#afcb 1 v 1 #bhafc

I’ve decided to try to enjoy each and every game in this league – but even with that self imposed pressure I was finding it difficult to muster much optimism

Even seeing the best line-up I’ve seen in ages couldn’t stop my bad thoughts.

How were Arter and Cook back so quickly ? I so wanted to just bask in the moment but the devil on my shoulder kept whispering “they’ve come back too soon – they’re not ready ..” until I beered the voice into submission.

My doubts seemed unfounded as, for the first time this season, WE actually did the pressing and pushed right up on Brighton

That forced mistakes and with their mistakes came confidence and with confidence came attacking intent

With Ritchie on the right and Fraser on the left, we overpowered them on the wings and sent in cross after cross without there being any end product.

That’s not to say Pitman and Rantie weren’t trying to get on the end of the crosses, but when your confidence is down, the ball never seems to fall right and chances are missed.

It’s the area that Bournemouth must improve on because for all that dominance we weren’t putting them to the sword

We didn’t help our own cause by staging a couple of theatrical falls in the early minutes and that rather set the trend – the ref thought we were trying to con him so from then on, gave us nothing

Brighton, wiley old performers, instantly picked up on this and their fouls got progressively more obvious with still no decisions coming our way.

At one point Upson pulled out and extendable boxing glove and chinned Rantie – still nothing.

Worse than that, though, was that Brighton were starting to hit on the break and but for a first class near post save from Camp, after the defence were asleep to a long cross, assuming the ball was going out when in fact Barnes was there and met it well, we might have fallen behind

A minute later though, on 28 minutes, the unexpected happened - we actually got a free kick!!!

As the smelling salts were being passed round, we all hoped that it was going to be a Daniels or Ritchie attempt (as the ball was 20 yards or so out just to the right of goal) and that Pitman wouldn’t spit his dummy out and insist on taking it.

Luckily Pitman was sent away and as Daniels ran up, he fooled everyone by passing it left to Ritchie to take out the wall and Ritchie thumped a curling shot into the left corner of the goal – a great effort. 1-0 and deservedly so

Note to self – for Christmas I want laser eye surgery – I’m getting sick of all the goals going in so far away from me – The South Standers are certainly getting value for money

It was now all Bournemouth and Ritchie almost doubled the home side’s lead just 3 minutes later as a great run by Fraser was rounded off with a low cross which Ritchie met on the half-volley, forcing an amazing point blank save from their keeper

The final piece of action saw Ritchie and Daniels recreate the goal scoring free kick but this time the shot was charged down and deflected just past the other post

Half time 1-0

Confused Rich had the following words of wisdom – One swallow doesn’t make a summer – and how prophetic his words were to be – he really should try the lottery….

For the second half started and it was as if the teams had swapped shirts

From flowing and attacking, we went to nervous and clumsy. Way too often the ball was lost on first touch and too many players were bullied off the ball far too easily.

Their midfielder Ince was tall, strong, skilful and pacey and he frightened the life out of our midfielders and, unfortunately for us, they went into their shells

It made me think whether Arter was rushed back too soon as he just disappeared from view and with him went our creativity

For me, the jury is still very much out on Rantie as he hasn’t scored enough to warrant the price tag and he doesn’t hold the ball well but he really wasn’t helped with high ball after high ball.

Talk about not playing to his strengths – you may as well ask Addison to skip dinner – never going to work

It did, however, take a piece of brilliance to draw Brighton level. A nothing throw in on 55 minutes found Ward just inside the box on the right hand side. Despite a difficult bouncing ball, no defender challenged for the ball and he span and absolutely smashed the ball into the top left corner

Camp had no chance – heck, Jalal and Flahavan could have been in goal with him and none of them would have got near it 1-1

Another goal in the South End – the pitch isn’t sloping is it ???

Confidence is a fragile thing and after the goal, Bournemouth visibly shrank (difficult to believe, I appreciate)

Passing was wayward or just plain blind, control went out of the window and attacks became predictable

That was except for the one shining light – Ritchie. Yes, he may have a haircut that looks like he needs to go back to get it finished later, but single handedly he pulled the front 6 up by their bootstraps and brought some semblance of composure out of them.

Twice, with dazzling footspeed and great spatial awareness he twice put Pitman through with inch perfect passes but both times he failed to score as the keeper rushed him and made the target small

Pitman might not be scoring but he won so much in the air. He was doing his part of the job. The second part was for Rantie, and later Thomas, to actively ANTICIPATE him winning the header and running to meet that ball.

Neither did this – in fact, in the case of Thomas, he might as well have brought out a deckchair and cocktail – because he clearly didn’t give a rat’s ar4e about anything except for the lovely weather

Brighton had 2 or 3 chances, mainly from down Francis’ side as balls flashed across the box but luckily for us they were as wasteful as us when they had the upper hand

Final Score 1-1

Summary – The best 45 minutes I’ve seen for ages but with not enough reward. We shot a lot more – we made more chances than in recent games, but scoring only once just isn’t going to be good enough for this league.

The second half was the same old story. Poor passing, poor control – no pressing. I think the fitness coach really needs to take a long hard look in the mirror

I think a draw was a fair result, even though it was a nail-biting finish. The first half showed what we can do and I’m hoping that Ritchie playing will have the same effect on us as Ozil has had for Arsenal – that his mere presence and ability will make the rest of the team raise their own games

At this league, playing at 80% will win us nothing. It has to be 100% for the full 90+ else it will all end in tears

Star Man – Ritchie – Head, shoulders and haircut above everyone else