Bournemouth v Sheffield Weds

[AFCB_Mark]

The incredible tension just keeps going... Of course we'll know the result of the Norwich Boro game on Friday and how that might affect things, a Norwich win would just lump the pressure on all the more.

We're not exactly at our best at the moment, it's showing that the players have given everything all season and there's several playing through knocks and injections, running on adrenaline. We're like an amateur runner crawling his way through the last few miles of his first marathon. Just have to keep going.

We've managed to eek out wins in two games with very little creativity or quality. Two bits of magic from Kermorgant against Brighton and one clever moment from Drew Surman against Reading. That's all our last 6 points have been won by. That and some truly heroic defending/goalkeeping when needed.

It was about this time last season that we held faint hopes of the playoffs going into Wednesday at home, only for Weds to execute the perfect smash and grab result and end our season.

Let's hope we remember and learn from that, and avoid a similar outcome... Time to dig in, grit the teeth, show strong nerve and hopefully find a touch more expression to our play

 

[PDS]

Travelling down for it now, not as terrified as I was for Reading, it's in our hands and we know what we have to do. I'm certain we'll drop points at some stage though.

A couple of nervous and unconvincing performances in a row highlight the new found grit of this squad, we've seen a different side to them lately, and we might need that in the last few games.

Going to try and relax and enjoy this one, whatever happens, happens. Ask me again at 3 o'clock and I might be a little different

 

[AFCB_Mark]

I will have to go away for several hours or maybe a day or two before commenting on that.

All I can say is, I truly hope this record breaking amazing season doesn't ultimately become defined and go down in club history remembered for the performance of referee Paul Tierney.

And the stoppage time pen I have little problem with in fact (probably correct). He had already long since proven himself to be a clueless bastard long before hand. That was just the icing on the cake of a horrendous afternoon from Tierney.

Speechlesh, well almost.

 

[Super_horns]

Maybe Howe is right?

People do have reputations which can go for or against them.

 

[PDS]

Oh it was a stonewall penalty, I have no doubt he acted on reputation, but it was bloody clear as day. Hopefully Wilson will cut out the diving going forwards. Made a rod for his own back with that one.

Not going to blame the ref, it was a crushing ending to a game we battled back into but our defending was appalling. It's April and we still can't defend any sort of crosses or high balls into the box.

Sheffield Wednesday were excellent at times, and could have been more than 1 up. We fought back bravely and that eruption of noise when we scored will live long in the memory. Absolute heartbreak at the end but it was a clear penalty. Still in our hands of course I just hope the players can pick themselves up after that crushing finish.

I feel the title is Watford's, we just need to match Middlesbrough. Nobody said it would be easy!

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Maybe Howe is right?

People do have reputations which can go for or against them.

Wilson had an open goal from 3 yards to tap into which he had swung his boot to do. Yep, definitely a time to dive that!

Wednesday for their part were very good. Their players were massively energetic and it looked as if they had about 12 or 13 men (all comments about the ref on their side aside!!). We in contrast just look knackered at times, lack a yard of pace all round.

Two beautiful, hard worked, roof raising glorious goals later and we've managed the impossible of turning another mental home game into a win, and we don't really do a good enough job of keeping the ball out of our half and (I think) Smith it was who bundled over an attacker in th box for a clear enough pen in the 3 or 4th min of stoppage time. Which Boruc so nearly saves!

A word on the time keeping. First half there were two lengthy injuries to Weds players (hope the chap who came off is ok). There were 6 mins added on, should easily have been a couple more. Then second half, which flowed without injury stoppage, the 4 or 5 subs, had 5 minutes added on. There's no way those two halves of football could have just one minutes difference in stoppage time. I'm thinking the first half was significantly too short but the ref didn't want the game to get too far out of sync or something? No idea.

As for the inconsistency over the bookings, the Wednesday players already booked who were let off with just a foul, and then Francis sent off for the first foul after his booking, argh! Consistent is all we ever want.

 

[Walkley_Owl]

Looking at the tackle by Francis on the FLS he had to go.

Didn't go but heard we had played well and merited a point regardless of the referee.

 

[markwwfc1992]

I agree it was a penalty, but how many decisions have Bournemouth had for them this season? Nearly every team in the division has been on the bad end of a dodgy refereeing decision vs Bournemouth this season which could cost them dear come the end of the season. It's hard to feel sympathetic for that reason.

 

[PDS]

Looking at the tackle by Francis on the FLS he had to go.

Didn't go but heard we had played well and merited a point regardless of the referee.

Yes to both points, you were excellent at times, in truth should have been 2-0 up before we got back into it.

 

[PDS]

I agree it was a penalty, but how many decisions have Bournemouth had for them this season? Nearly every team in the division has been on the bad end of a dodgy refereeing decision vs Bournemouth this season which could cost them dear come the end of the season. It's hard to feel sympathetic for that reason.

Hmm, not strictly true is it? We've had shockers of our own against Leeds, Forest, Cardiff so we all get it

 

[markwwfc1992]

It think it's pretty accurate actually. Speaking for my own team, in the home game we were 1-0 up and cruising until after a 50-50 one of your players was went down after a nothing challenge and RvLP was sent off (it was later rescinded). Soon after you took the game and went onto win 2-1. We also recieved another dubious red card to finish with 9 men. In the away leg your winner came from a referee that gave a penalty that should have been a free kick. Talk about daylight robbery...

I think i"ll stick to the view that Bournemouth have more than cheated their way past some games this season.

 

[Walkley_Owl]

It think it's pretty accurate actually. Speaking for my own team, in the home game we were 1-0 up and cruising until after a 50-50 one of your players was went down after a nothing challenge and RvLP was sent off (it was later rescinded). Soon after you took the game and went onto win 2-1. We also recieved another dubious red card to finish with 9 men. In the away leg your winner came from a referee that gave a penalty that should have been a free kick.

I think i"ll stick to the view that Bournemouth have more than cheated their way past some games this season.

Dicko at your place pal...

 

[markwwfc1992]

I didn't mean to start of a cycle of times where players went down too easily, I know Wolves have had their share of decisions for and against them this season. It was more to the point that after a season Bournemouth have had decision after decision go for them this campaign, I find it pretty hard to believe when their manager and fans are outraged because one decision went against them. It sounds like the boy who cried wolf scenario.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Norwich home, Cardiff away, Leeds away, Leeds home, Brentford away, off the top of my head this second are games in which a poor decision(s) has cost of points.

Of course we have gained points as well at times. But to think that yesterday was the only time we've been hard done by all season is rubbish.

Regarding that Wolves game Mark, it's still my opinion that the Wolves red card was entirely justified, having seen it about 625 times on replays posted online, and was incorrect to be rescinded, probably was just because of the sheer fuss made, or a technically due to it being a forearm rather than elbow. It was the wrong card rescinded, the second late on was wrong.

Also that Wolves should have won the game, by simply clearing the ball from their box twice!

Certainly one of the more 'interesting' away days this season, sticks in the mind still!

We just have to rest up and get ready for Monday, which is now shit or bust.

 

[PDS]

^^ Watford away, Angella should have been sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity.

For every Wolves type decision in our favour there has been a Norwich (Handball in the box), or Leeds (Goal wrongly ruled out for offside) which have cost us points. It happens.

I'm not a fan of the way a lot of our fans have started wetting themselves over the penalty yesterday, as you should always look at yourselves rather than blame a referee, but we've had some stinkers against us this season too.

 

[Munkiki]

Would have been very harsh to rule out our goal in that game. Sure it hits Turners arm but it wasn't deliberate nor were his arms in an unnatural position. If we're calling them handball, we've been denied hundreds of stone-wall penalties this season.

Also interesting you'd mention that game considering how harsh Howson's red card was...