Cherries press to impress in demolition job
THIS was as ruthless an opening to the FA Cup’s fourth round as will ever be seen — a performance so cruel to Swans that there were fans at half-time wondering if this constituted treason.
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola could only giggle in his seat upon seeing his side take a 5-0 lead before the break, Dominic Solanke scoring the fifth.
It had been a fabulous display of the football Iraola wants to implement as Championship Swansea were suffocated, harshly taught how little time you are afforded on the ball by Premier League opponents.
Iraola took two different teams to the Spanish Cup semi-finals on shoestring budgets. Bournemouth are now in the FA Cup’s fifth round for only the sixth time in their history, and how they would love an even longer run alongside Premier League survival.
Thursday night was an unusual time for an FA Cup tie. The reason was its selection for Welsh-language television on S4C, with Swansea now managed by Luke Williams. It was unfortunate for the club’s new head coach that his humiliation was broadcast for all back home to see.
The odd blip aside, such as Sunday’s 4-0 loss to Liverpool, Bournemouth sense they are going places. They are 12th in the Premier League, the construction of a multi-million pound training complex is taking shape at Canford Magna, and the players are getting to grips with Iraola’s high-pressing philosophy.
An FA Cup run would complement all of that nicely, and it was Iraola’s high press which led to the opener inside seven minutes. Luis Sinisterra won the ball off Nathan Wood, only to be yanked back. Yellow card for Wood, freekick for Bournemouth. David Brooks whipped it in and Lloyd Kelly scored after being deserted by his marker Kyle Naughton.
‘One-nil to the England,’ sang the home supporters. Not for long, as it was 2-0 after 10 minutes when Brooks drove inside from the right wing, leaving Bashir Humphreys in his dust. He squared to Alex Scott, who made no mistake from 10 yards.
VAR Paul Tierney checked for offside but Brooks was onside and the Wales international had two assists against the Welsh visitors.
It was 3-0 after 14 minutes and, again, it came courtesy of their high press. Swansea goalkeeper Andy Fisher tried to pass out from the back but Scott intercepted the ball before teeing up Sinisterra, who found the far corner through the legs of Wood. It was not even 8pm and Bournemouth had a three-goal lead.
Swansea had a chance to give their supporters who had made the seven-hour round trip something to cheer, but the woodwork denied Naughton and Mark Travers saved Wood’s attempt.
Instead, Bournemouth made it 4-0 when Brooks won the ball high up the pitch, exchanged a one-two with Solanke and beat Fisher when one-on-one.
Then the inevitable happened. As we approached half-time, Solanke got a goal for himself after tapping in Sinisterra’s assist. Solanke removed his shirt. ‘RIP Donna,’ read his vest in a tribute to his team-mate Jaidon Anthony’s mother, which earned him a yellow card from ‘rules are rules’ referee Darren England.
Williams will need time to implement his ideas but some Swansea supporters had seen enough, leaving at half-time. Bournemouth’s biggest ever win was 11-0 over Margate in the FA Cup in 1971, when Ted MacDougall scored nine. In the end, Iraola’s men settled for their five from the first half.