Just the sort of game to get the side actually playing, we have nothing to lose against the Premiership side, yes we will probably get battered but let's have a go. Garner suspended may be a blessing in disguise it will give him a break and then we can see how May and Doyle link up front. Hopefully we will play 442 and attack playing the ball on the deck and not some of the alehouse ****e we played yesterday. Every credit to the Cherries basically they have never looked back since they appointed Howe as manager for the second time, they are now in the top league and play a brand of football that we are light years behind. They have had an in and out start being robbed at Liverpool but won at home for the first time this season yesterday by beating the hapless Sunderland. As with Premiership sides he will probably make a few changes but they will still be strong. Expect us to lose this.
In the end the penalty shoot out was a bit of an anti climax with Hugill, Browne and Johnson all having their kicks saved by Federici, whilst only Gosling missing for the Cherries. After two hours the sides could not be separated after an entertaining 2 all draw. Bournemouth made nine changes to their last game in the Premiership with only Francis and Cook retaining their place, after Saturday's surrender North End made five changes. The early stages were cagey with Bournemouth having control of the ball for long periods although when the home side were in possession Keane fired narrowly over from 30 yards. The visitors took the lead half way through the half when Pickford came for a cross, managed to take out his own defender and a Bournemouth forward but missed the ball, McDonald got his head to the ball and it looped past the despairing dive of the keeper to put the Cherries 1 up. The Cherries were relatively comfortable although from dead balls kicks they looked slightly dodgy in the air and were slightly lucky when Federici missed an in swinging corner from Johnson which Wright was unable to force home. There was only one side in it in the second half and it was not Bournemouth, headers by Clarke and Wright went narrowly wide, Keane had several good chances to score the best came following a fine team move, he shot narrowly past the far post with May possibly in a better position to score. Browne had a great chance but delayed his shot, Hugill who had come on as a sub also could not quite force the ball home when well placed. With 10 minutes to go the Cherries put on Pugh and Tomlin to ensure that they had the required firepower to ensure safety if things were to go wrong. They were both a danger against a tiring defence. Just when you thought the game was over Reid put in a super cross straight to Hugill's head and in it went. So extra time it was, as is tradition the higher placed side scored within the early stages of the first period of extra time. Tomlin went on a run, was not closed down and fed the ball to Pug(possibly offside) who scored. Tiredness and time wasting started to come in any chance of North End getting back into the game started to drift away as the Cherries played for time and went down with cramp. We rarely got the ball in extra time but with 3 minutes to go we levelled the score. After 117 minutes Mr Miller finally gave North End a free kick, Pickford launched it into the box Hugill's header hit Pugh's hand and penalty it was. Johnson made no mistake. Another free kick minutes later fell to Hugill but his shot ended up in the crowd. All that was left was the penalties and Bournemouth went through to the delight of their 200 loyal supporters who had made the long journey. Preston north End 2 AFC Bournemouth 2 Att 5643 Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: "Adam Federici is an outstanding goalkeeper and he's made some great saves there that's got us through and the lads have shown great composure to score at the other end, "He's an outstanding, experienced international goalkeeper who we certainly believe in. "He's also a great character and brilliant with the lads, even though he's not playing at the moment he's certainly giving competition for places." Preston boss Simon Grayson: "They showed a lot of character and worked extremely hard and showed all of the things that we asked of them after the weekend with that second-half performance. "I'm pleased with them and disappointed to go out but if you're going to lose a game and respond after a disappointing performance that was the way to do it tonight."
Saw it on C5 highlights. Is Reid now fully rehabilitated? He was a speedy, tricky character before his possible career ending injury.
