Below-par Bournemouth just squeeze past Norwich

Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good, as Eddie Howe acknowledged after watching his Bournemouth side stumble into the League Cup quarter-finals for only the third time in their history.

Steve Cook’s strike 17 minutes from time was enough for the club sixth in the Premier League to overcome a Norwich team whose manager Daniel Farke felt they did enough to win, let alone force a

penalty shoot-out. Magnanimous Howe said: “We were lucky to get through because they missed some good chances. There were not too many positives from us.

“It is a good thing to be able to win and not play well. Last year and the years before we have only won when we have played really well.”

Howe made eight changes to the team which swept aside Fulham 3-0 at Craven Cottage on Saturday to maintain their scintillating start to the league season.

The home side did not show much of their quality, with Junior Stanislas’ excellent opening goal six minutes before half-time the notable exception. He demonstrated superb close control to bring down

Jermain Defoe’s pass on his chest before producing a neat step-over and shooting unerringly into the roof of the net.

Norwich striker Dennis Srbeny was unlucky not to equalise when his shot struck the inside of the post before the Championship side conjured a deserved equaliser with 20 minutes remaining.

Onel Hernandez went unnoticed by the Bournemouth defence as he crept in at the far post before placing his shot beyond Artur Boruc after Tom Trybull had scooped a majestic pass over the top.

The visiting side’s joy lasted only three minutes, however, before centre-back Cook produced the

type of finish any striker would have been proud of through a crowded penalty area after going up to meet a corner.

Substitute Jordan Rhodes should have levelled for a second time in the dying seconds but could not make the most of a free header.

Farke was quick to praise his players: “Our performance was outstanding and we deserved much more. We should have won.” Bournemouth (3-4-3) Boruc; Francis (Simpson 86), Cook, Daniels; Ibe (Fraser 62), Gosling, Surman, Rico; Pugh, Defoe (Wilson 71), Stanislas. Subs Travers (g), Mousset, Taylor, Ofoborh. Booked Rico.

Norwich (4-5-1) Mcgovern; Pinto (Buendia 68), Zimmermann, Godfrey, Lewis; Passlack (Rhodes 87), Hernandez, Tettey, Trybull (Pukki 82), Hernandez;

Srbeny. Subs Krul (g), Leitner, Klose, Aarons. Booked Zimmermann. Referee Lee Mason (Bolton).