HOT CHERRIES ON TOP AGAIN
Tindall toasts bounceback
THE Championship cake is still taking shape but right now the Cherries are sitting on top of it.
Bournemouth leapfrogged Norwich into top spot after overcoming an improved Barnsley at Oakwell.
The Cherries fluffed their lines on Tuesday when they lost at home to Preston but manager Jason Tindall was delighted they did not repeat that mistake.
“We needed that,” he said. “But that’s the Championship as there is no time to rest.
“We had to deliver a good performance. Everyone was excellent in difficult conditions and we scored four good goals.”
Bournemouth striker Sam Surridge could have put his team in front in the first minute after beating goalkeeper Jack Walton to the ball, but he was off- target from a narrow angle.
At the other end, Asmir Begovic saved from Alex Mowatt and Mads Andersen. But there was an element of Premier League class as the Cherries went in front.
Adam Smith surged forward from right wing- back and slipped the ball into Philip Billing, who found the bottom corner from 20 yards for his first goal of the season.
But Barnsley continued to play some good football. Twice
Conor Chaplin slid dangerous balls across the six- yard line without a finish.
That came back to haunt them as Bournemouth doubled their lead with the last kick of the half. Dominic Solanke picked up Cauley Woodrow’s poor pass and advanced into the box to fire in. After struggling for goals in the top flight, this was a fourth in his last five games.
Diego Rico whipped in a great free- kick soon after the break and Surridge added the fourth. Tykes manager Valerien I Ismael said: “It was bad day for us, like the weather.
“Our mistakes destroyed our chance to win.”
BARNSLEY B ( 3- 4- 2- 1): Walton 6; Sollbauer 6, Helik 5 ( Halme 65), Andersen 6; Brittain B 6, Kane 5 ( Palmer 84), Mowatt 7, Styles 5 ( Thomas 59, 5); Adeboyejo 5 ( Oduor 59, 4), 4 Chaplin 6 ( Frieser 59, 4); Woodrow 5.
BOURNEMOUTH ( 3- 5- 2): Begovic 7; Mepham 6, S Cook 7, Kelly 6; Smith 7 ( Kilkenny 90), Brooks 6 ( Gosling 73), L Cook 8 ( Riquelme 82), Billing 7 ( Ofoborh 90), Rico 7; Surridge 7, Solanke 7 ( Anthony 73). Goals: Billing 12, Solanke 45, Rico 52, Surridge S 68.