Sunderland vs Bournemouth match report: Patrick van Aanholt cancels out Benik Afobe's opener
Sunderland 1 Bournemouth 1
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.There were seven minutes remaining when the chance came for Lewis Grabban to perhaps put one of Bournemouth’s feet in next year’s Premier League.
It was a fine opportunity, created when Junior Stanislas slipped the substitute through. With one touch he controlled the ball, with a second he stabbed a shot, with just Vito Mannone to beat, wide from eight yards.
The Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe, stood in his technical area, put his head in his hands. Grabban was doing the same. The scores were tied at that point.
Sam Allardyce unashamedly said afterwards that it was a game he could not conceive losing. The gap between the two sides, after Grabban’s miss, stayed at six points. It could have been bigger and it should have been bigger.
Certainly the gap between the sides yesterday was reflected most acutely in the jeers that greeted the final whistle. The city of Sunderland did not reflect Allardyce’s limited ambition.
They have seen their team slide for season after season, but the manner in which Bournemouth outplayed them was a new one. When the visitors took their lead in the 13th minute, it was completely deserved, Benik Afobe’s header too much for Mannone.
Sunderland scored their equaliser in first-half injury time, when Patrick van Aanholt struck a low, angled shot past Artur Boruc. Boruc would do well to deny Billy Jones, but the game should still have been won, and the gap between an immediate return to the Championship should have been wider, when Grabban had his chance.
“We had the best chances and Lewis’s one is the one we kick ourselves with,” said Howe. “He did everything right, just the finish really. You take a point but we should have got three.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments