
AFC Bournemouth's unbeaten run was extended to ten games and a historic nine without defeat in the Premier League in the positive side of the Cherries 2-2 at Chelsea.
In a game with plenty of talking points, the hosts took immediate control in the first 15 minutes, with Nicolas Jackson slotting through Cole Palmer who calmly sent Mark Travers to the floor with a fake shot before scoring into an empty net.
The Blues went on to dominate the rest of a one-sided first half at Stamford Bridge against an injury-weakened Bournemouth.
However, after a series of squandered chances by Chelsea and Jackson in particular, the Cherries were gifted a way back into the game as Antoine Semenyo was fouled in the penalty area by Moisés Caicedo.
Justin Kluivert carried on his perfect record from the spot to level, lifting the ball high and past Robert Sánchez to score his seventh goal of the season.
The Cherries were almost reduced to ten men at 1-1 as David Brooks seemingly took revenge on Marc Cucurella for an earlier incident in the game. The Welshman raised his arm and seemed to touch the defender, but referee Robert Jones chose to only caution the 27-year-old.
That did not spot the Bournemouth barrage and it was their Ghanaian making things happen again as Semenyo rifled Andoni Iraola's side in front in the 68th minute with an emphatic finish.
Nevertheless, the game was still not over as Chelsea captain Reece James came on to rescue a point for his side, catching Travers off-guard with a clever free kick in the 95th minute.
A point apiece does not make a significant change for either side in the Premier League table, but Chelsea remain in fourth and Bournemouth in seventh with just three points separating the sides.
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Reflecting on the result
Bournemouth came into the fixture missing ten senior players, eight of those being injuries, while Max Aarons and Phillip Billing had both also departed the club on loan.
Simultaneously, Iraola's bench featured just two players over the age of 21 with academy players such as Max Kinsey and Remy Rees-Dottin available and ready to make their Premier League debuts.
Speaking after the game, while frustrated to concede late, Iraola was satisfied to extend his side's unbeaten run and earn an important point on the road.
“It's a difficult one," Iraola said.
“Sometimes games are quite easy and you finish happy or sad.
“This one is very difficult because I think the result is fair. I think Chelsea were better than us in the first half. I think probably we were lucky to finish just with the 1-0.
“I think we were better than Chelsea in the second half. I think we deserved the turnaround. And I think the point is fair, but the way we've lost the point, I don't think it's fair."
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Chelsea's controversial late equaliser
Bournemouth led for 27 minutes before James placed a direct free kick through a hole in the Cherries wall and into the back of the net.
After missing 21 games this season and making just five appearances in the Premier League, James returned to the side on Saturday to face Morecambe.
As England manager Thomas Tuchel watched his former side in the stands, it was the 25-year-old who made the decisive impact.
However, Basque-born boss Iraola believed that Chelsea's late equaliser should not have stood after Cucurella hid behind Jackson in the Bournemouth wall and appeared to make contact with Semenyo.
“I think there is a goal that they score that should be disallowed. When they shoot the free kick, you stop the image and Cucurella is touching our wall," said Iraola.
“I haven't understood a lot of decisions today about the referee. But we can argue, we can discuss, we can say the penalty, the yellow card, whatever.
“Live, I didn't realise. It's like this, touching Semenyo, you know, you have to leave one yard.
“This is not arguable, this is what it is. And to lose the three points here because of this, for me it's difficult to accept.
“But I repeat that I don't think we deserved to win today because especially first half they've been better than us.”
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The David Brooks incident
One of the game's major talking points was the incidents between Brooks and Cucurella, and the Welshman's fortune.
The Spain international appeared to bump into the Welshman after three minutes in an off-the-ball incident, before the winger had his revenge in the second half.
VAR chose to review the incident for a potential red card, however, deemed the challenge as a "reckless action" and "not violent conduct".
But Iraola insisted that the referee made the correct decision.
“For me, the play is quite clear. It’s Robert Sánchez on the ball. He's going to throw the ball to Cucurella to do the counter and Brooks wants to stop Cucurella, he grabs him," said Iraola.
“There is no violence, no hard knock, there is nothing. So I think it's a clear yellow card it’s when you grab one from the shirt to stop the counter."
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Justin Kluivert's absence and impact
After scoring and assisting in the FA Cup last weekend, Iraola made the call to drop Kluivert to the bench against Chelsea.
The Dutchman, Bournemouth's top scorer with six goals, did not have to wait long before his introduction for the unfortunate James Hill, who was substituted due to injury in the 22nd minute.
The 25-year-old came on to confidently dispatch a penalty to score the game's second goal.
Kluivert's boss insisted that the Dutchman's initial absence was for tactical reasons and a depleted squad.
"Kluivert is a strange one because with 25 players available he probably would have started. I wanted to have someone who could have improved from the bench," said Iraola.
"We have to analyse. Every game is different [and] Chelsea are a very good team. I am happy for the players who have played in that number nine position."

