Bournemouth vs Luton Town FC (4th Jan 2020)

BOURNEMOUTH 4 LUTON TOWN 0

Hatters suffer Cup exit at the hands of Premier League Cherries

The Hatters suffered an Emirates FA Cup third round exit as they were beaten 4-0 by AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

Philip Billing opened the scoring within the first ten minutes, before Alan Sheehan missed a penalty on the stroke of half-time for the Town.

After the break England international Callum Wilson came off the bench to score, Billing grabbed his second of the game and Dominic Solanke scored his first Cherries’ goal after being denied initially by VAR early in the first half.

Graeme Jones made nine changes from the team that was defeated 3-1 defeat at Millwall on New Year’s Day, which included a debut for Donervon Daniels - who was recalled early from his loan at Doncaster Rovers.

The Premier League outfit started on the front foot and took the lead in the eighth minute through Billing, who hit a volley into the ground which looped up into the top corner, past the reach of Simon Sluga.

Bournemouth had the ball in the back of the net once again in the 16th minute as Solanke flicked Ryan Fraser’s corner on at the front post. However, his joy was short-lived as VAR intervened and ruled out the goal after judging that Harry Wilson had interfered with play.

Town were presented a magnificent chance to level proceedings as Billing gave the ball away in midfield, allowing Cornick to run through towards goal. But one-on-one, Mark Travers denied the former Bournemouth man and the hosts cleared their lines.

The Hatters were very much alive in the contest though, and saw much more of the ball as the game passed the half-hour mark.

Glen Rea - making his first start since suffering serious injury in December 2018 - sprayed an inch-perfect ball wide to Daniels who in-turn found Butterfield inside. The midfielder took a few touches and got the ball on to his right-foot, before firing narrowly over the bar.

Town's presence in the game grew even more as they were awarded a penalty in added time at the end of the first half after Matty Pearson was brought down by Billing inside the area. Captain Sheehan took responsibility from the spot, but slipped as he saw his effort cannon off the bar.

After Elliot Lee and George Moncur had sent shots just off target early in the second half, Junior Stanislas had a good chance to extend the Cherries’ lead after he was played through by Solanke, but his chipped effort went over the bar.

In the 67th minute Wilson came off the bench to score with his first touch, before Bournemouth grabbed their third goal of the afternoon through Billing’s low drive from the edge of the box with just over ten minutes to play.

The hosts grabbed a fourth in the 82nd minute as Solanke managed to get his elusive goal after the ball dropped kindly towards him from close range, a score-line harsh on the Hatters who battled well with their Premier League hosts throughout the 90 minutes.

Attention now turns back to the Sky Bet Championship, when the Hatters welcome Birmingham City to Kenilworth Road next Saturday.

BOURNEMOUTH: Travers, Francis, Mepham, Simpson, Rico (Cook 77), H.Wilson, Surman, Billing, Fraser (Dobre 80), Stanislas (C.Wilson 66), Solanke. Subs not used: Ramsdale, Lerma, Kilkenny, Surridge

Goals: Billing (8, 79), C.Wilson (67), Solanke (82)

Yellows: Billing

TOWN: Sluga, Pearson, Jones, Daniels, Sheehan (Bree 77), Rea, Butterfield (Berry 68), Shinnie, Moncur (Bolton 68), Cornick, Lee. Subs not used: Shea, Tunnicliffe, Mpanzu, Collins

Yellows: Jones

Referee: Darren England

Attendance: 10,064 (1,714)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRF86kPe8qk – Match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMnsGF_CwaQ – Graeme Jones interview

GRAEME JONES ON THE DEFEAT TO AFC BOURNEMOUTH

Hatters boss Graeme Jones felt that the 4-0 scoreline in this evening’s defeat to AFC Bournemouth flattered the hosts.

Having gone 1-0 down early on, Town had the opportunity to level from the penalty spot just before half-time, but captain Alan Sheehan slipped as he struck the ball and saw his effort bounce back into play off the crossbar.

The Cherries went onto score three second half goals, with Jones wanting to focus on the time before the second goal.

He explained: “I think obviously we knew Bournemouth want possession of the ball and it’s very difficult to take a Premier League side on in that area. We set-up for the counter and we had a great chance with Harry, it’s only Harry who can really get us there.

“You need to score that and then you get a second bite of the cherry with the penalty. Alan’s standing foot goes and we don’t score and I think that was the key moment in the game if we wanted to win it.

“I prefer to look at the first 67 minutes because this is a Premier League side and 4-0 is a result that flatters them to an extent. We had good chances and good opportunities from the game and those moments you have to score and we didn’t, from that point on it was difficult.

“We don’t have an Under-23s or reserve team and I’ve got a lot of good professionals who we need to find out about for the run-in. We’ve got 20 games left now in the Championship and tonight was an opportunity for that.

“I still think we were reasonably competitive in the game, I think we picked up some players tonight which is a bonus, I thought Donervon’s performance was really, really positive.”

Luton knocked out of the FA Cup by Premier League Cherries

FA Cup, third round: Bournemouth 4 Luton Town 0

Luton's inability to take their chances came back to bite them yet again as they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Premier League Bournemouth this afternoon.

Trailing 1-0 early on to Philip Billing's early strike, the Hatters then fought back admirably in the first period, creating the two best opportunities.

However, Harry Cornick went clean through only to shoot straight at keeper Mark Travers, before Alan Sheehan saw his penalty strike the bar on the stroke of half time.

That then lead to the inevitable second period onslaught from the Cherries, who scored three goals in 15 minutes to seal an eventually comfortable passage into round four.

After a congested Christmas period, Town boss Graeme Jones made nine changes to his side, including handing a debut to defender Donervon Daniels, who had been on loan with League One Doncaster Rovers after signing in the summer.

Striker Elliot Lee returned for his first appearance since late September, with Glen Rea beginning a game for Luton for the first time since his serious knee injury in December 2018 while Harry Cornick was back to face the club where he started his career.

Simon Sluga, Glen Rea, Jacob Butterfield, Andrew Shinnie, George Moncur and Lloyd Jones also come in, with only Matty Pearson and Alan Sheehan keeping their places from the New Year's Day defeat at Millwall.

Sluga was called into action immediately, Dominic Solanke escaping the attentions of his defenders and the forward's shot was finger-tipped just wide by the Croatian international.

Bournemouth continued their excellent start, Diego Rico nutmegging Daniels, with his cross fired over the bar by Harry Wilson.

The hosts did have the goal their impressive opening deserved on just eight minutes when a cross was deflected into the path of Billing who fired his half volley into ground and beyond the reach of Sluga.

It looked like the Cherries made it 2-0 just 10 minutes later though when Solanke got in front of his defenders to meet a corner with a glancing header to beat Sluga.

However with boss Jones disbelieving his side had been beaten in such a manner, referee Darren England signalled for a VAR check, the goal eventually being chalked off for an offside against the lurking Wilson.

With 21 minutes gone, and out of nothing, the Hatters had a magnificent chance to draw level as Cornick intercepted Billing's ill-judged pass across his back-line to go clean through against his former side.

However, as he had done in the defeat to Preston recently, he was unable to find the net, Cherries keeper Mark Travers standing his ground to save well.

Town went close again with their best move of the match, when a wonderful ball out to Daniels saw him find Moncur who teed up Butterfield, the midfielder's rising effort clearing the bar.

With Luton now getting a foothold in the contest, Lee's half volley flew off target from the edge of the box, as the visitors continued to cause problems on their breaks forward.

The Hatters then had a glorious opportunity on the stroke of half time, when Pearson went over the Billing's trailing leg in the area.

After the VAR check, Sheehan stepped up, only to see his standing leg give way as he went to take the kick, firing against the bar.

In the second period, Wilson put a volley marginally wide, with Lee further away when an opening presented itself on the edge of the box.

Eddie Howe's side then had a great chance when Solanke split the visitors' defence to send Junior Stanislas away, who got far too much on his dink over Sluga, missing the target by some distance.

Town kept getting players forward in support of the tireless Cornick, Lee finding Moncur who sized up a curler that just didn't come down in time.

Wilson was proving the hosts main attacking outlet, one ambitious attempt from range seeing Sluga hold on.

With Town's players starting to tire, Jones had Luke Bolton and Luke Berry readied with the hosts' Callum Wilson to come on after 66 minutes, but while Howe gave the England striker his moment, Luton opted against making a change.

They were to regret it though as within 60 seconds of his introduction, Sheehan's poor touch was snapped up by Harry Wilson, who rounded Jones and picked out Callum Wilson, who fired past Sluga with his first touch.

With that went any real hope for the Hatters, as although they did bring on Bolton and Berry, with James Bree swiftly joining them, Bournemouth were clearly well in control.

They extended their advantage with 10 minutes left, Billing grabbing a second of the afternoon when his 25-yarder deflected off Daniels to leave Sluga wrong-footed.

It was to get even worse just moments later when Callum Wilson got clear on the left and his ball produced some pinball in the Town area, falling to Solanke, whose shot looked to be going wide, only to trickle in at the far post via Sluga's outstretched glove.

Cherries: Mark Travers, Simon Francis, Andrew Surman, Dominic Solanke, Junior Stanislas (Callum Wilson 66), Diego Rico (Steve Cook 78), Harry Wilson, Ryan Fraser (Alex Dobre 80), Jack Simpson, Philip Billing, Chris Mepham.

Subs not used: Aaron Ramsdale, Jefferson Lerma, Sam Surridge, Gavin Kilkenny.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Matty Pearson, Alan Sheehan (C James Bree 78), Lloyd Jones, Donervon Daniels, Glen Rea, Jacob Butterfield (Luke Berry 68), Andrew Shinnie, George Moncur (Luke Bolton 68), Harry Cornick, Elliot Lee.

Subs not used: James Shea, James Collins, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu.

Booked: Billing 41, Jones 41.

Referee: Darren England.

Attendance: 10,064.

Jones: 4-0 scoreline flattered Bournemouth

Hatters boss Graeme Jones felt that his side's 4-0 defeat to Bournemouth in the FA Cup this evening flattered the home side.

After conceding early on to Phillip Billing's strike, and seeing Dominic Solanke's header then ruled out for offside, Town then had the two best chances of the first period, Harry Cornick missing a one-on-one, and Alan Sheehan's penalty cannoning against the bar.

Luton were then breached three times during 15 second half minutes as the Cherries eased into round four, leaving Jones frustrated once more.

He said: "We knew Bournemouth want possession of the ball, it's very difficult to take a Premier League side on in that area, so we set up for the counter.

"We had a great chance with Harry, there’s only Harry really who can get us there, you need to score that, and then you get a second bite of the cherry with the penalty.

"Alan’s standing foot goes and we don’t score and I think that was the key moment in the game if we wanted to win it.

“I prefer to look at the first 67 minutes though because this is a Premier League side and 4-0 is a result that flatters them to an extent.

"We had chances, good opportunities to get something from the game and those moments you have to score, we didn’t and from that point on it was difficult."

Jones made nine changes to his side from the New Year's Day defeat at Millwall, as he felt the alterations paid off to an extent, adding: "We don’t have an U23s or reserve team and I’ve got a lot of good professionals who I need to find out about for the run-in.

"We’ve got 20 games left now in the Championship and tonight was an opportunity for that.,

"I still think we were competitive in the game, and think we picked up some players which is a bonus."