AFC Bournemouth 1-0 Brentford, Championship Play-Off Semi-Final First Leg: report, ratings and verdict

VS.

AFC Bournemouth 4-2-3-1

1

0

Brentford 5-3-2

Half Time: 0 - 0 Dean Court ( Attendance: 2,000 )
1 min

Brentford will have to come from behind to reach Wembley after losing 1-0 at AFC Bournemouth in their Championship Play-Off Semi-Final First Leg encounter.

In a lively opening, the Bees had a penalty claim for a foul on Tariqe Fosu waved away while at the other end Dominic Solanke beat Brentford keeper David Raya but not the post.

Bournemouth then went close again just four minutes before the interval as Steve Cook headed a teasing corner goalwards, but Raya got down quickly to make a good save.

The start of the second-half saw Brentford pile on the pressure without engineering any real clear-cut chances – their best effort Christian Norgaard’s bicycle kick which flew harmlessly over the bar.

And it was Bournemouth who opened the scoring on the counter-attack, Arnaut Danjuma finishing off a free-flowing move in the 55th minute following a great pass from David Brooks. 

Bryan Mbuemo should have levelled on 78 minutes though, inexplicably putting his effort wide with the goal at his mercy.

His miss proved decisive as the Bee failed to produce anything else of note, sending them back to the Brentford Community Stadium with a one-goal deficit to overcome on Saturday.

Key Points

Check out all the key talking points and reaction from London Football Scene below…

Key Moment

Arnaut Danjuma’s goal came at the perfect time for Bournemouth, deflating an improving Brentford attack.

Moan of the Match

Brentford occasionally seemed to play one pass too many, failing to put the ball into the box numerous times when they had the perfect opportunity.

Talking Point

Brentford went into last year’s second-leg against Swansea City 1-0 down as well – will history once again repeat itself?

Man of the Match

Sergi Canos – brilliant defensive work all game long, making some good challenges in important positions alongside some decent attacking support.

Tweet of the Match

Referee Watch

Tim Robinson (West Sussex) – turned away a penalty shout for Brentford, but apart from that had a solid game.

Atmosphere

A joy to see fans back, no matter who they were rooting for. The Bournemouth faithful were in full voice for their side after a full season away.

Verdict

A defensive masterclass from Bournemouth and a slightly lacklustre Brentford led to a 1-0 defeat, with all to play for in the second-leg.

Line Ups

AFC Bournemouth 4-2-3-1

Begovic; A.Smith, Carter-Vickers, S.Cook (Mepham, 45+3), Kelly; Lerma, Pearson (Stacey, 72); Brooks (Wilshere, 81), Billing, Danjuma; Solanke

Subs not used:

Travers, Rico, Riquelme, Anthony, Long, Surridge

Brentford 5-3-2

Raya; Roerslev (Henry, 58), Jansson, Norgaard, Pinnock, Canos; Jensen (Ghoddos, 86), Janelt (Dalsgaard, 73), Fosu (Marcondes, 59); Forss (Mbuemo, 58), Toney

Subs not used:

Daniels, Goode, Reid, Bidstrup

Booked

Roerslev, Jansson

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