Bournemouth are now eight games unbeaten as they grabbed a second half equalizer against a spirited Sunderland in a 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
Both Andoni Iraola and Regis Le Bris will probably agree that a draw was a fair result.
WATCH — Full match replay
Eliezer Mayenda gave Sunderland a deserved lead after a fast start but Bournemouth created plenty of chances and eventually substitute Evanilson equalized in the second half. But it was contentious amid a potential handball but VAR had a look and the goal stood.
Bournemouth have now gone eight games unbeaten and are on 39 points, while injury-hit Sunderland picked up a good point as they’re on 37.
Streaky Bournemouth have to make pressure count
They have now drawn 12 times in the Premier League this season, more draws than any other team, and this was another example of Bournemouth lacking calmness in the final third. Against Sunderland they had 21 shots but only five on target and the Cherries seem to panic when they get in and around the box and it all becomes a little too chaotic. Everything else is great. In midfield they work so hard, win the ball back high and their wide players whip in wonderful crosses. The next step for Bournemouth in their quest for European qualification, which they can still achieve this season, is to score goals in bunches when they’re on top. In the first half of this game they could have scored two or three in a brilliant spell. They scored zero in that spell. That has to change if they want to finish in the European spots.
What’s next?
Bournemouth host Brentford on Tuesday, while Sunderland head to Leeds on the same day.
Bournemouth vs Sunderland score: 1-1
Evanilson 63'; Mayenda 18'
Bournemouth vs Sunderland live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright
Bournemouth almost win it!
A cross is whipped in and shanked just wide of his own goal by a Sunderland defender.
Enes Unal’s effort is blocked
Bournemouth get the ball in the box and sub Enes Unal turns and has a shot but several Sunderland defenders block his effort. Great defending, but Unal should have taken that a little quicker.
Ballard scores, but the flag is up
A free kick causes chaos in the box and is knocked down and Ballard finishes, but Geertruida was offside.
Ballard heads just wide!
A corner is whipped in and Ballard gets free of his marker and flicks a header just wide. The center back did so well to engineer that chance.
Just over 10 minutes to go and it could go either way
Sunderland have got going again after that Bournemouth goal. This really could swing either way. Tense final few minutes coming up.
Evanilson heads home
Bournemouth are back level! Christie, just on as a sub, pings a lovely ball out to Tavernier on the left. His cross entices Roefs to come out and he gets it wrong and Evanilson heads home at the back post. There’s a brief check for handball, and it looks like the ball did hit his arm, but the goal stands. 1-1!
VAR check for a possible red card on Tyler Adams
The USMNT midfielder goes flying in on Xhaka and he catches the Sunderland skipper high on the ankle. The on-pitch decision stands. Adams a bit lucky there.
Evanilson for for Brooks at half time
By the way, Bournemouth have made a change at half time with David Brooks coming off and Evanilson coming on. Two up front for Bournemouth with Kroupi playing off Evanilson.
Diarra should make it 2-0!
Right at the start of the second half Diarra races clear but Roefs stands tall and saves his shot, then Diarra knocks the rebound wide as he was off balance. After all of that Bournemouth pressure, Sunderland almost catch them out on the counter.
Half time: Bournemouth 0-1 Sunderland
Mayenda’s goal is the difference in a topsy-turvy half. Sunderland started well and got the goal they deserved but since then it has been all Bournemouth but the Cherries couldn’t find the equalizer. Intriguing second 45 coming up in the sun on England’s south coast.
Tavernier denied again
A curling free kick from Tavernier is on target but Roefs pushes it away. Wave after wave of efforts from Bournemouth in the last 15 minutes. It has been some response from the Cherries since falling behind.
Roefs spills a shot but then blocks the rebound
Tavernier’s shot is spilled by Robin Roefs but the Sunderland goalkeeper does well to block Alex Scott’s rebound and Sunderland clear. They then block a Jimenez effort from a corner. Bournemouth pushing hard for the equalizer. Sunderland hanging on.
Jimenez whips in a great cross but Geertruida clears superbly
Bournemouth so close to making it 1-1. Jimenez with a teasing ball from the right and Brooks looks certain to tap home at the back post, but Geertruida slides in to clear. Wonderful defending.
Mayenda puts Sunderland ahead!
Mayenda pops up with his first Premier League goal since the opening weekend! Brilliant pass from Ballard to find Diarra and his powerful shot across goal is pushed out by Petrovic, but only straight to Mayenda who taps home. 1-0 to Sunderland, and they deserve to lead.
Kroupi drags wide
Bournemouth finally have a chance as they press high and the ball drops to Kroupi. Given the form he’s in you’d expect the net to bulge, but the youngster drags his effort wide. That is a big chance for Bournemouth.
All Sunderland so far
Well, Sunderland have a very clear plan to rattle Bournemouth and it is working. They are pressing high and have forced plenty of mistakes from the hosts. Lots of crosses have been whipped in and Regis Le Bris will be delighted with the start his side have made. Andoni Iraola, not so much...
Bournemouth lineup
Petrovic; Jimenez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert; Adams, Scott; Rayan, Brooks, Tavernier; Kroupi Junior
Sunderland lineup
Roefs; Geertruida, Ballard, Alderete, Hume; Xhaka, Sadiki; Talbi, Diarra, Le Fee; Mayenda
Bournemouth team news, focus
OUT: Justin Kluivert (knee), Ben Gannon-Doak (hamstring), Matai Akinmboni (muscular), Julio Soler (unspecified)
Sunderland team news, focus
OUT: Reinildo (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Dennis Cirkin (thigh), Bertrand Traore (knee)
Bournemouth vs Sunderland preview — By Nick Mendola
The Black Cats seek to steady their season before their-three match losing skid becomes a full blown slump. Losses to Arsenal, Liverpool, and Fulham by a combined 7-1 score line have shown Sunderland from the thick of the European chase to a 9-9-9 record and a place three points off seventh.
Andoni Iraola has really steadied Bournemouth’s season after the club suffered through two full months without a Premier League win. The Cherries have four wins as part of a seven-match PL unbeaten run that began January 7th, and they’ve found new ways to wins following the sale of Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City.
Bournemouth have two more points than Sunderland and a healthy Tyler Adams shoring up the midfield. They’d love to add more distance from the 12th-place Black Cats and grab three points that could see them as a high as seventh at the end of the weekend.
Bournemouth vs Sunderland prediction
The Black Cats are 2W-4D-7L away from the Stadium of Light this season with both wins coming before the calendar hit November. Regis Le Bris is an excellent manager but Iraola has Bournemouth back in business behind young attackers Eli Junior Kroupi and Rayan. They’ll find enough at home to be happy. Bournemouth 1-0 Sunderland.
How to watch Bournemouth vs Sunderland live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 7:30am ET Saturday
Venue: Vitality Stadium — Bournemouth, Dorset
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch on USA Network
