Farke’s men tough it out but Godfrey feels strain

AS GOALLESS draws go, this one fell into the unlikely category.

Two of the Premier League’s leakier defences and without a league clean sheet between them at kick-off... goals should have been guaranteed at the Vitality Stadium.

Against the odds, however, Bournemouth and Norwich found defensive resilience.

This was a significantly better point for Norwich, who saw their last fit centre-half, Ben Godfrey, join a lengthy list of injured stars and ended with midfielders Ibrahim Amadou and Alex Tettey in defence.

The Canaries avoided defeat on the road for the first time this season and their defensive response was exactly what Daniel Farke would have wanted after conceding five at home to Aston Villa.

Boss Farke said: ‘It’s definitely a great point without any doubts. First away points at this level and first clean sheet under your belt is always difficult but important and we did this.

‘I’ve been working pretty long in this game but never had a situation where I’ve been without four centre-backs, without three holding midfielders and two goalkeepers.

‘As a newlypromoted side not able to spend lots of money, everything has to work.

‘You always have to be perfect in order to be competitive at this level and to handle such a situation after a match like Aston Villa, when the outcome is not what you wish for, a really difficult result, I can’t praise the lads enough.’

Bournemouth, meanwhile, continue to struggle for home wins and now have just one from six matches on their own turf.

Manager Eddie Howe said: ‘I was pleased with the first 15 minutes. We played some really good football and it looked like we had a really good mentality to the game but it didn’t really get any better than that.

‘We became quite desperate to score and in our desperation to score we put a lot of aerial crosses into the box which never really suits us. We are much better when we are a little bit more intricate and patient.

‘The most disappointing thing from our perspective is that [in the] second half we didn’t really grab the game and pen them in.

‘It’s a clean sheet and another point in the right direction. Not the three we wanted but also not a defeat at the same time. People will see we played Norwich at home and the expectation is for it to be a home win but games are never that easy. They are a tough nut to crack and were for us.’

Both teams were, in fact. There was just one shot on target between the two sides in the first half, from Dominic Solanke who was denied by the fit-again Tim Krul after being put through by Callum Wilson on his 100th Premier League appearance for Bournemouth.

The second half was livelier as the game opened up but there were only two more attempts that forced each keeper into a save. Bournemouth’s Aaron Ramsdale produced a brilliant stop low down to his right to deny Teemu Pukki a seventh league goal and a first since Norwich’s stunning win over Manchester City.

‘A world class save,’ Farke said.

For Bournemouth substitute winger Arnaut Danjuma tested Krul with a low effort that the Dutchman did well to hold.

Norwich reorganised and held on for a point after the 50thminute loss of Godfrey. He had flown to Germany for a hernia operation, missing England Under-21 duty in the process, in order to be fit to face Bournemouth.

Farke said: ‘We have to wait what the outcome is. If I’m honest it was a bit too early. Hernia surgery 10 days ago and he had just one session with the team. But it was worth taking the risk because he was top class in the first 50 minutes and it was important to have him on the pitch.

‘He felt some pain again and I think it is just because his body was getting tired after having just one session with us.

‘I hope it is not a big setback. I hope to have him available for Man United but we have to wait and see what the outcome is.’