THAT WAS FOR RYAN
<M<IP B@:B# <M<IP >F8C# <M<IP >8D< Adam goal tribute to old pal Mason
ADAM SMITH dedicated the goal which sparked Bournemouth’s late fightback to best pal Ryan Mason.
The midfielder was forced to retire earlier this month, aged just 26, on medical advice after fracturing his skull against Chelsea last year.
Smith was a youth player at Tottenham alongside Mason and held up eight fingers after scoring in tribute to the former Hull star’s shirt number.
He said: “I’d like to dedicate that goal to my best friend Ryan Mason, hence why I put the eight fingers up for his number. That goal was for him.
Hard
“I came through the ranks with him since I was seven years old. I grew up with him and football, so I was gutted to see he’s had to retire.
“I know how hard it is for him. That’s why I dedicated the goal to him.
“Football isn’t everything. Family and being healthy are much more important. Everyone gets caught up in football and thinks it’s the world and the most important thing and it’s not.
“It’s definitely put things in perspective for me. I used to get too involved with football and now I don’t. There are more important things in life.
“I’ve seen what he’s gone through and how it can be taken away from you so quickly, and I’ve seen what his family and his girlfriend have gone through. As soon as he retired, I had it in my mind the next goal I scored would definitely be for him.”
Smith’s superb finish from the edge of the box 10 minutes from time – his first goal since August 2016 – set Bournemouth on the comeback trail.
The lacklustre Cherries were 2-0 down at half-time after Dwight Gayle had twice tapped in from close range following blunders from keeper Asmir Begovic.
Midfielder Dan Gosling rescued an unlikely point a minute from time when he lashed home against his former club, following a neat lay-off from Nathan Ake.
The draw leaves Bournemouth five points clear of the relegation zone and Smith is keen to secure safety as soon as possible, to avoid any late-season drama.
Smith added: “It’s tight down there and we still need to win games to get out of this situation.
“The most important thing was we BOURNEMOUTH (4-4-2): Begovic 4; Francis 6, S Cook 6, AKE 8, Daniels 4 (A Smith 46, 8); Stanislas 6, Gosling 8, L Cook 7, Fraser 6 (Mousset, 63, 7); King 7, Wilson 5 (Defoe 73). Subs: Boruc, Surman, Pugh, Simpson. UP NEXT: Leicester (a), Premier League, Saturday. NEWCASTLE (4-4-1-1): Dubravka 6; Yedlin 6, Lascelles 7, Lejeune 6, Dummett 6; Ritchie 7 (Manquillo 85), Diame 6, Shelvey 7, Kenedy 6 (Atsu 6); 64, Perez 6; GAYLE 8 (Hayden 78). Subs: Darlow, Clark, Joselu, Merino. UP NEXT: Liverpool (a), Premier League, Saturday. Referee: Roger East 7. YOUR TURN: Which Spanish striker scored when Newcastle won 1-0 on their last visit to Bournemouth, in November 2015? didn’t lose and now we can go on to next week and try to get three points.
“Hopefully we can pick up a few more wins and get safe. You don’t want to go to the last few games feeling that pressure, it’s not a nice feeling. The quicker we can do it, the better.”
Gayle’s goals were his first since December and Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez believes that he is being spurred on by the extra competition for places following Islam Slimani’s loan move from Leicester.
Benitez said: “Dwight is a player that if he has chances, he will score goals. He is a good finisher but we have to create chances for him.
“It is important for the strikers, or any position, to have competition.
“It is important to have Dwight, Joselu, Ayoze Perez and Slimani – when he is available – to give me a difficult decision.”