Opinion: Player Ratings Vs. AFC Bournemouth

Birmingham City were left ruing a missed second half penalty as AFC Bournemouth showed their Premier League quality to advance through to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

The Cherries came from a goal behind at St.Andrews, the ground where they famously inflicted Birmingham’s worst home defeat for nearly 70 years.

Blues captain Michael Morrison had put the home side ahead with a superb header from a David Cotterill freekick but just four minutes later and Eddie Howe’s side were back in it when Lee Tomlin converted the first of two spot kicks in the game.

In the second half, Blues were awarded a penalty after the instrumental Maikel Kieftenbeld was brought down but loanee James Vaughan fired over.

With five minutes left to play, Gary Rowett’s side were made to pay for missing their earlier chances when substitute Glenn Murray bundled the ball home in front of 2,354 travelling fans.

Below are the ratings that I have given to each individual Blues player that played during the 2-1 loss.

Legzdins: 6. I feel he could have done better with the second goal but overall he wasn’t challenged massively.

Eardley: 5. Went off at half time so hard to discuss his contributions.

Morrison: 7. Personally thought he had a good game and he scored a cracking header but he wasn’t quick enough to get the ball into the box in the final minutes.

Spector: 7. Again, I thought he had a good game and he coped with being switched to right back at half time.

Grounds: 7. Did the basics well and got forward when he could.

Kieftenbeld: 7. Won the penalty with a Tom Daley style dive but I thought he had another solid all round performance.

Davis: 8. My Man of the Match. He chased down every ball and would well alongside Kieftenbeld but he didn’t offer much in front of goal.

Cotterill: 6. Great deliveries in the first half especially for Morrison’s goal and it was nice to see him back playing again.

Shinnie: 8. Looked very menacing from the first whistle to the last and I thought he was unlucky not to score.

Solomon-Otabor: 6. Lively in the opening exchanges but went off with cramp in the end.

Vaughan: 7. Despite his penalty miss, like other players in the team I thought he had a really good game. However, he did everything but score!

Substitutes:

Toral: 6. Tried to influence the game but struggled to make an impact.

Lowry: 6. Had very little to deal with but what did come his way he handled well.

Maghoma: 7. Some brilliant running when he came on at half time and was very unlucky not to score for a third home game in a row.

Blues fans, do you agree with the ratings that have been given? Who was your MOTM? Let us know in the comment section down below!