PARKER KIDS ARE ALRIGHT!
Bournemouth talent riding high
BoURNEMoUTH manager scott Parker heaped praise on his young stars after beating QPR to maintain their unbeaten start and climb to joint top of the Championship.
winger Jaidon anthony, 21, delivered a dazzling display in scoring and then teeing up Dominic solanke in the first half to seal the hosts’ fourth win of the campaign, despite sam McCallum’s goal offering the visitors hope.
Inexperienced keeper Mark Travers, 22, then stepped up with five vital late saves and with defender 21-year-old Jordan Zemura also shining, Parker was delighted to see his faith in youth repaid.
He said: ‘Jaidon works tirelessly for this team. He’s got big quality as well. I’m very, very pleased for Jaidon. He’s done so well in a short space of time.
‘It’s fair to say Jordan Zemura and Jaidon are players no-one thought would be where they are in our team yet they are pivotal to what we are doing.’
on Travers, he added: ‘He stood up for us tonight. He’s come a long way in a short space of time, he’s worked relentlessly. He’s kept us in the game and was big for us.’
Parker handed deadline-day signing Ryan Christie a full debut in midfield, but QPR dominated early on.
However, with 12 minutes played anthony stole the ball from Rob Dickie and raced clear to curl beyond seny Dieng and open the scoring against the run of play. with that, the Cherries took control.
Their patience was rewarded when a passing move was finished by solanke, who turned home anthony’s pinpoint low cross to double the lead on his 24th birthday.
QPR had hope when McCallum forced the ball home with 30 minutes left. But with Charlie austin missing due to a domestic situation and lyndon Dykes replaced before the hour by andre gray, Rangers lacked attacking threat.
In contrast, anthony received a standing ovation when he was withdrawn with 15 minutes left after contributing a goal and an assist. In his absence, it was Travers’ turn to take centre stage as the visitors cranked up the pressure.
The defence, marshalled impressively by gary Cahill, withstood waves of attacks while Chris Mepham made a vital late block.
when they were breached, Travers pushed away Jordy de wijs’s goalbound header and somehow denied gray in the final seconds to ensure Parker’s promising start continued.
QPR manager Mark warburton saw his own side’s unbeaten league start end, but he remained optimistic in the face of defeat.
‘They will learn from this result,’ said warburton. ‘Bournemouth are a very talented team. That we are sat here disappointed now shows we are making progress.’