WONDERFUL WILSON WILL HAVE TO PUT HIS HOLIDAYS ON HOLD
CALLUM WILSON would be well advised to hang fire on booking his post-season holiday for next summer. If the Bournemouth frontman continues this dazzling form, there’s no way Gareth Southgate won’t make him part of England’s tilt at UEFA Nations League glory. Luckily, northern Portugal is rather splendid in June and Wilson could well prove the ace up Southgate’s sleeve when they take on Holland, Portugal and Switzerland for the trophy. Wilson’s goal on his England debut against the United States last month only seems to have further boosted his confidence and his goal and assist here arrested Bournemouth’s recent slump. A thumping header early on set the tone before Wilson’s defence-splitting pass released Ryan Fraser for the second as the Cherries leapfrogged Everton, Manchester United and Leicester into sixth place. ‘They are both having very good seasons,’ said Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe of Wilson and Fraser. ‘I was pleased to see our attacking play look so dangerous.’ After four consecutive defeats, it was imperative Bournemouth seized the early initiative and that is precisely what they did. Fraser swung in a tempting free-kick delivery and Huddersfield’s defenders were statuesque as Wilson, Nathan Ake and Jefferson Lerma broke goal-side. Lerma was offside, but Wilson was played on by Mathias Jorgensen and planted a firm header past Jonas Lossl for the perfect start. The goal hauled
Wilson level with Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane on eight Premier League goals for the season, while Fraser’s seventh league assist set a season-high and a new club record for a Bournemouth top-flight campaign. Fraser is enjoying an outstanding season and is often at the heart of everything good Bournemouth produce. It’s not just the assists, the Scot is assured in front of goal, too, and he showed it on 22 minutes. Josh King carried the ball over half-way and fed Wilson, who had the presence of mind to know Fraser was steaming forward into acres of space to his left. Wilson’s pass took out the entire Huddersfield defence and Fraser finished with composure via a slight nick off Lossl’s leg. But that was it in terms of Bournemouth’s attacking threat. They spent the remainder of the game sitting back and, at times, clinging on as the league’s lowest scorers Huddersfield came back strongly. ‘We had the lead and just seemed to wobble,’ said Howe. ‘It was very unlike us to be without the ball for long periods.’ The visitors enjoyed two-thirds of possession and had 23 shots so justifiably felt they deserved at least a point as they continue to teeter just above the relegation zone. Asmir Begovic saved smartly from Alex Pritchard, Laurent Depoitre and Aaron Mooy before Kongolo threw them a lifeline before the break. Mooy crossed from the right and a game of head tennis involving Christopher Schindler and Jorgensen saw the ball break to Kongolo who rose to beat Begovic. In the second half, Mooy saw a strike blocked by Begovic’s legs but Bournemouth held firm, repelling cross after cross in the closing minutes. Huddersfield manager David Wagner said: ‘Defensively we gave away two easy goals, we gave Christmas presents away to Bournemouth and that is why we didn’t deserve to get anything out of this game.’
BOURNEMOUTH (4-3-3): Begovic 7.5; Francis 6, S Cook 6, Ake 6.5, Daniels 5; Brooks 5.5 (Stanislas 62mins, 6), L Cook 6, Lerma 6, Fraser 8 (Mousset 87); WILSON 8.5, King 7 (Mings 90). Subs not used: Boruc, Surman, Rico, Defoe. Scorers: Wilson 5, Fraser 22. Booked: Daniels, Francis, Mousset, L Cook. Manager: Eddie Howe 6.5. HUDDERSFIELD (3-5-1-1): Lossl 5; Jorgensen 6, Schindler 6, Kongolo 6.5 (Mbenza 75, 6); Hadergjonaj 7, Durm 6, Mooy 6.5, Hogg 6, Billing 6 (Sabiri 75, 6; Sobhi 78); Pritchard 7; Depoitre 6.5. Subs not used: Hamer, Smith, Kachunga, Williams. Scorers: Kongolo 38. Booked: Mooy, Billing. Manager: David Wagner 6. Referee: Roger East, 6.5. Attendance: 9,980