allude his 2 markers and one on one with Boruc calmly slotted the ball home for the equaliser.
Callum was quick to latch on to a lose ball that tested Kuszczak before Afobe rifled a stinging shot straight at Boruc as the half drew to a close.
The second half started swiftly for the Cherries and early pressure resulted in Wilson being upended at the top of the box and penalty awarded. Yann drilled home to re-establish the lead.
Further opportunities came with a Wilson shot fired into the North Stand after some great work by Pugh, whilst Pugh himself had a shot that seem destined for the goal until cleared off the line by the Stearman. Wolves hardly threatened and it would have been a travesty if they had gotten something out of this game. They had a late rally that had us on the edge of our seats but never really forced Boruc into any meaningful work.
So 3pts achieved and back to the 4th in the league. Things are tight but I am confident that provided we just keep doing our own thing I am confident on where we can end the season!
Yann Kermorgant - for his two goals.
AFCB: Boruc, Francis, Cook, Elphick, Daniels, Ritchie, Surman, Arter, Pugh, Kermorgant, Wilson
Subs: Camp, MacDonald, Rantie, Fraser, Smith (for Ritchie, 83 mins), Ward (for Pugh, 90 mins), Pitman (for Kermorgant, 90 mins)
Nick Wallinger, Isle Of Man