Late goals from subs Enes Unal and Dango Ouattara saw AFC Bournemouth come form behind to claim a 2-1 victory over the Blues at Portman Road in the first ever top-flight meeting between the teams, Conor Chaplin having given Town the lead with his first Premier League goal in the first half. Chaplin netted on 21 to put the Blues, who are still waiting for their first home win this season, in front, but Unal levelled on 87 and Ouattara grabbed the winner five minutes into injury time.

Town made five changes from the team which lost 1-0 at home to Crystal Palace on Tuesday with Jack Taylor handed his first Premier League start.

The midfielder, who had previously made nine appearances off the bench, came in for Jens Cajuste, who dropped to the bench alongside Kalvin Phillips, evidently not considered ready to start following his ankle injury.

Cameron Burgess returned at centre-half and Ben Johnson at right-back with Jacob Greaves out of the 20-man squad and Harry Clarke among the subs, both having started against the Eagles.

Chaplin came back into the XI as the number 10 with Omari Hutchinson moving to the right and Sammie Szmodics on the left. Wes Burns and Jack Clarke dropped to the bench.

The Cherries made one change from the team which beat Tottenham 1-0 on Thursday with Lewis Cook replacing Tyler Adams in central midfield.

There was controversy in the opening seconds when Justin Kluivert swung an arm into Sam Morsy’s face as the Town skipper ran past him off the ball as the centre was being taken. Play was stopped but neither referee Michael Salisbury nor VAR official Paul Tierney saw the challenge as worthy of censure. It was difficult to see what Kluivert was trying to do other than make deliberate contact with the Town captain.

Once play had got back under way, the Blues started more positively than in recent matches, winning an early corner which Taylor nodded back across goal and Liam Delap headed across the face and well wide.

However, the Cherries began to take charge and went close to opening the scoring in the eighth minute. Antoine Semenyo played Milos Kerkez in on the left of the box and the Hungarian international sent a ball across the six-yard box which Marcus Tavernier somehow failed to connect with at the far post.

Town were next to threaten, Delap playing a pass forward for Szmodics to chase but visitors’ keeper Kepa was able to claim ahead of the Irish international.

On 12, Delap was shown the game’s first yellow card for a late tackle on Illia Zabarnyi, not the first foul referee Salisbury had given against the Town striker, who is now on four Premier League bookings for the season.

Two minutes later, with rain now falling very heavily, the Blues passed their way out from the back with Chaplin eventually crossing from the right and Zabarnyi turning behind after Szmodics had been unable to get a touch.

Following the corner, Taylor shot wide from the edge of the box, then on 17 Szmodics was cautioned for a late tackle on Adam Smith as Bournemouth attacked after play had continued and the Blues had won a corner at the other end.

In the wake of that flag-kick, Johnson and Hutchinson exchanged passes on the right before the ex-Chelsea man sent over a cross which Burgess powerfully headed onto the roof of the net.

As the game moved towards the 20-minute mark, with the Blues on top, Hutchinson looped an effort over from outside the area after a Leif Davis long throw on the left.

And a minute later, another throw from former Cherries loanee Davis on the left led to Town’s opening goal.

Burgess challenged with defenders at the near post, Dara O’Shea, wearing a bandage following his clash of heads on Tuesday, battled for the next ball, which fell back to the Australian international. Burgess shaped to shoot, but cut back to Chaplin, who hit across Kepa and into the corner of the net to claim his first Premier League goal.

Both Chaplin and the Portman Road crowd, which was already making significant noise, were elated, the Blues having netted first in a game for the first time since the victory over Spurs a month ago.

Town looked to make their lead pay and on 26 won another corner, which the Cherries failed to deal with and Taylor was able to strike a shot from just inside the box which took a deflection and Kepa did well to palm wide to his right.

From that flag-kick, the Blues had the ball in the net again, Burgess getting above Cook and the ball going in off one or other of them. Referee Salisbury, who had managed to irk both sets of fans in the opening half an hour, immediately gave a free-kick, apparently indicating a foul by the Town defender. VAR upheld the decision, although for a foul by Delap on keeper Kepa.

Bournemouth were next to threaten in a game which was living up to Town manager Kieran McKenna’s expectations that it would be an open affair. After some loose passing at the back by the Blues, Kluivert was able to stab it out to Tavernier on the right, going to ground as he did so. The former Middlesbrough man shot across Aro Muric but off the Kosovan’s right post and to safety.

VAR subsequently took a look at whether Kluivert had been fouled but there appeared no contact from O’Shea as he missed both player and ball with his kick and the Dutch international seeming to have collided with Burgess in the aftermath. Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola was booked soon afterwards for his protests.

The Cherries, who had been on top since the disallowed goal, were presented with a golden opportunity to level in the 36th minute when Town skipper Morsy lost his footing a third of the way inside the Blues’ half. Kluivert had a free run at goal but Burgess caught up with him and slid in to make a perfect challenge as the former Ajax and Roma man was about to unleash his shot.

Burgess and O’Shea were once again putting in solid displays at the back, the former Accrington man heading a Semenyo cross behind in the 38th minute.

Two minutes later, Evanilson flicked a header over at the near post with the Blues under pressure. On 43, Semenyo scraped a shot wide from the edge of the area after Town had again lost possession.

The Blues were able to escape a minute later, but Szmodics’s effort from the edge of the area was too close to Kepa, who claimed comfortably.

After Evanilson had been fortunate not to be shown a yellow card after going in on Muric as the keeper claimed the ball, the Blues saw out the rest of the three additional minutes.

Town had started more brightly in previous recent games before the visitors came more into it. However, the Blues got back on top again and were regularly creating half-chances if not chances and deserved their goal when it came.

After the correctly disallowed goal, it had been almost all Bournemouth with the Blues grateful that Tavernier’s shot struck the post and for Burgess’s superbly timed challenge.

The second half began in much the same manner as the first had ended with the visitors on top but making errors in and around the box.

They struck their first effort since the break on 52, Cook blasting well into the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand from the edge of the area from a Kluivert cutback after a Tow defender had slipped.

Two minutes later, a clever Szmodics flick sent Davis away on the left, the full-back winning a corner.

At the other end, Morsy allowed Semenyo to get round the back on the touchline as he looked to see the ball out but Kluivert scuffed the Ghana international’s cross in completely the wrong direction.

A minute later, Evanilson got in behind to the left and drew Muric but couldn’t find the space to get in a shot and Burgess was able to clear.

Hutchinson briefly relieved the pressure with a run forward with the ball before losing possession but Town were quickly back under pressure, Chaplin relieving the situation a little with what looked a tactical injury break.

The visitors made their first changes on 63, Kluivert and Tavernier making way for by Enes Unal and Dango Ouattara.

Delap, who had looked either injured or tired, played a great ball through for Szmodics soon afterwards, but a defender’s toe intervened. Then, after a lengthy spell of Town possession, rare since the break, Delap slammed a Morsy pass against a defender.

But it was still mainly Bournemouth and on 67, Unal sent a header well wide from a Dean Huijsen cross from the left.

Town created their first big chance of the half in the 71st minute, Delap playing in Szmodics on the right of the area but Kepa batted it away.

The Blues were starting to get more of a foothold in the game, Delap laying the ball to Szmodics in the area on 72 but this time the former Colchester man’s shot was blocked.

A minute later, Taylor won a free-kick on the left and a loose ball fell to Chaplin on the volley but the earlier scorer’s effort was blocked. In the aftermath, there was an appeal for a handball against a Cherries player but the claims came to nothing.

Bournemouth, perhaps starting to show the effects of Thursday’s game, made two further changes on 74, David Brooks and Philip Billing taking over from Evanilson and Smith.

Four minutes later, Delap, who looked to be suffering with an ankle problem, lost out midway inside the Town half and eventually Semenyo hit a shot from the left of the box which Muric bundled behind to his right.

Semenyo subsequently underwent treatment for a knock and while that was happening the Blues swapped Szmodics and Delap for Jack Clarke and Ali Al-Hamadi.

The Iraq international was quickly into the action, winning a throw on the right, from which Town created an opportunity. After Bournemouth had half-cleared, Taylor looped it back in to Chaplin, who worked the room to hit an effort which struck Huijsen and went past the post. Referee Salisbury awarded a goal-kick.

The Blues had Burgess to thank once again a minute later as Bournemouth broke forward three against two. Semenyo looked to find the unmarked Unal with a pass but Burgess got in the way.

Town had defended staunchly, but as at Brentford and at home to Leicester weren’t able to hold out for the full 90 plus time added on.

On 87, sub Ouattara was played in on the left and broke into the area before lifting it over Muric, who had advanced well out of his goal. Burgess attempted to hook away at the far post but could only waft it against Unal, which was enough to divert it over the line. VAR took a look but saw no infringements.

The Blues swapped Taylor and Hutchinson for Cajuste and Burns as they looked to restore their advantage.

But it was Bournemouth seeing most of the ball and in the third of six additional minutes, Billing looped over from distance following a corner.

And in the 95th minute, the Cherries won it. After a sweeping move from left to right, Semenyo played in Billing to his right. The German cut back to Brooks, the Wales international’s shot was blocked but fell to Ouattara, who smashed home from close range. The travelling fans had a few moments of nervousness before VAR confirmed the goal.

There was no time for Town to hit back and the final whistle confirmed the Blues’ third defeat - all by a single goal - in a row.

This was the most frustrating of all, Town having got their noses in front and having had subsequent spells on top and opportunities to add to their lead.

However, at the same time, they had had to dig very deep into their defensive reserves and had ridden their luck at times to maintain their lead.

When the first Bournemouth goal finally came, it was unfortunate for Burgess in particular, who had had an outstanding game.

Both were poor goals to concede from a Town perspective with the Blues’ lack of experienced options off the bench once again looking to have been a factor with manager McKenna presumably ideally wanting to make changes earlier in the half.

Town, who remain 18th, still await their first home win and concerns regarding the Blues’ prospects for the season grow, two home games which may have viewed as more winnable having yielded no points.

A visit to similarly struggling Wolves follows next week before an even tougher run of games over Christmas.

Town: Muric, Johnson, Burgess, O’Shea, Davis, Morsy, Taylor (Cajuste 91), Hutchinson (Burns 91), Chaplin, Szmodics (J Clarke 80), Delap (Al-Hamadi 80). Unused: Walton, H Clarke, Phillips, Townsend, Broadhead.

AFC Bournemouth: Kepa, Smith (Billing 74), Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez, Cook, Christie, Kluivert (Ouattara 64), Semenyo, Tavernier (Unal 64), Evanilson (Brooks 74). Unused: Dennis, Travers, Hill, Aarons, Kinsey. Referee: Michael Salisbury (Preston). VAR official: Paul Tierney. Att: 29,180 (Bournemouth: 2,144).

Photo: Reuters

Suffolkboy added 16:42 - Dec 8 Very plainly we are struggling with the intensity of PL ,and not yet quite able to consistently or comfortably see out the last 15/20 mins of the game . By the same token we simply don’t get the ball into the opposition net often enough ,and ‘near miss’ chances will get us nowhere and no sympathy . The week in week out consistency of critique of AM cannot be ignored; they cannot all be wrongful assessments . I don’t believe KM will have any qualms about making changes/ adjustments but some recruitment is obviously necessary ,especially with the injuries which are depleting our flexibility and options all over the pitch and system . We shall see who stays ,who goes and whether prospects can be improved ; luck might change ,but that’s not a factor over which we’ve any control ! KM will be so so disappointed — as are we all ! COYB

7

TimmyH added 16:44 - Dec 8 The fact is we just don't have the quality in areas of the pitch...some have made the step up or not far off it but others have been found wanting. At least Burns contributed today at last off the bench - he played the goal scorer on for their winner. Beaten by a side which had 2 days less to prepare but they might have needed even less...
3

oioihardy added 16:45 - Dec 8 It's just 1 level too far for the team , we struggle to manage the quality of play towards the end of game .... We went up 1 season too early I believe But I have to say what a performance from big cam , he was a brick wall . He was the stand out for me Chappers had a good game too Tbf I actually don't think we played badly that game we just can't see a game out in the prem because of that extra bit of quality other teams have

9

Phil1969 added 16:45 - Dec 8 It’s really difficult to be critical considering where we have come from over past seasons, but we have to stop patting ourselves on the back, attending overseas conferences, speaking about structural development and focus everyone on how we stay up. Rebound post relegation isn’t a given history tells us.
8

martin587 added 16:46 - Dec 8 Time for changes now.Keeper just not good enough and is costing us points almost every game.For me Burgess excellent but the rest very mediocre.Once again bad substitution timing and just like for like changes.For once I’m beginning to worry about decisions made from the bench. I hate to be critical but this is a tough league.We battled hard to get here and now it could slip away.I have faith but we just cannot keep making school boy errors.This comes from the heart buts that’s how I feel at the moment completely and utterly dejected.Sorry.

16

TimmyH added 16:47 - Dec 8 Seriously what is it with posters saying we went up 1 season too soon!?!...we still would have needed to buy Premier like quality or spend big once we were up, it wouldn't have made any difference how quick we got promoted!
5

Westy added 16:48 - Dec 8 Wasn't able to make the game today but just seen the highlights. Muric has to be dropped - very good at the one to one's and the reaction saves but his decision making is so costly. The players will of course put on a united public face and rightly so but no one will convince me that the players have faith in Muric any more - everyone is just waiting for his next mistake. Given our perilous position it will be difficult to attract players. Think Walton should be given his chance now. The best we can hope is that we prove the best of the bottom four but with Newcastle, Arsenal and Chelsea later this month we are at serious risk of being cut adrift.

14

ImAbeliever added 16:48 - Dec 8 Naivety personified. Not happy. 2 mistakes.
4

EssexTractor added 16:48 - Dec 8 The truth today Our best player Cameron Burgess Followed by Conor Chaplin and Jack Taylor From where League One …to be sorry for all three that behind them was unfortunately a Joke Keeper.. He must be replaced ..simple as that . Even before his error there is fear in supporters hearts that something fearful is about to happen The Premier League is fearful No easy games at all but where there is a chance no good to have a passenger between the sticks Kieron you must act now .

12

chepstowblue added 16:53 - Dec 8 What is quite worrying is that I'm lead to believe from other forums that Forest,Palace and now Bournemouth have turned in their poorest performances of the season to date against us. A harrowing thought.
3

aas1010 added 16:53 - Dec 8 Drop muric Walton In. Another striker needed !
7

oioihardy added 17:00 - Dec 8 Just to clarify by the comment 1 season too soon... as I saw someone moaning about me using it which is rather funny ... is that we could in championship if we stayed 1 more season buy a bit more quality for the bench before we took the step up to the prem , as our squad in general is very lightweight in that extra bit of class for the prem
5

Lukeybluey added 17:02 - Dec 8 I like everybody have great admiration and respect for Sam Morsy, but I do think we need someone in there who can pass with one touch and be more decisive and not take 2, 3, 4 touches on the ball before passing... imo I would like us to start Taylor and Cajuste, or Phillips and Cajuste. Muric I would drop for Walton...currently watching the Spurs Chelsea game, and its uncanny how similar Sanchez and Muric are... I dont know whether we would sign another goalie in January...? We do need better attacking mids to come on to change games when not going well. Play Broadhead more.. And we do look exposed constantly at the back, I dont know whether that due to the midfield or defence...? Would we be better off playing a strict 343 or 541...? because the tactics we play dont seem to be sustainable for the whole 90 minutes in the prem.

4

bignics added 17:09 - Dec 8 Two things cost us today firstly weak subs I don’t think you can make one decent premier league player out of Burns, Clarke and Alhamadi combined. Second is McKenna being a one trick pony, Bournemouth changed things and went gung-ho putting a centre back up front how did we react to their changes and the huge spaces their changes made…. Er we didn’t just carried on the same regardless yes Muric was at fault but McKenna is costing us more. Alhamadi level is clearly league 2

5

SickParrot added 17:10 - Dec 8 Now only one win and nine points from 15 games, including no wins, four points and six goals scored in eight home games. It looks like we'll be going straight back down to the Championship. Most fans felt that our promotion to the Premier League may have come too soon, and I think it's now clear that we are out of our depth. Except for when we beat a below bar Spurs side, it doesn't seem to matter how well we play - we still don't win. Muric is costing us a goal in the majority of games, and the standard is so high that most of our other mistakes are punished too. We obviously need to strengthen in January but we may well be too far adrift by then to save ourselves. A win at Wolves is now vital but unlikely.

5

timbousa added 17:12 - Dec 8 5 clearly glass half-full thoughts... 1) I'd still prefer to watch them capitulate to Bournemouth today rather than playing Fleetwood. 2) Can't fault effort, but this is a really hard league. Look at what Forest and Palace did with United and City at the weekend. There are no Rotherham's any more. 3) It's such a different defense with Tuanzebe in it, clearly. However, O'Shea and Burgess are coming into their own. Less goals conceded than Brentford and only six less than Man City! 4) Could have been a different result in the past three games with Hirst and Ogbene from the bench. Or even a fully fit Kelvin Philipps to steady the ship. Ship out a few players on loan to make room and pick up some players from Arsenal, Chelsea in the winter? 5) Er .... that's all I've got.

5

Help added 17:12 - Dec 8 Minimum 2 things wrong today. Substitutions far to late. You could see Delap was gone after 60 minutes. Also should have made all 4 at the same time and earlier. Again Kieran making his subs to late and making poor decisions Muric. If Kieran picks him for the next game it will show that no matter what he does he is still in the team. The same mistake for two games running. His decision making is poor. A hot head of a keeper who is costing us games and points. I also think that there a number of our old players who are better than those we have brought in. Chappers in the middle with omari and sam s out wide is so much better than omari in the middle. Chappers scored a typical Chappers goal and we have missed him. Morsy is and was today caught in possession to often. Burgess was immense and we could have been behind in the first half if it were not for him. O'Shea his passing was awful today I dont think one single pass went to a Town player. Johnson was like watching H Clarke last year, getting beat with balls over the top time after time. Taylor, I thought he panicked every time he had the ball. T quick, not composed and just passed it to someone else as quickly as possible. Delap needs to stop trying to do everything himself and look up. at least the last two games whereby a pass was on to Leif and he tried to do it himself. Also control the ball first, then try the fancy stuff. Omari held onto the ball too long at times. Can we please go back to playing simple football, 1-2 touches controlled to feet and passing it around the opposition. We have now resorted to hoofing the ball from the keeper or even O'Shea up field. Something Kieran hated. So what does that tell you. He and the players are no longer confident to play it out anymore. Should never has lost that game, but for once again poor decision making

6

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 17:18 - Dec 8 It is what it is. COYB!
7

papashango87 added 17:19 - Dec 8 The amount of fans writing the team off before we are even half way through the season is criminal. Probably the same ones who wrote us off last season when we had a spell of draws in the middle of last season. It’s the problem with football in general now, at every level, Sunday league teams can’t get players because nobody wants to play if you lose a few games. Town were always going to have a tough season, you’re not much of a fan if you write them off this early. You’ve got no faith in the side or players improving. You’ve got zero fighting spirit. You’re absolutely pathetic, i feel sorry for the club. embarrassing to read the comments, god help you if you get any problems in your lives. Samaritans will be rushed off their feet

4

hyperbrit added 17:23 - Dec 8 Town is just not ready for this league yet including McK
3

gkroon89 added 17:26 - Dec 8 Papashango87 naivety can be dangerous also. People are entitled to their own opinions. Calling other fans pathetic is pretty pathetic in itself. Time will tell what happens this season. Fingers crossed we don’t, but could just be that step too far. We also are not beating teams down there with us, so I am not sure people are necessarily wrong to be concerned.
7

ArnieM added 17:28 - Dec 8 Just got in to learn we’ve actually conspired to lose the bloody game. It was 1-1 when I left on 92min ( recent knee replacement means I’m leaving a few mins before the masses), so, after that bloody CLOWN Muric once again does his headless chicken impersonation to gift the opposition a goal. Just WHEN is McKenna going to grow a pair and drop this bloody liability?? For the love of god man, DROP HIM! Once again we more than match a PL opponent, yet time and again failing to convert our chances that go begging. For the first time this season, I felt we had an attack that might prove too much for the opposition, as McKenna FINALLY plays Szmodics, Chaplin and Omari behind Delap…. On the subject of Delap, he clearly has zero endurance as can barely reach 60 mins in a game. It was obvious his legs had gone yet it wasn’t until 80 mins that McKenna brings on fresh legs, given those subs just 15 mins in a game. What is the problem McKenna, can’t you SEE what 30k Town fans can see? We need a striker in the window with experience, we need another Keeper in if he isn’t going to play Walton, and also another defender, as I’m not sure how long Axel is going to be out, and we have nothing str9mg enough on the bench. But McKenna needs to up HIS game now … so questionable decisions by him most weeks now. Last week his playing Greaves cost us that game too, when he clearly isn’t match fit.

8

bluebullet29l added 17:28 - Dec 8 Burgess the only player who put a shift in today and maybe chaplin....and as for Jack clarke...weak.....you might as well of brought my gran on and she's dead. Going down and it could be with a record low points tally.
0

Karlosfandangal added 17:34 - Dec 8 That’s the problem with the Prem After 10 games the season is over, top 6 the same every year same teams mid table and the 3 that came up at the bottom. After 10 games it looked like Town might not make it after 15 Town are down. Ipswich,Wolves and Southampton Down, only teams I felt we would catch were Leicester C Palace. Man U Everton and West Ham have enough to stay up. Leicester and C Palace keep picking up points like today and yesterday so no hope. Great last 2 seasons so enjoy the Prem ride as a rebuild next season in the Championship as most of the players will be gone and so will KmK

4

positivity added 17:36 - Dec 8 you've got to wonder how some on here would cope with being southampton fans. half the points despite being in the premier league 2 years ago (compared with 22 years ago). yes, it's tough in the prem, but we're still in with a chance with less than half of the games played. what were you all expecting?!
5

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls