Rams Fall To Defeat On The South Coast

Derby County fell to defeat on the road as they were beaten 2-0 by AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

Cherries striker Dominic Solanke scored the only goal of the game deep into first half stoppage time to ensure the Rams left the south coast without any points.

Solanke capitalised quickest to a loose ball in the penalty area to fire home, but Derby did threaten for large parts of the game.

The Rams did create chances, notably through Lee Buchanan and Ravel Morrison who were both denied by Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers in the second half but Jamal Lowe made sure of the points in the final minute as he converted from close range to seal all three points for the Cherries.

Manager Wayne Rooney made one change to his side from the victory against Barnsley seven days previous as Lee Buchanan replaced Festy Ebosele.

And it was an injury to the defender early on which disrupted the flow of the opening exchanges, but it was Derby who settled into the game quickly.

Malcolm Ebiowei, on his second league start for the Rams, had the game’s first chance on 12 minutes, and it was lovely work from the youngster.

He skipped past Cherries duo Leif Davis and Jaidon Anthony and tried his luck with his left foot but goalkeeper Mark Travers was equal to his effort.

Bournemouth responded with a chance of their own, but Ryan Christie’s 25-yard free kick smashed against the wall as Derby cleared the danger.

The hosts were just starting to assert themselves in the game and almost made the breakthrough midway through the half.

Midfielder Todd Cantwell found space behind the midfield and drove at the Rams’ defence. He fed Anthony who cut inside and shot but Ryan Allsop was equal to his effort which he tipped wide.

Then, a moment of controversy followed as Derby felt they should have been awarded a spot kick for a foul on Ravel Morrison.

It was good build up work from the Rams who played their way through the thirds before Nathan Byrne was presented with the ball 25 yards from goal.

He found Morrison in the box and the midfielder appeared to be caught by Davis, but the referee waved away the strong Derby protests.

A pot shot from Tom Lawrence 30 yards from goal followed soon after, but it would be Bournemouth who finished the half the stronger of the two sides.

It was sustained pressure, too, as Cantwell started to dictate a lot of the play, however, the Rams were standing firm. A counter attacking move almost saw Derby profit as Lawrence crossed for Luke Plange but he just couldn’t connect with his header.

But, Derby could not hold out until the break as Bournemouth striker Solanke fired the hosts into the lead deep into first half stoppage time.

Anthony received the ball in a wide area and skipped past a couple of players before the ball broke to the striker who made no mistake to give the Cherries the half time lead.

And, minutes into the second half, Solanke almost doubled his, and Bournemouth’s, tally for the afternoon. He met a corner from Christie at the front post and headed towards the far corner but Allsop’s strong palm denied the striker.

But, Derby grew into the half and started to put their hosts on the back foot. Lawrence threaded a through ball to Buchanan on the left-hand side and he shot, but Travers made a good save.

Soon after, the goalkeeper was once again called into action as Lawrence this time found Morrison in a promising area but he denied the midfielder from close range.

From the resulting corner, the ball broke to Curtis Davies in the penalty box but substitute Jordan Zemura threw his body in the way and denied Derby an equaliser.

Derby were keeping the pressure on as Rooney turned to his bench and introduced Ebosele and Colin Kazim-Richards, but despite throwing men forward, they struggled to break down a stubborn Cherries defence.

Despite throwing men forward, the chances somewhat dried up for Derby as Bournemouth took control of the encounter.

And they sealed all three points in the final minute of the game as Solanke found space on the edge of the area and forced a good save from Allsop, but the ball broke for Lowe who made no mistake from close range to seal the points.

Eiran Cashin did think he had pulled a goal back for Derby deep into added on time as he met Lawrence’s cross and finished well, but the linesman’s flag was up for offside as Derby fell to defeat.

AFC Bournemouth: Travers, Phillips, Cook, Kelly (C), Lerma, Solanke, Christie (Pearson 90’), Cantwell (Lowe 66’), Stacey, Davis (Zemura 29’), Anthony.

Substitutes: Woodman, Marcondes, Cahill, Dembele.

Derby County: Allsop, Byrne, Bielik (Ebosele 66’), Bird, Lawrence (C), Morrison, Buchanan, Ebiowei (Knight 76’), Davies, Cashin, Plange (Kazim-Richards 66’).

Substitutes: Roos, Forsyth, Stearman, Thompson.