Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WILSON IS SPOT ON FOR HOWE
CALLUM WILSON scored on his comeback to fire Bournemouth into the quarter-finals for only the second time in their history.
Wilson, 25, was making his first start for the Cherries since January after being sidelined by a knee injury – and he marked his return in style with a goal from the penalty spot.
Debutant Jack Simpson and Benik Afobe also got their names on the scoresheet with Middlesbrough’s Marcus Tavernier (below) threatening an upset at one stage.
Eddie Howe’s Premier League side dominated the opening proceedings and went close but Lys Mousset’s header was ruled out for offside.
They threatened again through Simpson when he was left unmarked in the area but failed to hit the target.
Wilson was next in line when the ball fell at his feet in the box, but the striker could only drag his shot wide.
Winger Ryan Fraser was gifted an opportunity in the 25th minute when the Middlesbrough goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos parried the ball into his path but he too fluffed the chance.
Boro battled their way back into the tie through the tricky Adama Traore who almost gave them a shock lead when he lashed a shot from distance at Artur Boruc’s goal.
However, 20-year-old central defender Simpson gave the Cherries the lead in the 49th minute when he hooked the ball home from Fraser’s corner to announce himself to the south coast crowd.
His joy was short-lived when Garry Monk’s men levelled seven minute later through Tavernier.
Traore burst forward before splitting the Bournemouth defence with an exquisite pass which was buried by 18-year-old Tavernier.
But Boro blew it in the 75th minute when Simpson was hauled down in the penalty area by Dael Fry and up stepped Wilson to beat Konstantopoulos from the spot.
Bournemouth made it safely into tomorrow’s draw in the 83rd minute when Wilson got in down the right and crossed for sub Afobe to slide in their third goal from close range.