Bournemouth vs Stoke City. Premier League.
Vitality StadiumAttendance10,614.
Saturday 3 February 2018 19:59, UK
Bournemouth produced a second-half comeback to beat Stoke 2-1 in the Premier League, as Paul Lambert suffered his first defeat as Potters manager.
Lambert had won and drawn his first two league games in charge, and his side got off to the perfect start at the Vitality Stadium as Xherdan Shaqiri headed home in the sixth minute.
But Bournemouth produced two goals in eight second-half minutes to complete their victory, with Josh King (71) netting the equaliser before Lys Mousset (79) nodded home at the back post to score his first Premier League goal.
Bournemouth move up into ninth place on 31 points following the win, while Stoke drop into the bottom three on goal difference after Swansea drew 1-1 with Leicester.
Stoke began the game well and found the back of the net after six minutes. New signing Badou Ndiaye nabbed the assist with a superb ball into the box meeting the head of an unmarked Shaqiri, who flicked home past Asmir Begovic.
Ndiaye was involved again in the 21st minute as Stoke went close to their second. Peter Crouch flicked Moriez Bauer's pass to Ndiaye, who then powered towards goal before sending his effort just past the post.
Bournemouth's best chance of the first half came in the 36th minute as they were denied by some superb defending from Erik Pieters. King raced away down the left before flashing an inviting ball across the face of goal. Jordon Ibe was there to tap home at the back post, but his effort was hacked off the line by Pieters, who himself ended up in the back of the net.
Bournemouth began the second half well, and forced Jack Butland into a leaping save just minutes after the restart. King raced towards the edge of the box before hammering an effort towards goal, but the England goalkeeper kept him out with a superb stop. Crouch then headed onto the top of the post as Stoke pushed for second.
Bournemouth got their equaliser six minutes later. Lewis Cook slid the ball into the box and, after a collision between Joe Allen and Kurt Zouma, King latched onto the loose ball before slotting home.
Mousset scored the winning goal eight minutes later and also opened his account in England's top flight. A great free-kick was whipped into the box from Ibe, meeting the head of the Frenchman at the back post who nodded home past Butland.
Eddie Howe: "It is difficult in this division when you go behind with the quality of the players you're playing against, breaking a team down, it is tough and we knew it was going to be difficult. Stoke are a very well organised team under Paul and they had a game plan and they played very well in the first half.
"But we grew into the game as we proved and I thought we finished very strongly. The fitness levels are so good in this team and I think it showed again today."
Paul Lambert: "I thought we were excellent, I really did. How we've lost it, I don't know. I'm obviously really disappointed with losing the game but I'm not disappointed by how we've been playing. We played a good game and the very least, we should be leaving here with a draw."
Phil Thompson: "Bournemouth are on a bit of a run, it's seven Premier League games unbeaten. Things are going in the right direction. In the first half there was some fatigue. They couldn't get it right in the head after Chelsea on Wednesday. They just couldn't get going.
"The team I watched against Chelsea was slick. Everybody knew what they we redoing. But this, there was passes going astray, there didn't look like an appetite for it. I was thinking, where are they going to get anything from this game. I feared for them."
Although he may have been on the losing side, Shaqiri produced a solid display for Stoke in what was a mostly even encounter, and produced a confident finish with his head
He continued to work throughout the game, usually at the centre of most of Stoke's attacking play and delivered some dangerous set-pieces.
He showed plenty of passion too, although he and Lambert must be sure to keep it under some sort of control after he was booked for dissent.
Bournemouth are next in action against Huddersfield on Sunday, February 11 for a midday kick-off, while Stoke welcome Brighton to the Bet365 Stadium on Saturday.
