No side has scored more goals than Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth after the 76th minute in the league so far this term – with the Dorset side netting nine in total.
This, from a fans’ perspective, makes for some thrilling finishes, although from the press box, this has led to a number of match report re-writes in the dying minutes of games!
But the Cherries would not be eighth in the table without these late goals, winning them eight points after trailing going into this period in the games.
The theme started in the very first game of the season, where Antoine Semenyo scored an equaliser with four minutes to play at Nottingham Forest.
That made it one point gained thanks to a late goal after trailing going into the final 15 minutes.
(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire) Then came perhaps the most remarkable game this season, with Bournemouth netting three goals after the 87th minute to turn a 2-0 defeat into a 3-2 victory at Everton in late August.
Four points gained.
September was a quiet month for late Cherries goals, although they were beaten by an 86th minute winner at home against Chelsea in that month.
In October, a 79th minute goal from Justin Kluivert from the penalty spot confirmed the three points against Arsenal, before Evanilson rescued Bournemouth a point at Aston Villa with a 90+6th minute header.
Five points gained.
(Image: Jacob King/PA Wire) In November, there was only a consolation goal for Bournemouth against Brighton in this period, when David Brooks scored at Dean Court in stoppage time.
Finally, we reach this Sunday just gone, where the Cherries scored in the 87th and 90+5th minutes to emerge victorious over Ipswich, after trailing 1-0 for much of the game.
Eight points gained.
But why do Bournemouth score so many late goals? The short answer is fitness.
Iraola’s men are among the fittest of a very fit group of players in the Premier League.
(Image: Richard Crease) Before the Tottenham Hotspur game last week, football data provider PFF FC said no side had covered more total distance per 90 minutes than Bournemouth, at an average of 98.77km.
The Ipswich game proved that despite playing less than 72 hours previous against Spurs, the overall fitness of the squad was such that they could turn the game around in the dying minutes.
Lewis Cook, speaking after the game at Portman Road, said the squad know they have the edge over many clubs in the league in this department.
He said the side know they are going to ‘come out on top’ in the closing stages of games because of their fitness and commitment.
The way Iraola wants his side to play also contributes to this.
(Image: Richard Crease) Bournemouth are aggressive, they press from the front and put that fitness to good use, forcing their opposition into running more, too.
Iraola said earlier this season that the way they play opens the game up more at the end, giving chances for both sides – and the Cherries have been able to convert.
This is why the boss relies so heavily on his substitutes and has said, on many occasions including on Sunday in Suffolk, that he sees them as the difference makers.
Of the nine goals scored in this period, six have been scored by substitutes.
These came through Luis Sinisterra vs Everton, Kluivert vs Arsenal, Evanilson vs Villa, David Brooks vs Brighton and Enes Unal and Dango Ouattara vs Ipswich.
If there’s one lesson to be learned, then, for Cherries fans, it’s this: if Bournemouth are losing with five minutes to play, don’t leave your seat – you may just miss a sensational comeback.