Jack still a cracker ‘HE’S AN UNBELIEVABLE TALENT’
BIRMINGHAM CITY 2
BOURNEMOUTH BIRMINGHAM 4 ........ Shots on Target ......... 6 4 ........ Shots off Target ......... 3 2 ................ Corners ................. 6 9 .................. Fouls .................. 19 1 ................ Offsides ................. 2 74.9...Passing Success % .... 61.4 435 ...... Total Passes .......... 311 57.6 ..... Possession % ..... 42.4 36.9..Territorial Adv %...63.1
JONATHAN WOODGATE paid tribute to Jack Wilshere’s “unbelievable talent” after the ex-England midfielder helped Bournemouth to a muchneeded win.
Wilshere made one and scored another as Philip Billing’s winner got the Cherries’ promotion push back on course after four defeats on the trot.
That run saw Jason Tindall sacked with Woodgate taking over as caretaker boss against a Birmingham side who have their own troubles.
The Blues are in the relegation zone to pile further pressure on Aitor Karanka – thanks to Wilshere.
Woodgate said: “Fair play to Jason – he bought Jack in when maybe a few people were doubting him. He’s an unbelievable talent.”
Woodgate’s one post in management saw him win just nine times in 41 matches at Middlesbrough before being shown the exit door. He added: “It’s been a difficult week, really difficult. But I’d like to thank Jason, the staff behind the scenes and the players.
“I’ve spoken to Jason on the phone a few times and he’s been really supportive through the whole transition.
“You get more buzz being the manager than being the player, I just wanted to win and it doesn’t matter how we got it.
“It’s been tough coming down from the Premier League it’s not as easy as everyone thinks it is.
“My remit was to manage against Birmingham and that’s as far as it goes. I just wanted to get three points and it doesn’t matter how.
“You can talk about philosophies and this and that forever, but if you don’t get results, you’re not in the job.”
Things started for Woodgate as they’d finished for Tindall – with awful Bournemouth defending.
Asmir Begovic kept the Cherries in the game early on with a brilliant save from Jeremie Bela before Steve Cook headed Ivan Sanchez’s followup off the line.
Soon after, Begovic got down low to his right to push away Ivan Sunjic’s 20-yard shot as
Birmingham piled on the pressure. But Begovic made a shocking error trying to collect Gary Gardner’s low cross and Scott Hogan was on hand to turn in the loose ball.
It was exactly what Karanka’s side deserved and they had the ball in the net a minute later when Kristian Pedersen smashed in a brilliant volley from Gardner’s cross before the offside flag went up.
Just as Tindall said on the night he departed, Bournemouth looked short on confidence but a moment of class from Wilshere got them back in it.
Wilshere dodged between two Birmingham midfielders before slipping the perfect pass to Arnaut Danjuma who cut inside George
Friend and scored in to the far corner. He then capped off an excellent performance as he finished off a brilliant team move with a looping header.
It was started by Lloyd Kelly’s challenge on the edge of his own area before Danjuma and David Brooks broke up field.
The ball made its way to Adam Smith who picked out Wilshere to head beautifully into the top corner.
The Bournemouth back-four looked uncomfortable all afternoon and soon they had shot themselves in the foot once more.
Sanchez had all the time in the world to cross to the far post where Hogan nodded in unmarked.
Billing ensured Woodgate got his second stint in the hot seat off to a winning start when he touched in Danjuma’s whipped free-kick at the far post, via the woodwork.
“It’s frustrating and it’s the same feeling that I am watching every week,” said Karanka.
“Being better than the opponents and making mistakes, it’s always the problem. As a coach you are trying your best and can’t do much more but I trust what I am doing.”