Preston North End vs Bournemouth. Sky Bet Championship.
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Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Preston and Bournemouth at Deepdale as the Cherries threw away a lead to miss the opportunity to reclaim second spot in the table.
Saturday 5 March 2022 18:40, UK
Bournemouth missed a chance to move back into the automatic promotion places as they suffered a late 2-1 defeat at Preston.
Substitute Emil Riis Jakobsen hit the winner with a minute to go to complete a comeback win for the Lilywhites.
The visitors, who came into the game on the back of four straight Sky Bet Championship wins, went ahead through Jamal Lowe early in the second half.
But the promotion chasers lost their concentration and were pegged back just four minutes later through Cameron Archer's composed finish.
Bournemouth nearly won the game late on when Nat Phillips saw a looping header well saved just a minute before Jakobsen's dramatic winner.
The goal saw Adam Smith and Scott Parker sent off from the Bournemouth bench as frustrations boiled over.
The Cherries started well, with Todd Cantwell having an early shot saved by Daniel Iversen before Alan Browne had a header blocked after getting on the end of Ben Whiteman's corner on 15 minutes for the hosts.
Ched Evans had a deflected shot saved by Mark Travers after he took advantage of a sloppy pass by Phillips.
The hosts then began to set the pace, Archer blazing over from close range while under pressure from three Bournemouth defenders.
Brad Potts picked up a booking for a poor tackle on Lloyd Kelly midway through the half.
Whiteman then had a shot blocked before Sepp Van Den Berg fired the rebound straight at Travers.
The Cherries keeper saved well with his feet five minutes prior to the break to keep out Archer's shot, before Andrew Hughes failed to hit the target from 30 yards after a good run out of defence for North End.
Lowe then put Bournemouth ahead five minutes into the second half after he got on the end of Jaidon Anthony's cross and went around the keeper.
Hughes dithered on the ball as he attempted to leave it for Iversen, allowing Lowe to get in and break the deadlock.
The lead lasted just four minutes, however, as Archer finished well from Daniel Johnson's cut-back.
Potts then volleyed over from a corner before Van Den Berg was booked for a foul on Anthony.
Philip Billing failed to hit the target with a first-time effort as chances started to dry up at both ends, but Iversen pulled off a great save at full stretch to keep out Phillips' header with two minutes left.
It proved to be crucial as Jakobsen fired into the far corner following a driving run just 60 seconds later.
Smith, who had been subbed off on 67 minutes, and Parker were then sent down the tunnel by referee Matt Donohue to complete a miserable afternoon for the visitors.
Preston's Ryan Lowe: "It was an excellent win, but one that we deserved. We had to stick to a game plan today, which we did. It was disappointing to go behind, but to get back in it so early on was good.
"We always believe with the attacking players that we have got that we will create something. We knew we would have to dig in and the ref let a lot go, which is just what you want. We fought to try and get a home win and it feels nice. I said to the group to start believing at home and to make this place a fortress. The more home wins we get the better we will be."
Bournemouth's Scott Parker: "I just haven't got a clue for the life of me why the ref didn't pull it back for a foul. We are at the cutting edge of it and the cutting edge of getting results. We have worked tirelessly as a team. I can forgive mistakes - I've made plenty and so have the players.
"But there are some that are unforgivable, and that decision was a stonewall foul that you call back, but the referee didn't do that. The inconsistency was frustrating and my emotions got the better of me."
