RIQUELME TO RESCUE
Sub salvages point for Cherries
RODRIGO RIQUELME’S first goal for Bournemouth denied Derby only their second win of the season.
The Rams, who could well be sold to Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan – a senior member of the Abu Dhabi royal family – this week, took a first- half lead through Graeme Shinnie.
But Riquelme (right), in his third appearance for the Cherries since joining them on loan from Atletico Madrid, struck late on to give Jason Tindall’s side their third 1-1 draw in four games.
Bournemouth dominated possession and arguably deserved a point, although Derby defended superbly for much of the game and will feel disappointed they couldn’t hold on.
Keeper David Marshall made very good saves to keep out Dominic Solanke and, twice, Arnaut
Danjuma. His side were only denied a late winner when Steve Cook bravely kept out Lee Buchanan’s piledriver on the goalline.
The old warrior looked like he’d been knocked into next week by the ferocity of the effort but, thankfully, he eventually dusted himself down and saw the game out.
Boss Tindall said: “It It was good defending. ng.
“It’s something omething we’ve seen Steve eve do time and again since nce his time at the football tball club, he’s a defender efender who puts uts his body on the line when he e needs to.”
He added: ded: “I was rea eal l ly pleased with the secondondhalf perforformance, e, pleased ed with the character, but we had to come out better in the second half because I was very disappointed with our first-half performance.
“We certainly got our reward for our second-half performance with our goal.”
Derby took the lead when Shinnie stabbed the ball home after Wayne Rooney’s Roon free-kick hit the Bou Bournemouth wall and was wa bundled into his path by Martyn Waghorn. Much of the first half took place in t the middle of the pitch and it wasn’t until stoppage tim time that Marshall was called calle upon to deny Solank Solanke from close range.
Aft After the break, Marsh Marshall got a fingertip to Da Danjuma’s effort to turn it on to a post and mom moments later he mad made another good save to deny the wing winger. Bournemouth keeper Asmir Begovic did well to stop Jason Knight’s stinging drive and, soon after, Diego Rico’s deep cross at the other end was met by substitute Riquelme and he volleyed home five minutes after coming on.
Buchanan was unlucky as Derby tried to retake the lead but Cook was in the right place to deny him.
Derby boss Cocu said: “We all know we are in a difficult situation but when they scored their goals, still we found the energy and belief to try to find a goal to win the game.
“We were really close but it was a remarkable save on the line with Steve Cook’s face.”
Begovic 6, Stacey 6 (Brooks 69, 6), Mepham 6, S Cook 7, Rico 7, Smith 7, Billing 6 (Riquelme 76), L Cook 6, Stanislas 6 (King 46, 6), Solanke 6, Danjuma 7.
Travers, Gosling, Surridge, Simpson.
Marshall 8, Te Wierik 6 (Wisdom 80), Davies 7, Clarke 7, Byrne 7, Knight 7, Shinnie 8, Buchanan 6, Waghorn 6 (Sibley 92), Lawrence 6, Rooney 6 (Holmes 61, 6).
Roos, Forsyth, Bielik, Kazim-Richards.
David Marshall. Tight call between him and Shinnie but edged it with three fine saves.
Robert Jones 7.