BOURNE TO BE KINGS!
Cherries go up as champions as Watford are held by Sheff Wed
AFTER 552 games of the Championship season Bournemouth are the champions and, according to manager Eddie Howe, they are worthy victors.
The 19-goal swing necessary to push the Cherries into third unsurprisingly never threatened and, instead, Watford’s late slip-up sent the title to Dorset.
Bournemouth supporters had already enjoyed their celebratory pitch invasion – on Monday night against Bolton – but victory at Charlton yesterday sealed the deal and they are heading for the Premier League.
“It’s a fantastic feeling,” said Howe. “Top spot wasn’t something we expected, but I think we deserve it. I think we’ve been the best side consistently in the division.
“We’ve led for the longest time. I think it’s fitting reward for the players. They were magnificent and they have been all season.
“We’ve played good football and scored a lot of goals.We’ve improved defensively, which shouldn’t go unnoticed. That’s why I feel we’ve consistently been the best team. I’m delighted that the players can call themselves champions.
“I think we will adapt our philosophy and style of play slightly, but I think that’s a natural evolution that would’ve happened anyway. Our core principles won’t change, our beliefs won’t change.
“You can see from my track record that the guys that have performed so well for us this season will get their opportunity at the next level.
“I don’t believe in wholesale changes. I don’t believe in not giving players a chance to show whether they’re good enough. It was the same from League One to the Championship. I’m under no illusions how hard it will be and I’ve got no ambitions beyond not getting sacked next season.”
Bournemouth arranged themselves in a 4-4-2, but this was as far from two rigid banks as possible.
The front six and the full-backs swapped positions like an exuberant swingers’ party. One minuteYann Kermorgant lurked among Charlton’s centre-backs, the next he dropped deep to launch quarterback-style passes.
Every time a Charlton player received a pass he was under pressure, while every Bournemouth player was looking to advance and usually did.
Matt Ritchie opened the scoring, bursting into an unmarked position to sweep Kermorgant’s pass into the bottom corner with a high-quality
finish from 20 yards.Two minutes later Harry Arter robbed Yoni Buyens of possession and stroked a gentle finish past Stephen Henderson.
But after 20 minutes, the festival ended. Charlton swapped Buyens and Alou Diarra and suddenly Kermorgant had a little less space – Arter, Ritchie and Marc Pugh roamed less freely.
The Cherries remained thoroughly dominant though and Ritchie’s deflected shot hit the bar. But, meeting little resistance from Charlton, they were in cruise control.
News filtered through of Wednesday’s equaliser against Watford, prompting jubilant scenes – which increased as Ritchie added a third.
Ritchie shot once and fell over as it was blocked but he rose to shoot again, scoring in the bottom corner once more to put a cherry on top of a season that ends with the Cherries on top.
Charlton head coach Guy Luzon said: “The table doesn’t lie. Bournemouth are truly the best team in this league. They play great football and deserve to be in the Premier League.
“They played better than us and really deserved to win this game. It was a good lesson for us on how we need to play football. How we need to play quick and press the opponent.
“We have the base, but next season we need to keep our key players and bring in five or six new players to upgrade in key positions.We need to see about the financial conditions and see who we have the ability to bring into our club.”