A cracking night's entertainment

Kicked off by some friendly banter with the stewards, the match itself lived up to the hype.

Early header aside, we were the better side. Francis (I think) hit the post within a series of corner routines as the Notts defence showed the capability to be as gaff prone as us, but alas .... Francis came along.

Cue two errors. Ball failed to be cleared after a long straight ball and County slipped it into an empty net before Francis, seemingly with a chance to attack, decided to go backwards and pass it along the backline, allowing goal #2. Cue despondency. How were we 2-0 down?

All change in 2nd half though. Boys came out on fire with McQuoid alongside Barnard up top. McDermott got more involved and it was a sublime backheel which allowed McQuoid to finish what was a harder chance than it looked. A few minutes later and Pugh won a penalty, which from my vantage point, didint seem to be just. Seemed to be just outside the area. HOWEVER, when Arter knocked it in, despite shenanigans from the County defender on the edge of the box, did we care? Not one just. Cue hysteria, including me nearly falling down the steps.

Then, the game got 100% mad as a bloody hatter. County gain a penalty which saw Campbell-Ryce, the tricky winger who had given Cook nightmares all night with his direct running and searing pace, the chance to convert against his former team-mate James, though the man nearer to a buss pass than anyone in the stadium would have felt hard done by as it just went under his body and nestled into the net.

Cue despair and a feeling of same old Bournemouth.

That was, until about a minute later. Right up the other end of the pitch. The fans heads down, the County fans rubbing it in but Fletch makes his presence known, it breaks to Tubbs, he takes it wider and from what seemed like an ever-increasingly impossible anger, slid it through the legs of the incoming keeper to make it all square!

Cue more hysteria!

There was then the usual few minutes of panic. For once, we decided to shut up shop and try to be a bit more composed and less gung ho, but Campbell-Ryce pressed to the end, capping off what on many people's opinion around me was a clear MOM performance.

A cracking night out with a performance to match.

Take out two sloppy goals, one of which was a horrid individual error and we did okay. We had spells of looking sloppy in defence with a few misplaced passes in the middle of the field, but it wasn't anything too costly and could be put down to County going for it when 2-2 and the fans starting to get a bit loud, and anxious.

We all wanted the players to show character, passion and pride in wearing the shirt and they did tonight. 2-0 was not impossible to come back from, but improbably. 3-2 seemed impossible, it was a real kick in the teeth, but Eddie Howe's AFC Bournemouth don't know when they are beaten.

A terrific early Birthday present and oh so much better than the boring old stuff we were being served up from January 2011.

There's work to be done in defence, let's not doubt that, but the mindset of the players and the character they showed away from home delighted me immensely.

Well worth the journey and well done to all 200+ that also made the trip.

Report by Peter_Humphrey

Best away game since Preston last season, a draw was probably fair, but we were on the luckier side having turned up without full backs.

Nobody in the defence came out of that game with any credit at all, especially the full backs. Our total lack of a reserve left back bit us in the arse with Cook a right footed CB totally failing to deal with a superb Jamal campbell Rice.

Francis was AWFUL. Directly responsible for the second goal with a backpass so bad it was almost match fixing, and had at least 3 chances to clear before the mix up with James that led to the first goal.

End to end stuff throughout the second half, both our non penalty goals were really nice. Mcdermott's superb back heel flick assist to Mcquoid for the first was first rate.

Sum up, we had no full backs, County could cross whenever they want, and did. We hit the post with 'that' corner routine, they hit the bar through a deflection. Both penalties were obvious & clear cut, what Macdonald was doing diving in like that inside the area mystifies me. His protests indicate that he either thought he got the ball or the guy dived, but if you dive in like he did you take your chances.

Great entertainment, thoroughly enjoyed it, thrilled with a point. Battle of the suicidal defences.....

Fair result, both teams battled hard and attacked with pace and defended poorly. Had times when they pressed and times when they faltered. Invariably the goals came immediately following a chance at the other end. The pace of the game was incredible and both sides have attacking players with pace and threat.

Some inventive refereeing which neither set of fans appreciated and a moment of class from the timeless legend that is fletch.

The biggest surprise, only 6 goals. Christmas came early for the forwards on show.

Both teams need significant tightening up at the back to be serious top 6 contenders. But do have the firepower and endeavour to easily challenge at the right end of the table.

Onwards and upwards!

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