Bournemouth 5-0 Nottingham Forest: Five-star Bournemouth smash Forest to stretch unbeaten run to eleven games

Just a week after Bournemouth smashed Newcastle United 4-1, the Cherries were at it again, putting five past a flat Nottingham Forest side at the Vitality Stadium. 

Last week’s hat-trick hero, Justin Kluivert, put Andoni Iraola’s men ahead after just nine minutes after dribbling the ball from the Cherries' half to just outside of Forest’s area, where he precisely placed a shot into the bottom right corner of the visitors’ goal. 

With Forest rarely troubling Bournemouth’s goal, momentum lay with the hosts going into the second half, after Forest sat-off Bournemouth players for much of the half. 

But come the second half, Nuno Espirito Santo’s men were completely blown away through Bournemouth’s pace and direct attacking play and were not given a moments rest. 

In a chaotic few minutes, Bournemouth managed to find the net three times, only two of which counted due to an offside. 

The second half rout started with Dango Ouattara deftly heading a  Kluivert cross into the corner on 55 minutes before being found offside for Kluivert’s wonderfully worked goal just moments after.

Despite the disappointment, it was not enough to stop the Burkinabé adding a second to his tally just minutes after the disallowed goal on 61 minutes. 

Ouattara completed his hat-trick, latching onto a spilled ball by ‘keeper Matz Sels, which largely summed up Forest’s outing. 

The scoring was complete with Ghanaian winger Antoine Semenyo finding the far corner into added time, capping off another superb Bournemouth performance.

The win means Bournemouth continue their excellent form and now go unbeaten for eleven games sitting seventh in the Premier League but cutting the gap to Forest to four points. 

For the visitors, it was their first defeat for almost two months, having won seven of the last eight league games but despite the loss, they still remain third in the table. 

• Story of the match

Coming into the hotly anticipated tie, Andoni Iraola continued to face an injury crisis with many key players still on the sidelines.

That being said, Iraola had hinted at the return of Marcus Tavernier in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon and expected the midfielder to make an appearance on the bench in Saturday’s tie.

For Nottingham Forest, the East Midlanders would be without key attacker Callum Hudson-Odoi, who came off injured after scoring last Sunday against Southampton and this would be Nuno Espirito Santo’s only selection headache come kick-off, where it was predicted that Jota Silva would come in to replace the injured midfielder. 

With the home crowd bouncing and a roaring atmosphere the match kicked-off and it was apparent that the visitors would be allowing Bournemouth to have the ball and play around their box. 

But within ten minutes the hosts were already threatening the Forest goal and opened the scoring through Justin Kluivert, just nine minutes into the game.

American midfielder Tyler Adams laid the ball off to Kluivert, initiating a Bournemouth counter attack and forcing the Forest players backwards, where the Dutchman carried the ball until 25 yards when he released an effort to the right of Sels in the opposing goal—opening the scoring just like he did in last season’s encounter. 

Shortly after, Bournemouth goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was called into action, getting a strong hand down to a Ryan Yates shot that was heading for the bottom-right corner. 

The Cherries controlled play for much of the first half, enjoying a lot of possession and Forest rarely threatened their opposite numbers, defending deep into their half and playing on the counter, which was only successful on occasion. 

Going into the second half, it was clear that Nuno Espirito Santo had to encourage his players to be more aggressive in pressing and retaining possession, to get back into the game…

• The second half

Coming out after the break, hopes were high amongst the home fans that their team could get over the line and see out an impressive victory but expected the high-flying Forest to bring substantial threat to Bournemouth’s defence. 

But this was not the case. 

Dango Ouattara began his hat trick after latching onto a Kluivert cross, leaping above Nikola Milenković and Murillo to gently guide the header into the back of the net. 

This was the start of a chaotic few moments as Justin Kluivert passed the ball in the net in a magnificent move that involved darting runs and one-twos, only for the finish to be ruled-out for an Ouattara offside. 

The hosts smelled blood, however, and continued to put pressure on the Forest goal, launching attack after attack and it was not long before the pressure was too much for the visitors again after Ouattara ran onto a long ball, dummied Murillo and rolled the ball in the far corner for Bournemouth’s third and his second just after the hour. 

Forest came into the game a little more shortly after the third, as it was clear Iraola instructed his side to ease-up on the running and allow their visitors more time on the ball. 

Swede, Anthony Elanga, came close with a rising effort but Kepa was equal to it, maintaining his side’s precious clean sheet. 

With the game coming to an end, Ouattara completed his hat-trick on 87 minutes passing the ball beyond Sels from close range after the French goalkeeper spilled a shot by Marcus Tavernier.

Feeling as if Bournemouth could score every time the team moved forward, winger Semenyo buried an effort in the same corner as Ouattara’s second to complete stunning victory and outstanding performance to the delight of the home fans. 

As the results and performances seemingly get better week-on-week–all in the midst of a never-ending injury crisis–only time will tell how far this Bournemouth team will go in a season that is shaping up to be a special one. 

For Forest, it was a flat performance where they were tactically and to-a-man completely outplayed. 

However, they still find themselves in a very comfortable position and will hope to bounce back in their next game at home against Brighton. 

• Man of the Match: Dango Ouattara

Every Bournemouth player could have been given this award for today’s performance, each one putting in a stellar shift but it is tough to look anywhere beyond the hat-trick hero himself, Dango Ouattara. 

Playing in an unorthodox striker role since the injuries to Evanilson and Enes Ünal, the Burkinabé has adapted to it tremendously well and today was no exception. 

He was full of running, pressing, link-up play and threatening efforts, giving the Forest players a headache for 90 minutes. 

Ouattara took each of his three goals tremendously well showcasing his strength, anticipation, decision-making, technical and finishing abilities to put in a memorable display for not only himself but for the whole club. 

Having had a season of frustrating disallowed goals and crossbar strikes, netting a hat trick today was the least he deserved in such an impressive season so far.