Graham Pearcey

Date: 22 April 2026

One should be delighted that our 13 game unbeaten run (already an all-time record for the Cherries in the Premier League) was tonight extended to 14 games. But somehow it felt like a defeat at the end.

I settled in the East Stand, in a very good position to see any goals scored in front of the North Stand, and the announced team was identical to the previous week with the one exception that Brooks (starting as captain) had replaced Rayan.

Bournemouth dominated the first half but were unable to score. (The many corners we were awarded – mostly taken by Scott – all came to nothing.) So it was 0-0 at half time, but the deadlock was eventually broken on the hour mark. Senesi executed a brilliant turn with the ball on the halfway line and charged forward. Evanilson (right) and Kroupi (left) were also charging forward, in parallel lines, and Senesi had to choose which one to pass to. He chose the in-form Kroupi, quite rightly, and Kroupi fired home for 1-0.

Eight minutes later, from a very crowded area at the other end, with the ball bouncing around all over the place, Hill was unfortunate to score an own goal for 1-1.

Our lead was restored on 85 minutes when Scott passed to Adams, who passed to Rayan, who scored from close range. 2-1. It was interesting that Adams and Rayan were both subs; also that both tonight’s goal scorers – Kroupi and Rayan – are teenagers.

A groan rang out around the stadium when six minutes of added time were announced; we’d need to hold on to our slender lead for that long. But then – rapture! – Evanilson scored. Once again Senesi was the provider. The scoreboard briefly showed 3-1 until VAR unfortunately ruled the goal out for offside. And from 3-1 we went to 2-2, when in the seventh of the six added minutes (!) Sean Longstaff scored off a Leeds corner in what turned out to be virtually the last kick of the game.

The team lined up as follows at the start of the game:

Petrovic;
Jimenez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert;
Christie, Scott;
Brooks, Kroupi, Tavernier;
Evanilson

By the end the line-up was:

Petrovic;
Jimenez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert;
Scott, Adams;
Adli, Toth, Rayan;
Evanilson

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