Cherries suffer Robins friendly defeat
AFC Bournemouth
- Attendance:
- 0
AFC Bournemouth suffered defeat in their home friendly against Bristol City on Saturday, as a second-half penalty from Chris Martin gave the Robins a 1-0 victory at Vitality Stadium.
AFC Bournemouth suffered defeat in their home friendly against Bristol City on Saturday, as a second-half penalty from Chris Martin gave the Robins a 1-0 victory at Vitality Stadium.
Both sides created chances in what was an entertaining encounter, but it was Martin’s 49th-minute spot-kick that proved to be the difference between them.
Scott Parker named a strong starting line-up for the fixture, with Jefferson Lerma captaining the side from centre-back in Lloyd Kelly’s absence.
Chris Mepham and James Hill joined Lerma in the heart of defence, while new signing Joe Rothwell started alongside Lewis Cook in central midfield.
The visitors started strongly and might have been in front after 12 minutes, as Alex Scott reacted quickest to a low cross and fired goalward, but Mark Travers was on hand to make a sharp one-handed save.
The Cherries settled shortly after and tested City ‘keeper Daniel Bentley for the first time on 15 minutes.
Joe Rothwell threaded a neat ball through to Dom Solanke and the striker made space to shoot but could only direct his effort straight at Bentley who gathered easily.
The City ‘keeper was called into action again after 18 minutes, when Solanke cut inside Rob Atkinson to set up Ryan Christie whose right footed shot was bundled off the line by a combination of Kal Naismith and some acrobatics from Bentley.
Lively winger Scott went close again just after the half-hour mark, breaking away from two challenges before hitting a left-footed shot narrowly wide from 20 yards.
That proved to be the final meaningful action of the half with both sides looking comfortable in possession but struggling to create any clear-cut chances.
City went in front just after the restart as Chris Mepham was adjudged to have brought down Andreas Weimann inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot.
Chris Martin stepped up and fired the ball past Travers, who could only tip the ball into the top corner.
Parker introduced Jaidon Anthony and Kieffer Moore on the hour mark and the change nearly paid dividends on 65 minutes, as the busy Rothwell played Moore into the box, but the striker’s low shot was well saved by Bentley who got down sharply to block.
The hosts went close again after 77 minutes as Moore’s low cross found fellow substitute Junior Stanislas, whose wayward first touch nearly found a way past Bentley, but the ‘keeper reacted sharply to paw it away.
Parker’s men continued to push for an equaliser into the closing stages but any pressure came to no avail and the game ended in defeat.
AFC Bournemouth: Travers (GK), Cook (Anthony, 62), Mepham (Moore, 62), Lerma, Solanke, Christie (Stacey, 73), Rothwell (Stanislas, 73), Smith, Hill, Billing, Zemura.
Bristol City: Bentley, Vyner (Klose, h-t), Naismith (Towler, 60), Atkinson (Tanner, 60), Sykes (Araoye, 60), James (Bell, 60), Williams (Massengo, h-t), Dasilva, Scott (Kadji, 71), Weimann (Conway, 60), Martin (Wells, 60).