Bournemouth’s late leveller keeps Crystal Palace in relegation trouble

Posted Sunday, April 08, 2018 by PA

Bournemouth twice recovered from a losing position to secure a 2-2 draw at home to Crystal Palace secured with substitute Joshua King’s 89th-minute goal.

The visitors had twice led through second-half finishes from Luka Milivojevic and Wilfried Zaha, but with King’s goal were then denied the crucial victory that would have taken them five points clear of the bottom three.

Like King, fellow Bournemouth substitute Lys Mousset had earlier scored with one of his first touches after his introduction. Between them they ensured Palace remain 17th and at threat of relegation from the Premier League.

Palace, who in the absence of the injured Christian Benteke reverted to Zaha and Andros Townsend in an unorthodox front two, struggled without the Belgian striker’s physical presence.

For all of his struggles in front of goal, Zaha consistently thrives alongside him and without the focal point he provides Palace struggled to retain possession in the final third.

His frustrations became evident during a first-half clash with Lewis Cook, for which he was fortunate not to be booked, and Roy Hodgson’s team were equally fortunate that their hosts were struggling to create clear chances despite their dominance of the ball.

Beyond Charlie Daniels volleying over following a corner and Callum Wilson also wasting a fine chance — immediately after Zaha had wasted another when taking too many touches and conceding possession — they offered little threat throughout the first half.

From the point of Palace taking the lead, in the 47th minute, that significantly changed. After Jermain Defoe fouled Yohan Cabaye on the edge of the area, Milivojevic — on his 27th birthday — curled into the top right corner and beyond Asmir Begovic’s reach.

The hosts swiftly responded, when first Marc Pugh and then the impressive Lewis Cook tested Wayne Hennessey with curling efforts that forced the goalkeeper into two diving saves.

Patrick van Aanholt was then sent one-on-one with Begovic when Zaha led a break as Bournemouth pushed up, but despite an abundance of time and space he shot harmlessly at the goalkeeper.

After Begovic had also saved again, this time from Zaha, Mousset came off the bench to replace Pugh and in the 65th minute scored with virtually his first touch.

When the returning James Tomkins’ defensive header fell to Ryan Fraser inside the area he then set it back to Mousset, who bent first time beyond Mamadou Sakho and Hennessey and into the bottom right corner.

From another attack on the edge of the area and in the 75th minute, Zaha again wasted a shooting opportunity with his decision making, but his outstanding footwork and skill created another and this time he finished into the top left, via a deflection off Steve Cook.

If the central defender felt responsible, he then made a significant contribution to their late, equalising goal that means they sit 11th.

From a left wing corner Cook nodded on to King who — left unmarked by Aaron Wan-Bissaka at the back post — finished from immediately in front of goal to deny Palace and keep them under pressure.