IT’S JUNIOR SNOW TIME

Stanislas turns up heat on Potters

BOURNEMOUTH’S swift return to the Premier League was back on last night after overcoming the Potteries deep freeze.

Jason Tindall’s side who suffered a damaging midweek defeat against fellow promotion candidates Brentford left it late to thaw out against stubborn Stoke on a snowy night.

Junior Stanislas struck with just 11 minutes to go with a cultured finish following a brilliant long-range pass from the inspirational Lewis Cook.

Having enjoyed the majority of the play, the Cherries found Michael O’Neill’s side in typical resilient mood.

A power cut an hour before kick-off had plunged the bet365 stadium into darkness with the respective goalkeepers having to continue their routines in the shadows.

But it was Dominic Solanke who had an early opportunity to light up the game racing onto a through ball from Lewis Cook. As Stoke keeper Joe Bursik advanced to the edge of the area Solankie’s clever chip struck the top of the bar.

It came at the end of a flurry of attacking from the home side.

Joe Allen, in only his second game back after a long absence through a ruptured Achilles tendon, forced former Potters keeper Asmir Begovic to a decent save while Jordan Thompson had fired into the side netting from a free-kick.

Bursik was also adept at the other end palming a Stanislas free-kick around the post as Tindall’s side looked to get back to winning ways.

Clearly there had been some harsh words in the Cherries dressing room at half time as they came out for the restart with all guns blazing and Lewis Cook beginning to impose himself in the midfield battle ground. Stoke were forced to scramble a dangerous cross from Diego Rico from their packed goalmouth while Solanke had his close range effort blocked.

With snow falling it was rapidly turning into a real examination of Bournemouth’s character as they look for a swift return to the Premier League. Could they do it on an icy Saturday night at Stoke?

They had bossed the possession but were struggling to make the critical breakthrough – and with their coveted midfielder David Brooks strangely anchored on the substitutes bench until 20 minutes from time.

Finally it arrived thanks to another piece of telepathy from

Cook who has the unerring ability to find the front men from deep inside his own half.

This time a fine through ball saw Stanislas break clear of his marker and calmly accelerate into the area before prodding past Bursik. Splendidly made and expertly finished.

Junior Stanislas sends the winner past Josef Bursik GARY ROWETT refused to blame Millwall’s 10-day Covid lockdown for one of their worst performances of the season. The Lions were secondbest on their return to action after eight players tested positive, resulting in Christmas games against Bournemouth and Watford being postponed. Rowett revealed five of those players started the game – and he admitted Coventry should have won by a lot more. The Sky Blues literally caught their hosts on the rebound - with Jake Cooper scoring a 20th-minute own goal after a Jordan Shipley shot hit the post and went in off the defender’s knee. Gustavo Hamer added the second six minutes later with a shot which deflected off Cooper after his initial free-kick had cannoned into the wall. The Lions grabbed a lifeline through Jed Wallace’s spot-kick but then had Murray Wallace sent off in the last minute for a second yellow. Rowett said: “It was a poor performance. To come