THE JOSHUA THREE
King misses spot kick... then fires in hat-trick as Cherries finally notch up a win
JUST when he needed it, Eddie Howe has discovered the equivalent of Premier League gold dust in striker Joshua King.
The Norwegian completed the first hat-trick of his career with a 90th-minute volley that ended an agonising eight-game run, which had dropped Bournemouth deep into the relegation zone.
King, 25, began his career at Manchester United as a 16-year-old.
He never started a senior game there, but he now has eight goals in his last seven matches.
And just when Howe’s reputation as the game’s great up-and-coming coach might have come under pressure, King’s goals have come to the rescue.
“It’s just pure relief, if I’m really honest,” admitted the Bournemouth boss.
“It felt like a very long time since we last won, I’m not going to deny that.
“Joshua seems to have just found his confidenc e. He’s always had the ability. He has strength, pace and great technical ability, it was just a case of putting it together.”
King’s day could and should have been even better.
He missed a penalty after just eight minutes and then handed the responsibility for a second spot kick over to fellow strike partner Benik Afobe, who also failed to score.
“I was fuming about the miss,” admitted King.
“I suppose I could have had four or five, but I’ll take the hattrick any day.
“We pulled out a great performance last week at Old Trafford and the buzz around the training ground has been brilliant.”
King had scored penalties in his last two games, but he put this one a foot wide of the post.
And, just to make matters worse for him, West Ham went straight up the other end to score through Michail Antonio’s perfectly placed shot.
But King soon let instinct take over and, with 31 minutes gone, Ryan Fraser’s hopeful ball into the box bounced off Winston Reid, and th e Cherries striker reacted quickly to shift it to the side of Jose Fonte before firing home with his left foot.
And, three minutes after the break, he was in the right place at the right time, unmarked, to fire home after Afobe had won the ball from a Fraser free-kick.
West Ham, with Andy Carroll up front (left), were too often second best in challenges.
But after boss Slaven Bilic brought on Andre Ayew and Robert Snodgrass, they improved.
And they deserved to draw level on 83 minutes when Ayew swept home Sam Byram’s cross.
But instead of settling for the point, they chased all three and got caught on the break by Jack Wilshere before Randolph’s save fell perfectly for King to complete his treble.
“We took risks we didn’t need to,” grumbled Hammers boss Slaven Bilic.
“When you equalise that late you should be more clever.”
HOW THEY RATED
BOURNEMOUTH: Boruc 6, A Smith 6, Francis 7, Cook 7, Daniels 6, Fraser 7 (Mousset 84), Arter 6, Gosling 6, Pugh 6, Afobe 6 (Wilshere 84), King 9. Subs not used: Allsop, Gradel, B Smith, Ibe, Cargill. WEST HAM: Randolph 6, Kouyate 6 (Byram 78) Fonte 6, Reid 6, Cresswell 7, Feghouli 4 (Ayew 58, 7), Noble 6 (Snodgrass 58, 6), Obiang 6, Lanzini 6; Antonio 7, Carroll 5. Subs not used: Adrian, Collins, Masuaku, Fernandes. MAN OF THE MATCH: Josh King. Shrugged off penalty miss to score a stunning hat-trick. REFEREE: Robert Madley. Misses spared him aggro over two soft penalty calls.
It felt like a very long time since we last won EDDIE HOWE