Bournemouth vs Stoke match report: Giannelli Imbula puts Potters back on track

Bournemouth 1 Stoke 3

Giannelli Imbula celebrates scoring his first goal for Stoke (Getty Images)

Bournemouth must have looked at Stoke City’s recent form and seen this match as a chance to put distance between themselves and the bottom three. Instead, Dean Court witnessed the return of the Stoke of autumn, when Chelsea and the two Manchester clubs were bested at The Britannia.

Mark Hughes’ men ended a run of three defeats in style, absorbing Bournemouth’s attacks and showing their own quality when in possession. The impressive France under-21 midfield player Giannelli Imbula (right), Stoke’s record signing at £18.3 million from Porto in January, put them ahead and Ibrahim Afellay and Joselu made it 3-0 soon after half-time before Matt Ritchie replied.

“I was really pleased,” Hughes said. “We came here with a good game plan. Imbula picks the right option and the right pass, which is indicative of a top-quality player and we think we’ve got one. In the second half two quick-fire goals took the game away from them.”

Ibrahim Afellay celebrates scoring a goal against Bournemouth (Getty Images)

Stoke’s comfort on the ball allowed them to pass their way around the home side’s harrying and they took the lead after nine minutes when Simon Francis’s half-clearance dropped for Imbula to volley almost casually past Artur Boruc from 20 yards.

It was only Stoke’s second goal in seven games in all competitions and more should have followed. Jonathan Walters hooked a volley on the turn six inches wide, Boruc fisted away Xherdan Shaqiri’s fierce shot, and Shaqiri ran on to Afellay’s through pass only to roll the ball wide.

With Jack Butland not having a save to make until the 40th minute and the best first-half chance for Bournemouth a penalty appeal after Benik Afobe tripped over Marc Muniesa, their manager, Eddie Howe, needed to make changes. He sent on Ritchie and Joshua King, who should have scored almost immediately but Butland blocked his mis-hit effort after Andrew Surman’s flick had beaten the defence.

Matt Ritchie's consolation goal for Bournemouth set up an entertaining finish (Getty Images)

It was a costly failure as Stoke doubled their lead in the 52nd minute. Walters tricked Steve Cook on the right before rolling the ball into the path of Afellay, who smacked it past Boruc first time. That had been achieved with ten men, Glen Johnson having been injured early in the half. Hughes moved Mame Biram Diouf to right back, sent on Joselu, and with almost his first touch, the Spanish forward headed the third from Shaqiri’s cross.

Ritchie half-volleyed one back after 57 minutes, but Benik Afobe and Junior Stanislas both missed further good chances. “After a strike out of nothing we seemed to lose confidence,” Howe said. “Now we have a key run of games and it’s important that we don’t look back at the end of the season with any regrets.”

Teams

Bournemouth: (4-1-4-1) Boruc; Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Surman; Stanislas (Iturbe, 74), Gosling (Ritchie, h-t), Arter, Pugh (King, h-t); Afobe.

Stoke City: (4-2-3-1) Butland; Johnson (Joselu, 52), Muniesa (Teixeira, h-t), Wollscheid, Pieters; Whelan, Imbula; Shaqiri, Afellay (Ireland, 85), Diouf; Walters.

Referee: Graham Scott

Man of the match: Imbula (Stoke)

Match rating: 7/10