Bournemouth march into the FA Cup quarter-finals
EVEN if Jonathan Woodgate doesn’t get the chance to lead Bournemouth on a permanent basis, he can always say he guided them into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 64 years!
While Swansea, Bristol City and Barnsley bowed out of the Cup in midweek, the Cherries kept the EFL flag flying courtesy of a superb 2-0 win at Sean Dyche’s topflight Burnley.
Sam Surridge tapped home the first midway through the second half before Junior Stanislas sealed victory from the penalty spot with a couple of minutes left. It has earned Bournemouth a mouth-watering South Coast derby at home against topflight Southampton in the last eight.
It also made it two wins from two for interim boss Woodgate, who took charge following the Cherries’ decision to sack Jason Tindall.
While speculation swirls about who will become the next permanent incumbent of the Vitality Stadium hotseat – with former Huddersfield boss David Wagner, ex-Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira and Aston Villa assistant John Terry among the names in the frame – Woodgate hasn’t done his own chances any harm.
Confidence
On the Burnley display, the former Middlesbrough boss said: “We controlled the game for long periods and we showed that we can play. Our full-backs bombed on and it was a really good performance. We have to produce performances like that every week.
“You want to try to go as far as you can in any competition and we put a strong side out. I wanted to create that winning mentality, I didn’t want to make wholesale changes. Winning games gives players confidence.”
Just as his focus is on taking things game by game until told otherwise, the former England defender wants his players to park the FA Cup for now. The tie against Saints isn’t until the weekend of March 20-21, still more than a month away.
Following yesterday’s game at Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth have another eight Championship games scheduled before they return to Cup action and reigniting their faltering promotion bid will be the number one priority.
“These players know exactly what’s required,” stressed Woodgate. “They won’t be thinking about Southampton – that’s miles away.
They will be on the same page.”
If Woodgate’s own head wasn’t straight at the moment, you could understand why.
Brought in as firstteam coach to assist Tindall at the start of the month following Graeme Jones’ decision to depart for Newcastle, the former Real Madrid centre-half was almost immediately propelled into the hotseat following the club’s decision to call time on Tindall’s short-lived reign.
But he’s determined to do his best and ignore all the offfield noise.
Support
The 41-year-old said: “It’s been difficult, but I’ve had great support within the club - the staff have been exceptional. They have made it a lot easier for me.
“I’m here to help this club any way I can. I’m not listening to who’s getting interviewed or not – that doesn’t bother me. I want to represent Bournemouth the best way I can and the board will tell me the plan. I’m just happy doing what I’m doing at the moment.”
After Bournemouth beat the Clarets to kick off the fifth round on Tuesday, hopes were high of further EFL success, but it wasn’t to be.
Swansea were on the wrong end of a 3-1 home defeat against Pep Guardiola’s red-hot Manchester City the following night, though debutant Morgan Whittaker did at least have the satisfaction of getting on the scoresheet after coming off the bench.
Bristol City went down 1-0 at Sheffield United with Billy Sharp netting the Blades’ winner from the spot midway through the second half after Alfie Mawson had been sent off for handball.
Barnsley lost by the same score against Chelsea despite a brave display on Thursday night, Tammy Abraham netting the Blues’ winner.
Quarter-final draw: Everton v Manchester City, Bournemouth v Southampton, Leicester v Manchester City, Chelsea v Sheffield United. Ties to be played the weekend of March 20-21.