It was an entertaining pre-season game at the Goldsands Stadium where the Cherries matched their Premier League counterparts.
It was a real test for Bournemouth, and one that manager Paul Groves felt the side coped with admirably.
“I felt we controlled large parts of the game which was important, especially against better opposition. I would have liked us to have been more of a threat on their goal at different stages of the game, but overall there was a good level of fitness attained from the game and good understanding of how we are trying to do things. There were certainly plenty of pluses to be taken.”
During many pre-season’s, when top sides come to Bournemouth, they are at a different level of their preparations due to league’s starting at different times, but this year, it all starts in two weeks and Paul was pleased with how the side competed against a very good side and the way the good chances were created.
“That was a very pleasing aspect as both squads are at the same level of their pre-season. We have done a lot of work this pre-season on our finishing in general and it was nice that although we didn’t get too many chances, the ones that we did create we took. To get back level on two occasions was very pleasing too. We will go in to detail with regards to the ones that we conceded, and I feel there are areas we can improve upon, but overall, it was pleasing.”