Alan Connell (Image: Richard Crease)
Alan Connell (Image: Richard Crease)
THE Cherries will need to learn from a poor final ten minutes as they reached the Professional Development League final with a 4-3 win against Burnley, boss Alan Connell said.
Connell was pleased with much of the performance against the Clarets as Bournemouth went into a 4-1 lead in the second half after trailing inside the opening three minutes.
But the visitors to the Vitality Stadium scored two late goals to make it a nervous finish – although the Cherries held on to secure a meeting with Brentford in the final.
Speaking to the Daily Echo after the game on Monday night, Connell said: “Very happy to be in the final, very happy with a lot of our play tonight but I didn't like the way we ended the game.
Match report: Cherries book their spot in playoff final with 4-3 win over Burnley
“It should have been more comfortable.
“Again, credit to Burnley for staying in the game and scoring some very good goals at the end.
“But we went a little bit short in the last 10 minutes and obviously we'll review it and make sure the players are aware of that, but we got over the line.
“In first team careers, these big games are about getting through.
(Image: Robin Jones)
“So if we're preparing our players for that, which we are, then need to learn those lessons and it sets up a big occasion, a big game against an excellent Brentford side.”
Connell said he ‘didn’t mind’ his side’s start, despite going a goal down early on – but said the response was a credit to the team.
“We said before the game about the last 13 games in particular, we've had so many different scenarios that we've had to deal with and with the jeopardy that comes with every game of football, to get over line in all those games has been remarkable,” he said.
“And tonight we went down behind early, which has happened before to us, responded brilliantly in that middle period of the game.
“I felt quite calm. I felt like our press was something that could disrupt them, which it did, obviously with their own goal.
“Then we scored some goals where we opened up the pitch and our running power and quality meant that we obviously took a commanding lead and like I say, poor end to the game for us, but just about got the job done. But lessons to be learned.”
Connell said the two late goals ‘shook’ the team but they responded well to see the game out.
On what went wrong in those closing stages, he said: “We lacked energy, both the boys that came on and the boys that were staying on, went short on yards, didn't get tight enough to people when we did fall into like a lower, a deeper shape.
“To be fair, one of the goals is a great strike from their lad.
(Image: ROBIN JONES)
“But everything felt tough for us in that last few minutes and they're the situations where players need to do what they have done and continue to do if we want to be successful in the final against Brentford.”
He added: “When you make subs you want them to bring fresh energy and we've had that in all our games.
“But we just went short on a few yards like I said with regards our running power and our recovery runs I thought.
“It's something that we need to make sure that we get back to. And like I say, it's a minor thing tonight, but it could have cost us.
“So again, it's a good reminder for all of us that you can't take anything for granted.
“But that's why this 14-game win run’s so special because anything can happen in a game of football, anytime, that can stop you winning the game of football. So again, we've managed to find a way again tonight.”
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