Parker: That was a big result
SCOTT Parker was happy to see his faltering Bournemouth side eek out the points in tough conditions at lowly Barnsley.
Philip Billing struck the only goal of the game, with team-mate Gary Cahill dismissed in the closing stages for a second booking.
Boss Parker said: “Overall it was a big result for us. We needed to come here and win the game first and foremost.
“It’s been a big week for us in terms of self-reflection and an understanding of what we need to go about.
“It was tough conditions, obviously the wind and then the actual pitch, but that’s what it is, that’s what this league is about.”
On the red card, he added: “He’s not been helped by the pass; he’s committed and caught the boy. I thought he was brilliant today, though.”
Billing had the first chance of the game, meeting a loose ball with his head around six yards out, when his attempt looped over the crossbar.
Bournemouth came close once again eight minutes in, Ryan Christie ran the ball to the byline and pulled it back for Dominic Solanke, who scuffed his effort and the ball went wide.
It took 12 minutes for Bournemouth to take the lead. Barnsley keeper Brad Collins found himself in noman’s land and missed a loose ball on the edge of the box. The ball found Solanke, who crossed into the box and Billing was there to head home.
Barnsley’s first real opportunity took 26 minutes to come. The ball fell to Aaron Leya Iseka on the left-hand side of the penalty area and he forced a good save from Mark Travers. Solanke and Billing linked up again with ten minutes left in the half. Solanke flicked the ball on with his head and Billing fired wide.
Barnsley had the first chance of the second half when the ball fell to Devante Cole inside the box. He got a shot off and forced Travers to make a good save.
Bournemouth’s Cahill managed to meet the ball from a corner, however his header was tame and easily caught by Collins.
Debutant Aiden Marsh had an effort from range with his first touch of the game, after coming on, striking the ball cleanly from around 25 yards out, but his shot went straight to Travers.
Bournemouth went down to ten men after 88 minutes when Cahill, who was already on a yellow card, was sent off following a rash challenge on Cole around 30 yards from his own goal.
Barnsley head coach Ferran Sibila said: “It’s really frustrating. It’s up to us as a team, as coaches, as a club to try to create the chances. The worrying thing would be if we did not create any chances.
“We were playing one of the best teams in the league, we had to play on the wings. Our focus now is getting players back, we have a lot of players out of the squad.
“It was very difficult with the wind. You could see that lots of players were having moments of indecision in the game.”