Cherries pip Swans in five goal cup thriller  

Having gone into the lead through Matt Grimes’ early penalty, Bournemouth turned the game on its head in the second half with strikes from David Brooks and Hamed Traore putting the Cherries in the ascendancy midway through the second half.  

Jamie Patterson equalised for the Swans who put on a spirited showing with ten minutes remaining, but it was not to be for the home side as Ryan Christie’s stoppage time winner sent Bournemouth into the third round of the competition. 

The Swans had progressed into round two having beaten League One side Northampton Town 3-0 in South Wales at the beginning of the month. Michael Duff’s side without a win in the league would have looked to the game as both a challenge and an opportunity to allow some of his fringe players to stake a place in his regular starting eleven.  

The Northern-Irishman had spoken about the need to not make mass changes leading up to the encounter and chose to bring in the experience of Welsh international Joe Allen and Kyle Naughton into his lineup. There were also recalls for fit again Josh Ginnelly, a scorer in round one, Ollie Cooper and youngster Azeem Abdulai from Saturday’s lineup that lost 2-1 at Deepdale against Preston North End. 

For visitors Bournemouth this would be their first foray into cup competition this season having had a bye into round two. New head-coach Andoni Iraola has had a tough start to his tenure on the south-coast having gained just a point from his first three league fixtures in the Premier League since joining the club over the summer.  

Equally keen to gain a first win under his belt, the Spaniard chose to shuffle his pack with seven changes from the side beaten 2-0 at the Vitality Stadium by Tottenham Hotspur.  

Wales internationals Brooks, Chris Mepham and Kieffer Moore all starting for the Cherries. 

It would be a bright start for the Swans with the lion’s share of possession with plenty of zip to their play in the early periods.  

They would be rewarded for their efforts with the ideal start taking the lead from the penalty spot. Mepham handballing Liam Cullen’s half-volley from just inside the 16-yard box after a Swans corner leaving referee Matthew Donahoe no choice but to point to the penalty spot. 

Captain Grimes showing excellent composure to bury the spot-kick into the top corner to the vocal satisfaction of the home faithful and the displeasure of debutant visiting goalkeeper Andrei Radu. 

The shell-shocked visitors would respond well and dominate the midfield with a series of searching moves, but it would be the Swans who would look the more adventurous in the final third first to the loose ball. Josh Key, a constant threat on the right-hand side, industrious and inventive, nearly finding Cooper only for the Cherries defense to stem the home attack. 

In a half of few chances, Bournemouth would have their best moment on the stroke of half-time. Traore smashing a first-time effort from a Lloyd Kelly cross against the base of the post past a diving Carl Rushworth. 

After a spate of substitutions at the break the visitors would come out of the traps with purpose, forcing a series of corners but would initially struggle to penetrate through the Swans stubborn backline. Harry Darling and Ben Cabango standing tall to deal comfortably with the aerial threat that has been the Swans achilleas heel in recent weeks. 

The visitors though would equalise against the run of play as the game would come to life. Jaidon Anthony picking the ball up on the left-hand side feeding Welshman Brooks to drill home an effort low into the bottom left-hand corner beyond Rushworth. 

The Cherries thought they had taken the lead ten minutes later as Iraola’s side started to gain a foothold. Traore’s cross finding the head of Jaidon Anthony only for the forwards effort to be ruled out for offside. 

It would be a warning to the Swans that would not be taken minutes later as another searching ball into the box from Brooks would fail to be cleared with substitute Dominic Solanke ghosting in at the far post to head against the woodwork. With the Swans defense slow to react, Ivorian Traore was first to hand to bury the rebound into an empty net from close range. 

The Swans would show resolve to defend astutely as Bournemouth looked to put the game out of sight. Both Darling and Naughton making crucial blocks from Solanke to keep Duff’s side in the game. 

The pendulum though would swing once more as the home side would fight back to level the scores. Substitute Patterson picking the ball up on the left-hand side before driving a low effort through a crowd of bodies. The former Coventry forward’s effort taking a wicked deflection of a Cherries defender before finding the back of the net via the post. 

In a frantic few minutes, the Swans would send on Jerry Yates in search of a winner, but it would be Bournemouth who would go closest as the dreaded thought of penalties entered both manager’s minds. Anthony’s cross-come shot on the left-hand side escaping everyone drifting narrowly over the crossbar. 

As stoppage-time began the visitors would manage to break through once more to break Swans hearts. Substitute Christie, the beneficiary of a rapid counter attack to clip a low finish into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal. 

Duff’s side would throw the kitchen sink at the Bournemouth defense with both Cooper and Abdulai going close late. It would be the Premier League side despite suffering an almighty score who would progress into round three of the competition. 

Swansea City X1 

Carl Rushworth, Josh Key (Harrison Ashby 68), Azeem Abdulai, Ben Cabango, Harry Darling, Kyle Naughton (Jerry Yates 79), Matt Grimes (captain), Joe Allen (Jay Fulton 57), Ollie Cooper, Josh Ginnelly (Mykola Kukharevych 57), Liam Cullen (Jamie Patterson 68).    

Bournemouth X1 

Andrei Radu, Lloyd Kelly (Milos Kerkez 45), Max Aarons, Chris Mepham, Marcos Senesi, David Brooks (Justin Kluivert 82), Joe Rothwell (Lewis Cook 45), Hamed Traore (Ryan Christie 75), Phillip Billing, Jaidon Anthony, Kieffer Moore (Dominic Solanke 45). 

(Lead image: Swansea City FC)