A late equaliser from Nottingham Forest denied AFC Bournemouth a vital three points in the race to stay in the Premier League. 

Jaidon Anthony gave the Cherries the lead 15 minutes after Nottingham Forest's Ryan Yates had a goal disallowed by VAR for offside. 

However, a Sam Surridge equaliser with just seven minutes remaining ensured the Reds left the Vitality Stadium with a point and kept the four points gap between the two sides.

Bournemouth dropped into the relegation after the loss, with West Ham and Leeds both picking up points to go above them. 

  • "The lads deserved all three points"

Cherries boss Gary O'Neil spoke to the AFC Bournemouth website after the game. O'Neil felt his side deserved all the points despite also being happy with the one:

"Overriding emotion right now is disappointment, obviously it is so close to the final whistle. The lads gave a lot and probably deserved to win the game.

"We couldn't quite make it two, and it's just a little error and we get caught on a transition.

 

"A 1-1 draw, we add a point to the tally. But disappointed we were so close to three, I thought the lads deserved all three. So we are disappointed but there are lots of positives.

"We did a lot of work this week on trying to attack outside, we created some good chances from it."

O'Neil once again mentioned the difficult period they are in at the moment. With several players out injured, Bournemouth had a youthful bench against Nottingham Forest with O'Neil having fewer players to pick from by the week:

"I think we have been in a tough spell and I don't even mean the results, I just mean the injuries and what we have at the moment as a squad.

"We put three young lads on the bench today. We've just suffered injuries to key players, which as a promoted side makes it even more difficult than it already is."

The Cherries boss also spoke about the plans for the next two weeks with Bournemouth not having a game next week. The FA Cup Fourth Round takes place next week, which the Cherries are not in after their defeat to Burnley in the previous round:

"In two weeks time we'll have some players back fit hopefully, we'll have some new additions, and the group that I am already working with will also be in a better place so I am excited for where we can get to."

 

It was Jaidon Anthony who scored the opener for the Cherries, a goal which would eventually go on to claim Bournemouth a point on Saturday afternoon. 

Anthony also spoke to Bournemouth's website after the game, with the winger mirroring his manager's thoughts at the late equaliser:

"We're disappointed with the way we conceded at the end, I thought it was a good performance, a better performance by us and I thought we were well worth the three points. But it's another point in the right direction, and it's taken us away from the losing streak.

"Every point in this league is vital and that is definitely a good one to get."

The 23-year-old also praised his teammate Dango Outtara, who signed for the club from French side Lorient last week. 

Playing on the opposite flank to Anthony, the Burkino Faso international set up the goal in the first-half, which was praised by Anthony himself: 

"He looked sharp. It can't be easy not training too much and coming into new teammates. I think he'll be an exciting player for us." 

He also spoke about the upcoming two-week break for Bournemouth: 

"We probably will see some new faces, so it will be a good opportunity for us to gel as a team and for them to settle. Hopefully, we can get some good work in and come back strong."

Bournemouth face Brighton in the Premier League in two weeks time, with the Cherries having a week extra to prepare with the FA Cup Fourth Round commencing next weekend.

The Cherries travel to The American Express Community Stadium on February 4, with a 15:00 GMT kick-off. 

 

 

 

 

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