CHANCE! So nearly a goal for Sunderland! Van Aanholt does excellently to get free down the left and slide a cut-back into the centre of the area. Watmore looks set to tuck it home, but Francis once again puts his body on the line to stem the effort at source.
90' +3
We are into the third minute of three minutes stoppage time, now, though referee Roger East will surely add on more following the injury to Stanislas…
90' +2
G. Murray enters the game and replaces J. Stanislas.
Substitution Junior Stanislas Glenn Murray
89'
B. Jones gets yellow.
RECKLESS! Billy Jones is a very fortunate boy here, as he escapes with just a booking following a late, hefty lunge in from behind on Stanislas. The Bournemouth winger, who has been impressive today, looks in real pain here.
88'
J. Rodwell enters the game and replaces J. Lens.
Another change now for the hosts, as Jack Rodwell comes on in place of Jeremain Lens, who has been rather ineffective in a support-striker role today.
85'
The visitors are upping the ante now as we enter the final moments of this game. Arter plays a wonderful dinked pass into the path of Daniels, who had made a fantastic surging drive into the Sunderland penalty area, but the Bournemouth left-back cannot keep the ball in play following a heavy first touch.
82'
WHAT A MISS!!! That really was a sitter! Stanislas threads a neat pass through to Grabban, who, with just Mannone to beat, takes a wonderful first touch to bring the ball under his control in the area, but the Bournemouth substitute can only prod his effort well wide from close range.
79'
CLOSE! A lucky escape there for Sunderland, as Surman’s strike from 20 yards out takes a wicked deflection off Gosling. The Bournemouth man would have been onside thanks to slack defending from Brown, but the knick directs the effort just wide of the target.
77'
Referee Roger East has brought play to a halt now, as Van Aanholt receives treatment following a collision with Smith. The Dutchman appears to have taken a whack to the side of his head, but after a moment on the deck, the full-back returns to his feet and play will resume with a drop-ball...
75'
ALMOST! Great play from Bournemouth, as Ritchie and Smith combine crisply down the right before the latter drills in a low cross. Grabban swings his right foot at it, but the former Norwich forward ends up swinging at thin air due to a last-ditch interception from O’Shea.
Minute
Description
73'
SUPERB DEFENDING! Another Sunderland set-piece causes plenty of problems for Bournemouth, who are unable to clear the initial cross, with possession eventually falling to Cattermole on the edge of the area. The midfielder goes for goal with a first-time effort, but Cook charges out to block the shot.
71'
Compared to the first half, it has been a much less free-flowing encounter since the restart. Johnson flashes a fantastic low ball across the face of goal as Sunderland manage to carve out another opportunity, but Lens cannot get on the end of it.
68'
Fantastic defending once more from Bournemouth’s Smith, who stands up well to the run of Watmore down the left, timing his tackle perfectly and allowing Howe’s men to drive forward on the counter. The full-back has been excellent today.
66'
D. Watmore enters the game and replaces F. Borini.
And it is a maiden substitution of the fixture from Allardyce, as he introduces youngster Duncan Watmore in place of Fabio Borini.
64'
L. Grabban enters the game and replaces B. Afobe.
A second change then for the visitors, as goal-scorer Benik Afobe is replaced by Lewis Grabban.
62'
A slight lull in play now for the time-being, with both sides engaged in a tussle for dominance in midfield. It seems that changes may be imminent from both managers...
59'
CHANCE! Almost for Sunderland! Bournemouth have been vulnerable from set-pieces all season, and once more a cross into the box from a dead-ball nearly proves their downfall. Johnson curls a wonderful ball into the box, which Jones connects with, but Boruc is on hand to parry it back out off the goal-line.
57'
M. Ritchie enters the game and replaces M. Pugh.
A first substitution of the game now, as Marc Pugh makes way for Matt Ritchie, who missed out last week with an injury.
56'
CLOSE! Finally, Defoe receives the ball in a dangerous area. He latches onto a pass from deep before jinking past Smith and then Francis. With no support, he tries his luck with a dipping effort that looked destined to nestle into the top-right corner, but it sails just a foot wide of the upright.
55'
That excellent pass from M’Vila seems to have buoyed his teammates somewhat, and it has definitely provided a boost for the Sunderland faithful. The Frenchman does brilliantly again to dispossess Gosling before driving a puncturing ball forward to Lens, but he is unable to find Borini with a disappointing through ball out wide.
53'
It’s the visitors who have been doing most of the pressing in the opening moments of the second half, with Defoe looking more and more isolated up top for Sunderland. Allardyce’s side finally manage to create a half-chance thanks to M’Vila’s penetrating pass to Borini, who attempts to slip in Lens, but the Netherlands winger cannot keep the ball in play.
50'
That’s really poor from Stanislas! Sunderland concede possession deep into their own half and Gosling capitalises. He feeds it to the aforementioned winger, who, with Arter in acres of space to his right, elects to go for goal himself, but blazes his effort way over the target. What a waste!
49'
Stanislas has provided some wicked deliveries into Sunderland’s area this afternoon, but on this occasion the cross from the corner is a poor one, and the hosts clear their lines.
48'
A sloppy pass from Francis is pounced upon by Van Aanholt, who drives a quick ball to the right but Johnson is not as alert as his full-back was. Bournemouth regain their cool and get forward, with Stanislas finding Afobe, whose strike is deflected wide by O’Shea.
46'
Back under way! Bournemouth get the second half up and running at the Stadium of Light, with the score locked on level terms. There have been no changes for either side at the interval.
45' +1
P. van Aanholt has scored a goal for Sunderland! Assist by F. Borini.
It was smart play from Fabio Borini, who teed up the Sunderland left-back with a perfectly-weighted through ball.
GOOOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!! IT’S ALL SQUARE! What a time to score for Sunderland, as Borini plays a weighted pass into the path of Van Anaholt, who drills in a powerful strike past Boruc at the near-post!
45'
CLOSE! Nervy goalkeeping from Boruc, who is almost deceived by Borini’s deflected strike on goal,but the former Southampton goal-keeper manages to adjust his feet and make the save, fumbling the ball before collecting it in at the second attempt.
43'
Poor from Lens, who, after latching onto Johnson’s superb pass, takes a heavy touch and allows Daniels to recover, preventing the former PSV attacker getting into the area.
40'
Wasteful! Bournemouth get forward on the counter attack following sloppy play down Sunderland’s left flank. The visitors work it in-field to Afobe, who tees up Pugh. The winger jaunts onto his right foot and attempts to curl an effort into the far corner, but it sails harmlessly over the crossbar.
38'
Sunderland have grown into the match somewhat in the last 10 minutes or so, with Bournemouth sitting notably deeper in their own territory than they were in the opening half-an-hour of this fixture. Cattermole drives the hosts forward with a run from midfield before finding Jones with a long pass to the right wing, but Daniels defends the cross expertly.
36'
CLOSE! Sunderland win another free-kick, this time on the left, which M’Vila curls in excellently. Jones attempts to latch onto it ahead of his marker, but the former West Brom full-back is just unable to leap high enough to make a connection and the ball trickles away for a goal-kick to Bournemouth.
35'
GREAT SAVE! Sunderland finally manage to muster a chance as Borini floats in a cross which O’Shea - still up from the free-kick a moment previous - meets at the back post. His header is a powerful one, but Boruc dives sharply to his left to parry it away from goal. It falls to the feet of Defoe, but he is flagged offside.
34'
Poor delivery! Bournemouth have conceded 11 goals from set-pieces so far this term - more than any other Premier League side. But they were never in danger of conceding there, as Johnson’s cross failed to beat the first man.
33'
An opportunity now for Sunderland as Lens is brought down by Gosling deep in Bournemouth’s half. Johnson stands over the set-piece...
31'
A bit of pressure now from the hosts, as Johnson - who has already matched his previous record-high tally of assists (six) this season - whips in a corner from the right that Bournemouth fail to clear. The ball falls to the feet of Borini, who twists and turns before eventually being stewarded away from goal by the ever-disciplined Francis.
28'
Despite their poor start, Sunderland can be confident they will get back into this game if they can just somehow stem the tide of the constant Bournemouth attacks. They have won three of their six Barclays Premier League home games played under Sam Allardyce. They had claimed only three victories from the previous 19 before his arrival.
26'
UNLUCKY! It’s a good save from Mannone, who does well to prevent Afobe doubling his and Bournemouth’s tally with a powerful strike from the cusp of Sunderland’s area. He had been played in by Stanislas, who then made a fantastic run into the area, but the former Wolves forward elected to take on the chance himself rather than play in his aforementioned teammate.
24'
Patient build-up play from Bournemouth deep in Sunderland territory almost results in Pugh getting free on the left, but Jones intercepts. The visitors regain possession and work it wide to Stanislas, who tries his luck with a venomous drive at goal, but Mannone is equal to it on this occasion. Sunderland are really under pressure here, and their fans are already starting to make their dis-satisfaction known as the boos ring around the Stadium of Light.
22'
Sunderland have hardly been out of their own half since the visitors took the lead, and Bournemouth are well in control of proceedings at the moment, and Stanislas - who had combined well with Afobe - would have been in on goal once more then if not for a timely challenge from Van Aanholt.
20'
Well-worked! A smart corner routine from Bournemouth, as Pugh slides a neat low-cross into the path of Surman on the edge of the area, but the visitors’ No.6 is closed down quickly by his opposite number Cattermole, and Sunderland escape unscathed this time around.
18'
A. Surman gets yellow.
A yellow card now for Andrew Surman for a late lunge on Lens. That's the first booking of the game for either side.
15'
SO CLOSE! Bournemouth have scored more goals in the opening 15 minutes of games than any other Premier League side so far this term, and they almost make it 2-0 here with another superbly-worked move, this time on the opposite flank. Pugh once more keeps Jones guessing before poking through a pass into the path of the on-rushing Daniels, who curls in a delightful first-time cross. O’Shea gets a weak header on it at the front post, which falls to Stanislas, but the former West Ham winger is unable to bundle it home into an empty net.
13'
B. Afobe has scored a goal for AFC Bournemouth! Assist by J. Stanislas.
It really was a superb cross from Junior Stanislas, who stood up a brilliant delivery to Afobe, who duly headed home.
GOOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!! AFOBE MAKES IT 1-0! No mistake this time from the Bournemouth forward, who latches onto the end of Stanislas’ inch-perfect cross before powering a finish past Mannone, who can only parry it high into the roof of the net.
11'
CHANCE!!! Afobe should have scored there! Gosling shows brilliant skill to weave into the Sunderland box and get to the by-line, before sliding a precise cross into the six-yard box. The aforementioned former Arsenal striker looks set to tap it home past Mannone, but he fails to stretch far enough and the opportunity goes begging.
9'
It’s been an entreating, albeit lacking in quality, start hear in the north east. Both sides have shown attacking intent from the off, but neither team have been able carve out a clear opportunity as of yet.
7'
Good work on the left from Pugh, who teases Jones before lofting in a delivery towards the back post. Gosling, who opened the scoring against Norwich last week in similar circumstances, rises to meet it, but the former Everton and Newcastle midfielder is well-marshalled by O’Shea.
5'
A first opportunity of the game now for the visitors as Stanislas curls in a free-kick from the left wing. The cross fails to find a Bournemouth shirt, but Sunderland fail to clear their lines and the ball falls to Cook who, on the turn, prods a volley goalwards, but the strike does not trouble Mannone.
3'
Good defending from Smith, who moves over from right back to cover for the exposed Cook, who had been caught out of position and allowed Borini to run in-behind. Johnson curls in the resulting corner, but it is gathered in with ease by Boruc.
2'
Allardyce has labelled this fixture as a ‘must win’, and his side have made a high-tempo start to proceedings. Lens - starting in a free role behind Defoe - makes a sinking run down the left, eventually cutting inside into the Bournemouth area, but the Dutchman is prevented from getting his shot off by Francis’ solid challenge.
1'
KICK-OFF! We are under way at the Stadium of Light!
Hello ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to this live coverage of Sunderland’s clash with Bournemouth. Sam Allardyce’s side were on the end of a 4-1 thumping at the hands of Tottenham last time out, while the visitors from the south coast dispatched Norwich City 3-0 at the Vitality Stadium. Stick right here for all the action as it happens from what promises to be another fascinating encounter at the Stadium of Light.
Howe’s side, meanwhile, returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over struggling Norwich - goals from Dan Gosling, Charlie Daniels and Benik Afobe wrapping up the three points. They sit in 15th, four places and six points ahead of Sunderland, and could move up into 12th place if they triumph this afternoon and results elsewhere go their way. The Cherries are in great form on the road in recent weeks, having lost just one of their last five Premier League matches on their travels.
The teams are in at the Stadium of Light. There are two changes for the hosts, with Fabio Borini replacing Danny Graham - who has left the club to join Blackburn on loan - while young goalkeeper Jordan Pickford drops down to the bench with Vito Mannone returning. There are no changes to the Bournemouth starting XI, though Howe does include Lewis Grabban in his squad after the former Norwich striker missed out last week due to injury. Let’s check on the full line-ups, starting with the hosts.
Allardyce took all the blame for Sunderland’s disastrous collapse at White Hart Lane last weekend. The Black Cats were level at half-time when the manager chose to switch to a back-three and introduced former Bayern Munich defender Jan Kirchoff, who went on to be at fault for two of Tottenham’s goals on his Premier League debut. The signs are good for the hosts today however, as they have lost just one of the seven meetings with Bournemouth in all competitions (W4 D2 L1), though that defeat came earlier this season on the south coast.
TEAM NEWS - Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Mannone; Jones, O’Shea, Brown, Van Aanholt; Cattermole, M’Vila; Johnson, Lens, Borini; Defoe.
Well, despite his manager taking the responsibility for a disastrous Sunderland debut, their is no place in the squad for Jan Kirchoff this afternoon, which perhaps does not bare well for the German, and it means that the visitors’ record-signing Benick Afobe, who grabbed his maiden Cherries goal last time out, will be going up against former Manchester United stalwarts John O’Shea and Wes Brown. At the other end, Jermain Defoe is in fine goalscoring form, with the former Bournemouth loanee having netted more times in the Premier League in 2016 than any other player so far. However, all of the Black Cats’ issues have come at the back, with the north-east outfit having allowed a league-high 140 shots on target against their goal this season - 22 more than any other side.
HALF-TIME! That's it for the first-half, and what an enthralling encounter it has been so far this afternoon at the Stadium of Light. Benki Afobe gave the visitors the lead early on with his second goal in as many games, but Bournemouth were made to pay for missing several more opportunites when Patrick van Aanholt beat Boruc with a well-placed finish to restore parity heading into the interval.
A huge half-time team-talk for both managers now. If Allardyce can mastermind a comeback from his side, then it could well be a real turning-point in Sunderland’s battle to avoid relegation. As for Bournemouth, they controlled the tempo of this game for the opening half an hour, but will rue missed chances from both Afobe and Stanislas that have enabled the hosts to get back into this contest.
FULL-TIME! That's all from the Stadium of Light as the referee sounds the final whistle. It has finished Sunderland 1-1 Bournemouth.
Well, a fair result all-in-all. Bournemouth had the majority of possession throughout, and took the lead through Benik Afobe’s stooping header. However, Eddie Howe’s side, who now move level on points with champions Chelsea, were pegged back on the stroke of half time by Patrick van Aanholt’s well-taken goal.
Compared to the opening 45 minutes, the second-half really lacked in quality, though Lewis Grabban really should have ensured that Bournemouth took the spoils when he was put through on goal by an excellent pass from Junior Stanislas, before Billy Jones was fortunate to escape a red-card late on with a nasty tackle from behind on the aforementioned Cherries winger.
Well, that's all from the Stadium of Light for today, where it has finished all-square between Sunderland and Bournemouth. Until next time, thank you and goodbye!
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