AFC Bournemouth 3-2 West Ham

AFC Bournemouth 3-2 West Ham

Home team scorers
Joshua King 31
Joshua King 48
Joshua King 90

Away team scorers
Michail Antonio 10
Andre Ayew 83

The jubilation on the touchline said it all, as Eddie Howe was mobbed by Joshua King, who wheeled away after scoring a hat-trick to earn Bournemouth a much-needed first win this year.

King and Benik Afobe both missed first-half penalties before the Norway striker scored his ninth, tenth and eleventh goals of the season in a character-building home win against West Ham United, that lifts the Cherries six points clear of the relegation zone.

West Ham, meanwhile, were eventually punished for a half-baked display on the south coast, despite seemingly rescuing a point through the substitute André Ayew seven minutes from time. Dimitri Payet said this week how he grew bored of West Ham’s approach but this was anything but a tedious affair.

Sofiane Feghouli wrestled with the Bournemouth defender Charlie Daniels as he surged into the box, leaving the referee, Robert Madley, with no choice but to point to the spot. Fortunately for Feghouli, his clumsiness was not seized upon, with King striking his penalty wide of Darren Randolph’s left post. King had his head in his hands again 48 seconds later, too, when Antonio opened the scoring.

Harry Arter gifted to the ball to Feghouli, who picked out Michail Antonio inside the Bournemouth box before the forward, back from suspension, swivelled with his back to goal before shooting low to find the corner of Artur Boruc’s goal.

Antonio, returning to Slaven Bilic’s starting lineup after serving a one-match ban, was undoubtedly West Ham’s bright spark, and deserved more after playing a neat one-two with Manuel Lanzini, who blazed over from close range.

Lanzini was guilty of handing Bournemouth – and King – a chance to redeem themselves. The Argentine’s misplaced pass on the edge of the box allowed Dan Gosling start another attack, rounded off by King, without fail this time. West Ham failed to clear their lines after Ryan Fraser recycled Gosling’s cross, with King hooking the ball away from José Fonte with his right foot before prodding home with his left. King celebrated his seventh goal in as many matches with both hands held aloft, apologising to team-mates after making amends.

West Ham lost control, with Pedro Obiang and Mark Noble both entering the book for cynical fouls. Slaven Bilic, too, grew unsporting, kicking the ball towards the advertising hoardings and away from Adam Smith on the touchline.

They were unfortunate, though, to concede another penalty, when Marc Pugh theatrically fell inside the box under Fonte’s watch. Madley, again, pointed to the spot but Afobe, handed the responsibility from 12 yards, saw his tame strike saved by Randolph. Howe’s head fell to the floor.

The last time Madley was at the Vitality Stadium, he refereed Bournemouth’s 4-3 win over Liverpool and while this might not be regarded as such a nostalgic occasion in years to come, it was still jam-packed full of drama. Bournemouth ought to have been out of sight, though the half-time interval did at least provide West with a little respite.

The second half followed suit, with Bournemouth taking the lead through King after 48 minutes. Fraser whipped in a free-kick, which a leaping Afobe helped into the path of the striker to add his second of the game. Bilic threw on Sam Byram and Ayew in a bid to halt Bournemouth’s rhythm and they did just that, combining to steal an equaliser seven minutes from time. But Bournemouth, just as in that game against Liverpool in December, were not dead yet and found a priceless winner with 60 seconds of normal time to play.

Guardian