Nathan Broadhead’s first Premier League goal and Liam Delap’s 11th goal of the season saw the Blues to a 2-1 victory over AFC Bournemouth, reducing the gap to safety to nine points. Broadhead gave the Blues the lead after good work from Julio Enciso in the 34th minute, Delap smashed in the second on the hour, before Evanilson pulled one back for the Cherries, but Town held on to claim their first Premier League win of 2025.

Town boss Kieran McKenna made six changes, some enforced, with Axel Tuanzebe, Cameron Burgess, Ben Johnson, Sam Morsy, Broadhead and Conor Townsend returning to the XI.

Tuanzebe was back on the right of the defence following his hamstring injury and hand operation with Dara O’Shea moving into the middle and Luke Woolfenden dropping to the bench.

Burgess replaced Jacob Greaves at left centre-half with the former Hull City man among the subs.

Townsend was handed his second Premier League start for the Blues at left-back with Leif Davis absent from the squad.

Skipper Morsy was back in midfield with Kalvin Phillips on the bench, despite requiring more than 20 stitches to a foot injury following the Nottingham Forest match 17 days ago.

Ben Johnson was wide on the right with Enciso, making his 50th Premier League appearance, on the left and Broadhead in the middle. Omari Hutchinson missed out on a place in the squad due to a knock, while Jaden Philogene was a sub.

Liam Delap was the out-and-out striker with Conor Chaplin back on the bench for the first time this year following his knee injury.

Bournemouth were without top scorer Justin Kluivert with Alex Scott one of five players coming into the team which lost 2-1 at home to Manchester City in the FA Cup on Sunday.

Defenders Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez returned from suspension, while skipper Adam Smith was also back in the team. Lewis Cook was in midfield, while Dango Ouattara started for David Brooks, who joined Marcos Senesi, Tyler Adams and Julior Soler on the bench.

The home side saw most of the ball in the early stages but without being able to threaten Alex Palmer’s goal. On 11, a corner on the right was played short to Ryan Christie but his cross failed to find a teammate.

Two minutes later, after Johnson had been harshly adjudged to have committed a foul by the corner flag on the left, Smith sent over a free-kick which O’Shea flicked behind for a corner.

From the flag-kick, the ball fell to Ouattara on the right of the box from where he sought to cut back towards Scott but O’Shea reacted quickly to get in the way and turn behind.

On 20, Johnson’s cross from the right deflected through into Cherries keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga’s arms too far in front of Delap.

Three minutes later, with the home side having continued to see most of the ball, Ouattara curled a left-footed effort from the right wide of the far post.

In the 24th minute, Burgess flicked on a ball from the right to Ensico on the edge of the box. The Paraguayan seemed hesitant as it arrived and when it came his shot hit Smith. In the aftermath, the ball bounced onto Scott’s arm just outside the area but referee Robert Jones missed it, much to the frustration of the Town players and manager McKenna on the touchline.

On 28, with the Blues beginning to get a foothold in the game, Enciso sent an effort from distance over the bar.

Four minutes later, Antoine Semenyo unleashed a low effort through to Palmer, which the keeper claimed comfortably.

However, the Blues immediately played themselves into trouble, Palmer and Morsy gifting the ball to Christie, who quickly moved it inside to Scott in the box but O’Shea was on hand to block on the line with the keeper beaten.

It was a fortunate escape for Town but within a minute they went in front. Enciso, who was becoming increasingly influential, brought the ball across from the left past a number of defenders before feeding Broadhead on the right of the box. The Wales international sent Huijsen to the shops with a clever feint, then confidently put the ball between Kepa’s legs and into the net for his first Premier League goal.

A VAR check looked at whether Broadhead had been offside but the goal was confirmed and once the game restarted Enciso continued to look Town’s main threat.

On 37, the on-loan Brighton attacker wafted a cross from the left towards Johnson at the far post and only just failed to find the ex-West Ham man.

Four minutes later, Cook shot wide from the edge of the box, then, in the 42nd minute, Broadhead played into the path of Jens Cajuste breaking into the area but the Swedish international’s shot from a promising position flew well over.

After one uneventful additional minute, it was the Town supporters who cheered the half-time whistle.

The home side had begun the game the stronger but without particularly threatening in the opening 25 minutes.

The Blues began to come more into it as the half-hour approached with Enciso, in a narrow right-sided role, more involved in the game, running at the Cherries midfield and backline.

And - after Bournemouth had spurned their best chance of the half from a Blues mistake - the Paraguayan created Town’s excellent goal, Broadhead finishing with more confidence than you’d imagine for someone who last scored a year and a day ago in the famous 3-2 win against Southampton at Portman Road.

Ahead of the restart, Bournemouth swapped Smith for Tyler Adams, while the Blues stuck with the same personnel.

The Cherries were first to threaten after the break, Scott hitting a well-struck 25-yard effort which Palmer did well to flip over the bar. Tuanzebe had been caught by a stray arm in the build-up and looked hurt before carrying on.

In the 50th minute, Christie hit a low effort through to Palmer, who claimed down to his left.

Bournemouth were dominating possession but with the Blues looking to break but with passes going astray as they were getting into threatening positions.

On 55, the ball was headed out from under the Town bar following a corner, then Tuanzebe got his head in in front of Illia Zabarnyi from Christie’s cross from the right. The ball still wasn’t clear but Ouattara shot into the side-netting from a tight angle on the right.

Christie was injured during that passage of play and was replaced by Senesi and Brooks took over from Scott.

As the game reached the hour mark Ouattara blazed deep, deep, deep into the stand behind the goal, before the Blues doubled their lead.

Delap played in Townsend on the left of the box and the former West Brom man cut back to the Town striker, who smashed his 11th goal of the season very powerfully past Kepa before the Cherries glovesman could move.

A minute after going two goals in front, there was a big scare for the Blues. Tuanzebe clipped Semenyo’s heel as the former Bristol City man broke into the area on the left and referee Jones awarded a penalty.

However, VAR took a second look and the contact was clearly outside the box and a free-kick, which came to nothing, was given instead.

The Blues weren’t far away from a third goal in the 67th minute when Enciso looped a header over the bar from a corner.

But within a minute, the Cherries pulled a goal back. A cross from the left flicked off Johnson and fell to Cook, whose shot was saved down to his right by Palmer. However, the keeper wasn’t able to hold on and Evanilson found the net to make it 2-1.

On 72, O’Shea headed powerfully wide at the near post from a corner on the left with the Irishman clearly believing he should have done better.

Ahead of the restart, Town swapped Delap, Broadhead and Enciso for George Hirst, Jack Taylor and Jack Clarke. Soon after the changes, Townsend was booked for a foul on Evanilson.

Semenyo shot just wide after the ball had ricocheted to him 25 yards out with Bournemouth taking the game to Town and the Blues looking to break, while keeper Palmer’s relaxed approach to taking goal-kicks was annoying the home support.

As the game entered its final 10 minutes, Clarke won a corner on the left, then after Kepa had claimed it, Morsy stole the ball back and Clarke teed-up Taylor, who shot over.

Before the game restarted, Morsy was replaced by Phillips, the Egyptian international bowing down to pray before leaving the field, again irking the Cherries support.

Huijsen was booked for a foul on Clarke in the 84th minute as the former Sunderland man tried to weave his way into the Bournemouth half.

With three minutes left on the clock, Bournemouth swapped Zabarnyi for Daniel Jebbison ahead of a free-kick in a dangerous position on the left, which the Blues successfully defended. Town were by now doing little other than defend their final third and clearing the ball.

Ahead of the announcement of six additional minutes, Adams sent a ball from deep on the left towards the far post and Semenyo wasn’t too far away from getting something on it.

Palmer claimed low balls in from both flanks, then in the 95th minute Johnson was replaced by Philogene.

Seconds before the whistle, O’Shea brilliantly headed away a cross from the left, before Philogene tripped Milos Kerkez wide on the left, the ex-Aston Villa forward picking up a yellow card for his trouble.

Cherries keeper Kepa went up for the free-kick, but the ball was nodded behind at the far post by Ouattara and moments later referee Jones’s whistle triggered a huge cheer from the visiting fans having witnessed their side win their first league game of 2025 and only their fourth of the season.

Having established their two-goal lead, the Blues will have been frustrated to have been pegged back to 2-1 but from there defended solidly to claim their first win since the victory over Chelsea at the end of December, their first Premier League success in 11 games and their first league victory at Dean Court since September 1953.

The Cherries are now without a win in five in the league and have lost their last four league games on home turf.

The win moves the 18th-placed Blues nine points behind Wolves ahead of them - effectively the same position prior to the midweek fixtures - with Saturday’s visit by the Old Gold giving Town a chance to reduce that gap to six, although with the Midlands side having a much superior goal difference.

Town’s Premier League status had looked gone after Wolves extended their advantage to 12 points last night, but while still unlikely, this evening’s victory gives the Blues hope that they can still bridge the gap to the Molineux side.

Bournemouth: Arrizabalaga, Huijsen, Kerkez, Cook, Scott (Brooks 58), Evanilson, Christie (Senesi 58), Ouattara, Smith (c) (Adams 46), Semenyo, Zabarnyi (Jebbison 87). Unused: Dennis, Soler, Hill, Silcott-Duberry, Winterburn.

Town: Palmer, Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Burgess, Townsend, Morsy (c) (Phillips 81), Cajuste, Johnson (Philogene 95), Broadhead (Clarke 72), Enciso (Taylor 72), Delap (Hirst 72). Unused: Walton, Woolfenden, Greaves, Chaplin. Referee: Robert Jones (Merseyside). VAR: Graham Scott.

Photo: Jeremy Landey/Focus Images Ltd/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect

churchmans added 22:47 - Apr 2 Great win but everybody showing pre cum again! Lets wait and see what we do against wolves first and be 6pts behind! Calm down and lets not overhype it! YET!!
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Barty added 22:53 - Apr 2 Still a massive task to stay up but this great win gives us a glimmer of hope. Beat Wolves and who knows.
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Leejames99 added 22:57 - Apr 2 @churchmans totally agree Wolves game is just massive, that's why I think Phillips in for Morsy he has played the high pressure games, nearly whole team tonight was internationals, it shows. Wolves is the make or break game, we still need to keep going but beat them and the momentum will swing in our favour, lose and Wolves have they will know that if they beat us and Leicester we done.

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joyousblue added 23:14 - Apr 2 Lee james 99 why does it worry you , why who he brings on , we won didnt we mckenna sees his players day in day out so id rather trust him
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Somersetractor added 23:34 - Apr 2 One game at a time, enjoy it. Be proud of the boys, sing your hearts out. What is the point of being anything else ?
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Leejames99 added 00:10 - Apr 3 @joyousblue Not sure what your point is? I just, in my opinion thought the subs were a bit strange aside Phillips for Morsy. He swapped three forwards for a midfielder and 2 forwards 5 mins after they scored and had momentum and left Morsy on for another 10 mins so it was for me a bit unnecessary and it baffled the commentators also. J Taylor and Morsy on pitch together is never wrecking, I just thought we would of been better to go back 5-4-1 Woolfeden on Greaves for me would of been better, just an opinion, as you say we won, games gone, Wolves next, I just think personally when we take the lead, especially 2 up we have to protect the points and just defend and hit on break. I rate Mckenna but it doesn't always get it right, continuing playing Davis and not Townsend, it was obvious to all for months.

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Mariner1974 added 00:30 - Apr 3 Townsend & Axel were the difference tonight. Both can defend.
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VanDusen added 00:45 - Apr 3 Everyone was immense tonight and felt like we finally had the spirit of the last two seasons back. Burgess exceptional particularly in the first half, Townsend is a hell of a player, Morsy relentless, Broadhead finally getting the goal he deserves, Delap and Enciso showing signs of a great partnership... But a special word for Ben Johnson who I thought was a really duff buy, particularly after West Ham, but he is getting better and better every game. Certainly in the right position now and his pace to track back way more useful for us in this league than the more flamboyant other options. Well done Ben.

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Leejames99 added 01:27 - Apr 3 Morsy relentless? Just jogs about pointing, made 28 passes, 1 cross, 0 tackles, 3 fouls one of which was right on edge of box and their goal he just turned his back. I said put Townsend and we be solid at the back, hot downmarked now he played so well and we win everyone saying keep same 11, why? Their keeper made 0 saves, 2 SOT 2 goals. We were very lucky but a wins a win, but Phillips has to come in for Morsy and if fit Hutch for Johnson or maybe Phillogene as we at home. If Mckenna puts Davis back in for Townsend it will be an absolute travesty. Same 11 bar Morsy and maybe Johnson but I thought he played well also.

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markytitfc added 06:12 - Apr 3 Great win. Let’s hope he doesn’t make another 6 changes to line up for Saturday. Keep a winning team. Townsend,in my opinion, is a better left back than David
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therein61 added 06:29 - Apr 3 That's the type of performance we have missed for so long where the hell has it been hiding!!?? beat Wolves on Saturday and maybe just maybe with luck and a fair wind we could bring off the improbable. C.O.Y.B.
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Dissboyitfc added 07:35 - Apr 3 Great win and whilst survival still unlikely i am so glad the players KM and staff gave it their all and haven't thrown the towel in or started waving the white flag! And also great away fans again, they deserve to see the team give 100 % Saturday is massive, great time to get back to back wins for the first time this season!
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Dissboyitfc added 07:35 - Apr 3 Great win and whilst survival still unlikely i am so glad the players KM and staff gave it their all and haven't thrown the towel in or started waving the white flag! And also great away fans again, they deserve to see the team give 100 % Saturday is massive, great time to get back to back wins for the first time this season!
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BangaloreBlues added 07:46 - Apr 3 A fantastic win but there are some real dreamers out there. I saw a maximum 15 points starting with a win last night, and now see a maximum 12 points from our remaining fixtures at best, and that means Wolves only need three to stay up. A huge Man City points reduction or the biggest miracle in the history of football are the only two things that will keep us up. I am one of the most optimistic people on here, but there comes a point where realism must take over. Our first win since last year, and only four all season will not keep us in the league. However, I hope we absolutely slaughter Wolves on Saturday and make the rest of the season a little more gripping and hopeful than going down with a whimper.

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Alphawhiskey added 08:03 - Apr 3 Great win. Still a massive massive ask, but not dead yet. We needs to string two or three wins together now somehow. Hopefully this will give the lads some much needed confidence now. Wolves will lose games, they have some tough games, but then so do we. If we beat them on Saturdays we will be six behind plus GD. That's still 2 or 3 wins to their losses.. We need to keep winning. Why cant we beat Wolves, Arsenal and Brentford at home? We have all believe and give it our best shot! COYB

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philpott2 added 08:05 - Apr 3 Great result, and some very good performances from some (O'Shea, Townsend and Cajuste in particular, and solid from Broadhead, Burgess and Tuanzebe whilst Enciso and Johnson did some good stuff) but that is yet another goal conceded after a cross that flicks off the defender half attempting a block....and everybody watches as the alert attacker takes a shot. I'd love to know how many we've conceded in that manner. Are the players bodies facing the wrong way in readiness for the ball coming in, that means they aren't ready or quick enough to react? Delap goal was a great move, a lovely ball by Cajuste, Delap Townsend combo. Excellent. But Morsy and ? (Johnson, or Tuanzebe?), claiming offside when stood watching & playing everyone on.....Sunday league. Thought the game passed Morsy by, almost feels like he isn't quick enough to get a challenge in, never mind a yellow card, this season.

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budgieplucker added 08:23 - Apr 3 @mariner1974 with you on those comments, 2 excellent fullback displays really prevented our back four from being pulled all over the place and was the catalyst for our win, OShea and Burgess not far behind either, so a superb defensive display, I would also suggest though Delap aside one of our best signings this season is Palmer who looks real class at this level and gives the extra needed confidence to the defence. To me at times it looked as if we were playing in the shape of a 4-3-3, maybe we don’t need these twinkle toes wide men as much as we think!!! I normally flinch when I hear Johnson is playing, but all credit to the lad on this the right of a midfield 3 he had a decent game last night supporting Axel and getting forward. Superb run and assist from Townsend for second goal. Will be a real asset to us going forward and I have no fear of losing Leif for a big fee if we don’t survive. One final point, apart from one dodgy moment, I also thought our skipper had a really good game, maybe he hasn’t been very effective for parts of the season and I was incensed by his needless challenge to give that penalty away at Fulham, but he has stepped up and competed at this higher level, so it disappoints me that people are now regularly wanting to take a pot at him and scapegoat him. We owe a lot to Sam Morsy.

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Tedray added 08:24 - Apr 3 That is better. The managers system has not worked all season. Take the best players, put them in their best positions and you should have a chance. Perhaps rest Morsy on Saturday and hopefully Cajuste can make it and in addition swap Omari for Ben.Let us give it a good do...........
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virginblue added 08:42 - Apr 3 Nice to see one poster manage to make a positive comment about our captain. The stick Morsy has had in here is shameful.
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dirtydingusmagee added 08:48 - Apr 3 Firstly I hold my hands up for doubting we would get anything from the game , I was wrong.The team deserved the win for that effort doff my hat to them.It dosnt save us but it does keep us in with a sniff of a chance .But it is absolutely crucial to take 3 points from the next game.Anyway it was good that the team and supporters could travel home happy last night .Well done all.

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philpott2 added 08:53 - Apr 3 I'm not sure just how much stick Morsy is getting. I feel he did a cracking job in League 1, and in the Championship, but in the Prem he has only had a one in five decent game at best. The vast majority of teams play it around him when we defend, harass him into giving the ball away or he simply gets tackled when we play out of defence, or (in the main) he plays a ball backwards or sideways when we are looking to break. At this level we need more pace and dynamism.....

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Linkboy13 added 09:25 - Apr 3 Too little to late im afraid we are not capable of putting together a run of wins in the Premier league. Although im a big fan of Sam Morsy his legs have completely gone and we haven't got a replacement for him and when it comes to passing the ball backwards and sideways Phillips is world class no goals or assists in the Premier league all season .
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blueboy1981 added 10:24 - Apr 3 That is no easy place to go and Win, Bournemouth are some team - Well Done All - shame it’s all too little, too late. But you have proved such can be done - Sometimes, but not often enough !
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Leejames99 added 11:31 - Apr 3 @BangaloreBlue I'm not sure where you get the math from both clubs have 8 games we are 9 behind them, beat them on Sat we are only 6, if they lose to Spurs and Man Utd and we get a point from Arsenal or Chelsea we are only 5, they will have a tough game hopefully vs Leicester but let's say they win and we lose to Newcastle they back to 8 ahead but then they have Man City and we have Everton which is winnable so if we win they lose that's 5 points, then we have Brentford at home and they have Brighton tough game we win they draw that's 4 points behind they then have Palace away tough game especially with Palace momentum of cup still and we have Leicester we win they lose its only 1 point then its last day they have Brentford at home we have West Ham, Hammers nowt to play for, Brentford vying for highest position we win they draw and we stay up, it's the final 4 games that will see who goes up or down if but only if we beat them on Sat if we don't it is not mathematically over but most likely, beat them and momentum is with us. In terms of Morsy and shameful how he being treated, well we can say the same about Muric and Phillogene. I was getting downmarket last week for saying Davis has to be dropped for Townsend and now everyone quite rightly is raving about Townsend. Its the same with Morsy now, nobody disputes Morsy, Davis, Burns, Walton are heroes but i dont think anybody can say they Prem quality, Davis could be but has forgot that he is a defender first. Too much sentiment, Morsy was the weak link last night and I for one would have Phillips start allday long and if he cant start put Johnson beside Cajuste and Hutchinson or Phillogene or right with Broadhead on left Morsy is just way too slow and clumsy for Prem, doesnt make him any less a great servant for club he is 33. We can't play him just because we like him, have to play the best in that position and if people rate Morsy over Phillips then that I do not get.

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Leejames99 added 11:41 - Apr 3 @linkboy13 Totally agree re Morsy but not Phillips, he isn't known for goals and assists he has only scored 16 goals and has 14 assists in his whole club career and 1 for England in 31 games. It's his defensive combat and range of pass that makes him good player.
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