Match report and MOM

[Uttoxeter cherry]

Wild(er) Fury at VAR

No doubt like others on here, I hate Burnley, the Premier league and VAR.
A game which were well in was ruined by VAR.
I also have a new found hate of Burnley fans.

Will it ever stop raining? Another hideous, cold, rainy day and long journey for the faithful Cherries support.

The team sprang a few surprises with no Ake in the line up (concussion) nor Lerma (back). Francis and the returning Cook were in central defence with a welcome return for Stacey at right back but meaning that Smith moved to left back to replace an in form Rico. 3 in midfield but still no L. Cook with Gosling, Billing and Surman preferred. Fraser was moved to the bench to allow King to return in a 433 formation.

The match started brightly with both teams on the front foot. Burnley threatened with direct balls bypassing midfield and putting pressure on our centre backs. Both cook and Francis coped well with the high balls initially with Ramsdale on excellent form again when the defence were penetrated. Our boys pushed Burnley back for the majority of the first half and had the majority of possession.

Wilson struck a powerful shot which was saved by the legs of Pope but shortly after, a corner was swung in and after a bit of pinball King stuck the ball into the net. As The teams made their way back to their half, I turned to the person next to me and commented how VAR stops you celebrating. It was then that the big screen told us that a handball was being checked and shortly after the goal was ruled out. It was impossible for the visiting fans to see but the whole process takes so long.

Burnley made several quick breaks forward and on a couple of occasions Francis and Cook were indebted to Rambo who made some excellent saves and blocks. Quick balls forward are our nemesis and Burnley tried to exploit this weakness. Both sets of fans heralded their keepers as England’s number 1...

Cherries fans were probably pleased to hear the half time whistle as Burnley had began to grow more into the game.

HT 0-0
A good effort from our boys and we were well in the game
The Smith-King partnership wasn’t working too well in an attacking sense as Smith was always stopping to cut back onto his right foot. Otherwise we were competing well in midfield and both Wilson’s were looking lively.

The 2nd half started in similar fashion to the 1st but following a quick break away, Francis failed to hold up Vydra and the forward cut back inside to smash the ball past Rambo into the net. Burnley then started to gain control and were beginning to dominate midfield, often out muscling Surman and Gosling. Billing was still attempting to maintain a physical presence. Cherries when in possession were often faced with 11 behind the ball and lacked a cutting edge. As always choosing another pass when a shot might have been on.

And then the main event of the half .... a shot was blocked in the Cherries area and then cleared to Callum who had space to run into. When the fans were screaming for him to shoot, he delayed and then slid a ball through for his namesake to pass into the net. It was a deserved equaliser but the joy was short lived as once again VAR intervened. Smith was adjudged to have handled the ball in Burnley’s previous attack and so the goal was ruled out and Burnley were instead awarded a penalty. Rodrigues made no mistake with the spotkick and the match was effectively over. The goading of the Burnley fans was hard to take. If we do go down, then it will give me some comfort not to have to return to this northern backwater and I will be supporting whoever they play.

There was still time for McNeil to curl a shot against the inside of the post and then having adjusted his radar, smash another one past Rambo and into the net to put a unrewarding gloss on the scoreline. There was also still time for Wilson to smash wide after a quick counter.

Final score 3-0

Rambo 9- did everything he could. No chance with goals. MOM
Smith 6- competent showing at left back but would Rico have been better going forward?
Cook - 6 did most things ok
Francis 5- as Cook really but got worse as match went on with passing and was unsurprisingly outpaced at times
Stacey 6 some good forward runs and a couple of shots too
Gosling- 6 I’m not sure he did much bad, but not much good either
Surman 5 outfought on occasions and shrugged off ball too easily
Billing 6- he adds some physicality but I’d like more than that. Had a couple of shots easily saved. Looks slow to react sometimes and rather one paced
King 6 scored a “goal” but lost impact out wide today
Harry W 6- took “goal” well. Drifted inside to good effect. Looks the only player who might create something different
Callum 6 - looks to be getting back somewhere near to his potential. Caused a nuisance, held up ball well at times, door “assist”

Fraser 5 anonymous
Stanislas 6 tried to make something happen. Good movement
Solanke 5 anonymous

So with Villa losing and Brighton getting a point and before West Ham, Watford and Norwich play, it’s pretty much as you were...

 

[Audenshaw Cherry]

Beat me to it UC. I was still calming down. Here is my three peneth.

The Cherries have been VARRED

As with our last game at Sheffield was cool and windy but no sun this time and, thankfully, no rain. Yet again enforced changes due to injury threatened to unsettle the side as both Ake and Lerma were reported as having minor injuries. In addition, Eddie chose to have Smith and Stacey as his full backs, so Rico was on the bench as was Fraser who made way for the returning King.

The game started extremely brightly from a Cherries point of view. With the wind slightly in our favour chances for Callum Wilson, Billing and Harry Wilson were spurned, with Pope having to make a very good save from Callum.

Burnley also had some efforts and really Vydra could have had a first half hat trick but for his poor finishing and some last ditch defending.

The first big BAD decision came almost midway in the first half when, from a corner, the ball fell to King who poked it home past the home keeper. On the way through the ball brushed the shoulder of Billing. Goal given!!! Delirium. Oh hang on a minute some bloke down in the Midlands says that it was handball. Goal disallowed!!!!! Despair. I could swear quite a bit here but the handball rule is totally ridiculous! Since when has the shoulder been handball? (Even Gary Linaker has said that the VAR decision was ‘ludicrous’).

But no mind, let’s get on with the game. Bournemouth were well on top at this time and further attempts from Stacey and Surman were blocked as we pressed for our second – sorry first.

Ramsdale was also having a busy time and was called on to make a number of saves from Vydra and the ever dangerous McNeil. In between times there was some heroic defending from all the back four and midfield.

Late in the half there was some quick fire attacking from the home team with Ramsdale again being called into action but the away defence held out.

Half Time Burnley 0 AFCB 0

The second half started with weak a Billing effort but it was already clear that it was going to harder for the away due to the windy conditions.

Eight minutes in a quick ball from McNeil put Vydra away and neatly slotted it in for the home team to take the lead. From our end he looked offside but a slow turn by Francis may have played him on.

Not rattled at all the Cherries pressed for an equaliser but this only resulted in a weak effort from Gosling. The ball went up to the other end and after rattling around the penalty area a bouncing ball hit Smith high on the arm/shoulder blade. Referee Dean waved away claims from the crowd for a penalty and play continued.

The ball broke to advancing Callum Wilson who slotted a neat pass to his namesake Harry, who controlled and hit it home with his right foot. Goal!!!!!!!!!! 1-1. And here came the second BAD VAR decision of the day. I did not celebrate this time as I thought I’d wait for Mars (sorry Stockley Park) to check it. Disallowed and Penalty to Burnley. 2-0.

This is killing the game for me. Mike Dean was very close to Smith and waved it away but Stockley Park, which in another universe, gave penalty. I have promised DJ that I won’t put expletives in this report but at this point it is very difficult. There are sooooo many things wrong with this I could go on all night. I would have been less upset (but still upset) if Dean had pointed to the spot but to allow us to play on and score and THEN pull us back is bloody ridiculous.

I have read a couple of reports saying that ‘Bournemouth fell apart in the second half’. WELL I’M NOT BLOODY SURPRISED. They had been destroyed by VAR. As Eddie said, they been psychologically taken apart.

It was no surprise to me that Burnley dominated the rest of the game and scored a third by I don’t really care This game had been dictated and ruined by VAR. Do I like VAR? Not really ,no.

At the end of the game I felt so sad for the boys, who had worked their socks, particularly in the first half. All their efforts had been brought down by Stockley Park. I am still, four hours later, still incandescent.

Full Time: VAR 3 AFCB 0

Ramsdale 8 Had another very game and made a couple of very important saves

Stacey 8 He definitely brings something to the team. His drives forward are the most attacking thing we’ve got at the moment.

Francis 6 No a great day for him. He looked slow and made a number of very poor passes but also a couple of great blocks. At fault for the Vydra goal? Probably.

Cook 6 Looked a bit lost at times and seems to panic more now than he used to. Probably better playing alongside Ake.

Smith 8 Another very hard working game, Very, very, very unlucky with the penalty decision, which was crap by the way.

Gosling 7 At the back he was magnificent but going forward less so. Had a good goal scoring which he fluffed.

Surman 7 Keeps the midfield tight and again at the back very solid. Not much going forward.

Billing 6 He didn’t assert himself enough and his passing is poor and overcomplicated. Doesn’t like to tackle either. He often looks very awkward.

Harry Wilson 5 I will admit that I’m not a fan of his and yes I know he is our top scorer. He is lightweight, gives the ball away, defensively weak and goes hiding for periods of play. Having said that he took second goal very well.

Callum Wilson 7 He had a bit more opportunity to run on to balls today but must get very frustrated by our overdone approach work. The number of time he took up a central position only for the ball not to leave the wing must have been in double figures. Set Harry up well for the second.

King 7 Good to have him back but it may take a while for him to get back to full speed. Took his goal well but along with Smith and the midfielders failed to get the ball into the box on too many occasions.

Verdict

I think I have said most of it. We lost to an average side due to at least two appalling decisions. First half, we were the better side second half they had Stockley Park on their side.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUT BEAUTIFUL GAME?

Disillusioned of Audenshaw