AFC Bournemouth
Philip Billing came off the bench to settle a see-saw contest in favour of AFC Bournemouth as the Cherries ended a run of four successive defeats in the Championship.
Billing converted Arnaut Danjuma’s free-kick at the far post 13 minutes from time as Jonathan Woodgate celebrated victory in his first game as caretaker-manager.
Scott Hogan opened the scoring for the visitors when he prodded home from close range after Asmir Begovic had failed to deal with Gary Gardner’s cross.
But the Cherries levelled through Danjuma’s finely-executed 36th-minute goal which owed much to the artistry of creator Jack Wilshere.
And the hosts took the lead when Wilshere’s header from an Adam Smith cross left Blues goalkeeper Neil Etheridge rooted to the spot as it looped into the back of the net in the 61st minute.
But Hogan ghosted in at the near post to glance Ivan Sanchez’s cross past Begovic to register his and the Blues’ second goal just seven minutes later.
However, as a topsy-turvy contest continued to ebb and flow, Billing was on hand at the far post to apply the finishing touch to Danjuma’s ferocious free-kick as the Cherries brought up their first double of the season.
New loan signing Shane Long was handed his debut as caretaker-manager Jonathan Woodgate made four changes to the Cherries starting line-up.
Long, who was ineligible for the midweek defeat by Sheffield Wednesday, was joined by Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jefferson Lerma and Adam Smith.
Junior Stanislas, Chris Mepham and Jack Stacey dropped to the bench, while Dominic Solanke was ruled out due to injury.
Two free-kicks from David Brooks failed to create a scoring opportunity but had the hosts on the front foot in the early stages.
Cherries goalkeeper Begovic confidently punched clear a free-kick from Ivan Sanchez and saved comfortably from Jeremie Bela’s low shot.
Begovic stuck out his leg to keep out Bela’s angled drive in the 18th minute before Steve Cook heroically nodded Sanchez’s follow-up effort over the crossbar.
And after Ivan Sunjic had pounced on a knockdown from Gary Gardner, Begovic dived to his right to pull off an excellent one-handed save to deny the midfielder an opening goal.
Hogan drew first blood for the visitors when he tapped the ball home from close range after Begovic had failed to deal with Gardner’s driven, low cross in the 27th minute.
The Blues thought they had doubled their lead soon after but Kristian Pedersen’s stunning volley was ruled out for offside.
Danjuma restored parity when he finished with aplomb after fastening on to Wilshere’s sublime threaded pass in the 36th minute.
Wilshere’s inch-perfect assist put the Dutchman through on goal and, after sidestepping George Friend, he fired assuredly into the bottom corner.
As an even first half drew to a close, Danjuma stretched to meet a Brooks centre, only to see his header drift past the upright.
Harlee Dean’s timely interception at the near post prevented Long from getting on the end of Lloyd Kelly’s low cross at the start of the season half.
And from the resultant corner delivered by Danjuma, Long saw his header flash narrowly past the upright.
The Cherries took the lead following a sweeping move, started when Kelly won a tackle in his own half in the 61st minute.
Danjuma and Brooks combined to work the ball to Smith on the edge of the box and his hanging cross was met by Wilshere whose header looped into the back of the net.
However, the lead was short lived as Hogan’s glancing header from Sanchez’s cross made it 2-2 after 68 minutes.
Appeals for a penalty fell on deaf ears after Smith had gone to ground under a challenge from Blues substitute Jonathan Leko.
The Cherries regained the lead through Billing, the Denmark international turning Danjuma’s venomous free-kick past Etheridge at the far post 13 minutes from time.
As the Cherries looked to extend their lead, Brooks curled a left-foot shot just past the post before referee Jeremy Simpson blew the final whistle after four minutes of added time.
AFC Bournemouth: Begovic, Smith, Carter-Vickers, S Cook, Kelly, Wilshere (Billing, 67), Lerma, L Cook, Danjuma (Rico, 89), Long, Brooks (Stacey, 84).
Unused subs: Mepham, Pearson, Stanislas, Riquelme, Surridge, Dennis (g/k).
Birmingham City: Etheridge, Colin (Valery, 84), Dean, Friend, Pedersen, San Jose, Sanchez (Cosgrove, 89), Sunjic (Harper, 67), Gardner, Bela (Leko, 67), Hogan (Jutkiewicz, 84).
Unused subs: Clarke-Salter, McGree, Toral, Andres (g/k).
Booked: Friend, Gardner.
Referee: Jeremy Simpson.
