Moore looks like he’s right at home by the seaside
HELP fire Wales to their first World Cup in 64 years: tick. Get engaged to your long-term partner: tick. Score your first Premier League goal: tick.
It’s been a fairytale summer for Kieffer Moore, who completed a remarkable personal rise to earn Bournemouth a dream start to life back in the big time.
Ten years ago this week, the giant striker had to book Saturdays off from his job as a lifeguard to play for Truro City in England’s sixth tier. It’s quite fitting, then, that boss Scott Parker’s message to players was to not sink under the pressure and to take this chance of playing in the world’s best division.
Moore’s cushioned header came nearly 80 minutes after
Jefferson Lerma had given Bournemouth the lead, as the Cherries recorded a shock win over big-spending Aston Villa.
Parker had voiced his frustrations at just three signings and £10million spent this summer. ‘We’re way short of where we need to be,’ he said last week.
And though this was a perfect start, in a perfectly balanced performance, he is still realistic.
‘We need to make the squad deeper if we are to fight,’ he said. ‘We’re going into the hardest and most-financed league in the world so we know the challenge.
‘It’s been a long, hard road to get to this point and we needed to make sure we didn’t let that slip away. This is a young side, with little Premier League experience, so the constant message is for the players to take this chance and not let it sink us.’
It’s no surprise to see a promoted club start quickly but still, Bournemouth’s fast-and-furious approach seemed to stun the home crowd — as well as Villa’s defenders.
Bournemouth seemed to be first to every loose ball, including one after a corner that saw Lerma fire home with just one minute and 52 seconds on the clock.
Vitality Stadium is by far the smallest in the division but, as many big clubs will recall from the Cherries’ last stint in the top flight, it is a raucous little ground and tricky to visit.
‘I want us to be horrible to play against and I want every team to come here and really work for any points,’ added Parker.
His side continued to threaten and Dominic Solanke came close but it was their defensive resilience which was noticeable.
With just three centre-halves at the club after eight first-team players left this summer — including experienced Gary Cahill — Lerma had to slot into a back three.
He was outstanding, as was Lloyd Kelly, in keeping Danny Ings
— and later substitute Ollie Watkins — quiet.
Philippe Coutinho started on the left for Villa but Steven Gerrard moved him central in the second half to impact the game. It didn’t work, with the Brazilian ineffective. Leon Bailey, owned by one in five fantasy football managers, and Emi Buendia both also failed to have any impact.
Asked if he leaves with more questions than answers, Gerrard replied: ‘100 per cent, yes, it’s a good question. We had a lot of possession and control but suffered from a lack of quality.’
Boubacar Kamara was another brought in for big money and his most noticeable moments were when he barked in anger at team-mates for a lack of movement off the ball.
Villa were lethargic and did not have a chance of note. ‘We never had enough shots, we didn’t cross it well enough or show invention,’ added Gerrard.