AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth head coach Scott Parker was pleased with the full debut of loanee Ethan Laird.
The 20-year-old made his first start for the Cherries in the draw with Middlesbrough at Vitality Stadium, only his third appearance since arriving from Manchester United on a temporary move in January.
The wing-back came into the starting line-up following the injury to Jordan Zemura, who was replaced by Adam Smith on the left side.
Speaking to the assembled media following the game, Parker revealed he was impressed with Laird’s performance.
He said: “I thought he did very well, I was very impressed with him.
“Over the last three or four weeks, it feels like he’s come out of the other side of where he was, with the injury and not being up to speed and not doing enough work with us.
“I decided to go with Ethan today and like I said, I thought he defended very well and also attacking wise, I think he gives us a real threat so I’m pleased for him.”
In the second change to the starting line-up, Todd Cantwell featured on the left wing for the first time since his arrival, having largely featured in a central position in his 10 appearances prior to this afternoon.
Parker continued: “It was a fast and aggressive game. I thought Todd showed bits, definitely.
“There’s still room for improvement there, of course there is, and I think he’ll be the first to say that as well but overall, in terms of the dynamics of what this game was, I thought he handled himself very well.”
The Cherries were frustrated by Middlesbrough as the game finished goalless at Vitality Stadium on Friday.
Jefferson Lerma went closest in the second half with a thumping header crashing off the underside of the crossbar.
Jamal Lowe also went close, the substitute heading over the bar following Jaidon Anthony’s cross.
Parker summarised the game: “I think I always knew the game was going to be a tight affair, an edgy game and it was going to come down to the fine margins for both teams.
“We didn’t expect it to be a free-flowing encounter where both teams created lots of chances, the first goal was going to be key and the fine margins were Jefferson Lerma hitting the bar, Jamal Lowe’s header.
“There’s another 11 men up against us, a manager in Chris Wilder with vast experience and thought they defended the box very well, I thought we did too.
“I thought first half, I didn’t like us too much, there was a bit of anxiousness about us, we were a bit edgy.
“In the second half, I thought we looked like a team that was progressive and certainly, a team that were showing that we wanted to try and take the game and try and win it.
“The substitutions were aggressive as we tried to take the game to them, but it wasn’t to be.”
