Analysis: Nottingham Forest 2-3 Bournemouthpublished at 18:53 23 December 2023
18:53 23 December 2023
Emily Salley, BBC Sport
Another win, another Dominic Solanke goal for the Cherries.
Andoni Iraola's side stretch their unbeaten run to six, but it wasn't an easy outing at the City Ground.
Bournemouth looked in full control as the game hit the 20-minute mark, with Nottingham Forest threatening only occasionally on the break.
However, Wily Boly's second yellow card and a contentious decision not to award Forest a penalty seemed to change the dynamic.
Forest, thriving on a noisy home crowd, raced out of the blocks after the break and took the lead after pouncing on sloppy possession from Alex Scott.
The home side continued to look dangerous, but luckily for Bournemouth, a clinical Solanke was there to save the day.
His two headed goals were far from easy chances and he showed a proper striker's instinct for his tap-in from close range. Right place, right time.
Iraola will be hopeful Solanke can carry that form into the festive period with games against Fulham and Tottenham a chance for Bournemouth to move into the top half of the Premier League table before the end of the year.
Nottingham Forest 2-3 Bournemouth: What Iraola saidpublished at 17:37 23 December 2023
17:37 23 December 2023
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Happy because we were controlling the game and when we conceded the second one we got very nervous. We were good enough to win and I think luckily for us [Dominic] Solanke saved us at the end.
"Offensively we did well, scored three goals, hit the post and had chances. We made a mistake to concede, too many corners, the first goal was too easy, we lost the ball too easy. We knew we would have chances to score but it becomes dangerous because they were fighting, pushing, they were dangerous and it wasn't easy for us."
On Dominic Solanke's hat-trick: "He's been good since day one. We have a very good forward for our system, he's quite complete. He helps us scoring but with other things.
"He has to help us, sustain the high press, keep his position close to the box and if he does this we have the chances.
"The fans have a long way to go home so I hope they enjoyed it. We will see them again in three days."
Nottingham Forest 2-3 Bournemouth: Key statspublished at 17:29 23 December 2023
17:29 23 December 2023
Nottingham Forest have lost four successive top-flight home games for the first time since a run of five between January and March 1999.
Bournemouth are unbeaten in each of their last six Premier League games and have won four consecutive top-flight away games for the very first time. Their 13 points from their nine Premier League away games this term is their most ever at this stage of a top-flight season.
Dominic Solanke has scored his very first hat trick in English competition. His treble was only the 10th occasion in Premier League history of a player completing a hat-trick with a 90th-minute winner, and first since Diogo Jota for Wolves v Leicester in January 2019.
Solanke has scored 11 goals in 17 Premier League games this season, more than he managed in his first 96 appearances in the competition (10). This is also the first time that the striker has scored in consecutive appearances in the top-flight.
Anthony Elanga has been directly involved in seven goals across 18 Premier League appearances for Nottingham Forest (four goals, three assists), already more than he managed in 39 games for Manchester United in the competition (3 goals, 3 assists).
Three of Chris Wood’s last four Premier League goals have all come via headers, while this was his 21st headed goal in the top-flight. In fact, since his first such top-flight goal in October 2017, only Harry Kane (29) has scored more Premier League headers than Wood.
Willy Boly received the third Premier League red card of his career, with all three coming under Nuno Espirito Santo (two for Wolves, one for Forest). Boly is just the 10th player to be sent off under the same manager for more than one club in the competition.
Full-time: Nottingham Forest 2-3 Bournemouthpublished at 17:18 23 December 2023
17:18 23 December 2023
Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke scored in injury time to complete a hat-trick and hand Nuno Espirito Santo a defeat in his first game in charge of Nottingham Forest.
The former Wolves and Tottenham manager was appointed on Wednesday following the departure of Steve Cooper, was who sacked after the club's fifth defeat in six games.
Forest looked set to avoid another defeat when Chris Wood netted an equaliser in the 74th minute, but Solanke had the final say at the City Ground, scoring in the fourth minute of stoppage time for Bournemouth's third win in a row.
A frantic first half saw William Boly sent off after just 23 minutes before Forest were controversially denied a penalty.
Roared on by the home crowd, Anthony Elanga put Forest ahead after the break before Solanke scored twice in seven minutes.
The English forward came to the Cherries' rescue again when he cancelled out Wood's equaliser to claim all three points.
Were you at the match or did you follow it from home?
Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth: Sutton's predictionspublished at 10:55 23 December 2023
10:55 23 December 2023
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.
For this weekend's games, he takes on Felix White, guitarist with 86TVs and a Fulham fan.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
I actually thought Nottingham Forest gave it a real go against Tottenham in Steve Cooper's final game, and looked like a team who were still playing for their manager.
I also thought they would have been good enough to stay up with him in charge, but that didn't help him in the end.
I am not sure how excited the Forest fans will be to have Nuno Espirito Santo in charge, but the new era starts here. Will it start with a win though?
The City Ground will be bouncing, because the crowd will know they have to play their part, but Bournemouth are in good form and I fancy Dominic Solanke to keep his good run going.
Felix's prediction: 1-0
Forest need to win and let's go for a classic manager bounce.
Reflecting on Foley interviewpublished at 15:43 22 December 2023
15:43 22 December 2023
BBC Radio Solent commentator Kris Temple has been discussing his recent interview with Bournemouth owner Bill Foley on the latest Cherries: Unpicked podcast.
On Foley's announcement about moving to a new stadium with more capacity: "I think it is spot on in terms of capacity. I know there has been a bit of conjecture as to whether 18,500 capacity sounds a bit low, but that might just be an initial finger in the air to see whether the club is massively oversubscribed.
"I think it has been well judged, but I know certain fans have some concerns about it.
"They are trying to tap into that next generation of supporters. It's a relatively old fanbase, they appreciate that. Bournemouth isn't a historical football town and they've only been in the Premier League since 2015, so they now need to engage the younger fans. The only way to do that is by getting them into games."
On Foley saying "January is not going to be a big acquisition window" for the Cherries: "Andoni Iraola last week gave a hint that there might be one or two players looking at the door to get out. I think Kieffer Moore will be one of them. There has been strong links with Cardiff there.
"Hamed Traore is another one. He's got Afcon coming up, so he is going to be away. That is another factor for Bournemouth to be thinking about. They will lose Semenyo, Traore and Ouattara to the Africa Cup of Nations.
"Defensively, if Lloyd Kelly does go, it is imperative they bring somebody else in. It may be on loan because Bill Foley said to us that they won't be replacing Kelly until the summer probably, in terms of a full replacement. So I think they will need to loan someone."
Luton and Bournemouth have 'forged a bond forever'published at 10:47 22 December 2023
10:47 22 December 2023
BBC Three Counties Radio's Luke Ashmead on the relationship between Luton and Bournemouth after their match last weekend: "As bleak and as difficult as it was, it has probably forged a bond between the two clubs forever now.
Commentator Simon Oxley: "Who would have thought this in the aftermath of that dramatic game the last time they played? [Luton 3-2 Bournemouth, January 2022]. What had gone on in the game was not particularly pretty and Luton were not particularly happy with the way Bournemouth approached the game.
"To then have that turned around by the response to what happened to Tom Lockyer? There is forever a bond, absolutely. Phillip Billing will get a standing ovation when Bournemouth come later in the season.
"Whenever the game is rearranged for, you can see that being a real moment for fans to come together."
Bournemouth reiterate Solanke stancepublished at 07:53 22 December 2023
07:53 22 December 2023
Bournemouth are remaining strong in their stance that 26-year-old English striker Dominic Solanke is not for sale in the January transfer window. (talkSPORT), external
Fortunately Bournemouth fans are heading into the festive period full of optimism and excitement, despite our sticky start to the season. Continuing with our offensive football and picking up valuable points will do me nicely for Christmas, that is for sure.
A Christmas gift we would also like would be to get some key players back from injury. A Tyler Adams return is more like asking to win the lottery though, given his injury is more long term, but Max Aarons, Lloyd Kelly and Alex Scott are not far away - so we cannot wait to unwrap those gems again very soon!
In mentioning Kelly, something to top our Christmas wish list would be the defender signing a new contract. It is probably unlikely but you never know and Lloyd is a valuable asset to the squad with an exciting career ahead of him. It would certainly be a massive bonus.
Iraola on 'tough moments' in Luton game, Scott and Nottingham Forestpublished at 14:28 21 December 2023
14:28 21 December 2023
Nicola Pearson, BBC Sport
Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Bournemouth's Premier League match against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Here are the key lines from his interview with BBC Radio Solent:
On the difficult week after Tom Lockyer's cardiac arrest in their match at the weekend: "Tough moments, especially the other day with Tom. Luckily, we have now received better news that he is recovering well. This has been, for sure, a difficult week for Luton Town. When these things happen, you leave football to one side and everyone focuses on the most important thing, which is his recovery."
He added: "It was moment of big tension, especially until we heard the news that he was recovering and responding. There are some minutes where it is really difficult. I cannot even imagine for his family and the ones close to him. Luckily, he responded well and he can leave this behind as soon as possible."
On Bournemouth's involvement in the decision to abandon the game: "For us, it was the only way we would go. We talked straight away with the referee and with Rob [Edwards] and we told them whatever they decided we would agree with. I think the most logical decision was to not continue playing. No one was prepared to continue."
Iraola confirmed they are waiting on more assessments for two or three players with "knocks" but he hopes that "everyone that was ready against Luton is ready for Forest".
After Alex Scott's return to the squad from injury at the weekend, Iraola said the midfielder "wants to get involved" and "help his team-mates".: "[We] hope this week of training that he is improving day-by-day and hoping he can help with these last games of the year."
It is "tough" to prepare for Forest after they changed their manager: "Really tough for analysts and everyone. We were preparing in the first half of the week for Forest with [Steve] Cooper, then until the notification we didn't change the idea. Then we are looking at things with Nuno [Espirito Santo] and his teams, but we have to be ready to react as we know it is going to be almost impossible to guess players and their system."
He added: "They have so many players and play in so many ways that there are things we are not ready for and we will have to adapt. Once we have their starting XI, we can prepare the smaller details. "
Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth: Pick of the statspublished at 12:28 21 December 2023
12:28 21 December 2023
Nottingham Forest have lost each of their past three Premier League home games, last having a longer run between January and March 1999 (five).
Bournemouth won none of their first eight away league games against Nottingham Forest but have since won their past two games at the City Ground in each of the previous two seasons.
Nottingham Forest have scored a league-high six goals in the opening 15 minutes of games in the Premier League this season. However, they are the only side yet to score in the 90th minute (including stoppage time) so far this term.
Bournemouth have scored at least twice in each of their past five Premier League games, with their 12 goals in this run more than they had netted in their previous 15 combined (10). It is also their longest ever run of scoring multiple goals in Premier League history.
Excluding penalties, no Premier League sides have conceded more goals from set-piece situations this season than both Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest (eight). However, no side have scored fewer such goals this term than Forest (one).
Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke has been involved in three goals in two league games against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, both scoring and assisting in the Cherries’ 3-2 in this exact fixture last term.
'Bournemouth and Luton share bond in adversity'published at 16:55 20 December 2023
16:55 20 December 2023
Mark Mitchener, BBC Sport
In an age when football has become increasingly tribal, full of loud voices complaining at perceived injustices meted out to their team (such as by VAR, TV schedulers or anything else), it is heartening when fans of different clubs can share a bond, even in adversity.
Back in 2008, followers of Luton and Bournemouth really felt as though the football authorities were against them. Financial penalties meant the two clubs were deducted a total of 67 points during that calendar year, both were relegated to League Two and left staring into the abyss as Luton began the 2008-09 season on minus 30, with Bournemouth (and Rotherham) starting on minus 17.
It proved a bridge too far for the Hatters to preserve their Football League status, while the Cherries narrowly avoided the drop thanks to rookie manager Eddie Howe, whose “minus 17 team” acquired legendary status in Dorset.
Fifteen years on, Bournemouth v Luton – so often a lower-division scrap – was perhaps the most unlikely of Premier League fixtures in the competition’s history, between two clubs whose combined stadium capacity barely tops 20,000, small fry in a glossy, global multi-billion-pound league.
When Luton captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest during Saturday’s game at Vitality Stadium and collapsed to the turf, Bournemouth’s Philip Billing was the first player to sprint over and look to assist while frantically signalling for play to stop and the medical teams to come on.
As Luton manager Rob Edwards quickly shepherded both sets of players over to the other side of the pitch to allow the medics space to work on Lockyer, an uneasy silence fell around the stadium as the gravity of the situation became clear, occasionally punctuated by applause as a show of support.
And after a long delay while Lockyer was treated and the game eventually abandoned, it was Edwards, with tears in his eyes, who brought up the rear as both teams walked around the ground, thanking all four stands for their patience, while the Cherries faithful joined in with their Luton counterparts in singing Lockyer’s name.
By next morning, a Luton flag had been tied to a fence outside Vitality Stadium. Written in marker pen next to the Luton badge were the words “Thank You, AFCB Staff Fans Players”.
Those of us who were there will always remember Saturday 16 December 2023.
Get well soon, Tom.
What is your best Bournemouth memory at Christmas?published at 12:16 20 December 2023
12:16 20 December 2023
The annual feast of festive Premier League football is about to get under way.
So what is your best memory of following Bournemouth at Christmas?
Mince pies on the train for a Boxing Day away trip? Squinting through the snow to see your team score a late winner? Ending the year with a Christmas cracker?
Bournemouth 1-1 Luton Town: Match abandonedpublished at 17:02 16 December 2023
17:02 16 December 2023
Luton Town's Premier League match at Bournemouth was abandoned after their captain Tom Lockyer collapsed on the pitch with the sides level at 1-1.
The players were taken off midway through the second half as Lockyer received medical treatment after collapsing off the ball.
Supporters sang Lockyer's name and the crowd at Vitality Stadium rose to their feet to applaud the 29-year-old as he was carried off the pitch on a stretcher.
Following confirmation that the fixture had been abandoned, the players and managers of both clubs returned to the pitch to applaud the supporters.