by Dan Davis (@dan_davis20)
AFC Bournemouth’s seven game unbeaten streak in the Premier League came to an end, after Huddersfield eased past the Cherries 4-1 at the John Smith’s stadium.
The Terriers had raced into an early lead, when Alex Pritchard thundered home Steve Mounie’s cut-back inside the penalty area.
Junior Stanislas then tapped home superbly for the equaliser minutes later, following Ryan Fraser’s deep cross from the byline. But Huddersfield capitalised on more poor defending from the Cherries again, as Steve Mounie nodded home Aaron Mooy’s delivery from a free-kick.
Mounie’s effort took a deflection off Steve Cook for the third, before Rajiv van La Parra fired home a penalty deep into stoppage time to round off a poor afternoon for Bournemouth.
Eddie Howe fielded the same team that came back to beat Stoke City 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium. Jordon Ibe and Junior Stanislas continued to support Callum Wilson up front, with the ex-Coventry man boasting an impressive scoring record against Huddersfield – netting five goals in three games.
Adam Smith recovered from his groin injury, and was named among the substitutes.
Terriers boss David Wagner made no fewer than five changes to his side.
Terence Kongolo, Colin Quaner and Philip Billing dropped to the bench, while Laurent Depoitre and Tommy Smith missed out altogether.
Wagner recalled Aaron Mooy, Tom Ince, Scott Malone, Steve Mounie and Alex Pritchard to the starting line-up.
And it was the former Norwich attacker who broke the deadlock after only eight minutes. A lofted delivery in behind the Cherries defence was picked up out wide by Mounie, who drifted past Simon Francis towards the byline. The Benin striker pulled the ball back across the penalty area, and Pritchard drilled home at Asmir Begovic’s near post.
But despite the early setback, Bournemouth were soon on level terms.
Ryan Fraser picked up possession on the far touchline and whipped a pinpoint cross towards the far upright. Stanislas was on hand to take one touch to control, and another to calmly roll the ball across Jonas Lossl.
The finish from the Cherries’ wide-man dumped Huddersfield back into the relegation zone and the Terriers immediately pressed forward, looking to edge back in front.
Mathias Jorgensen nodded towards goal after the visitors failed to clear their lines, but the effort was easily collected by Begovic.
Lewis Cook then dragged back Jonathan Hogg inside the Bournemouth half, and referee Michael Oliver awarded the free-kick.
Huddersfield capitalised and broke the stalemate when Aaron Mooy delivered into the penalty area, where Mounie shrugged off his marker to expertly nod into the ground and past Begovic.
But back came the Cherries, who almost found the equaliser from a move fresh off the training ground. Charlie Daniels’ low corner found Steve Cook inside the penalty area, after some clever movement to evade his marker. But the centre-half could only strike a first-time effort against the outside of the woodwork.
Full-back Florent Hadergjonaj then flashed an effort narrowly wide via a deflection as the Terriers looked to grab another.
On the stroke of half time, Stanislas picked up the ball 25 yards out but sliced a shot horribly wide to cap off a disappointing first half for the Cherries.
It was the home side who started the better after the interval, as Pritchard fired wide after good build-up play from the kick off. Aaron Mooy then miscued a left-footed drive as Huddersfield continued to pile on the pressure.
David Wagner then made his first change of the afternoon, with Monaco-loanee Terence Kongolo replacing Scott Malone.
Simon Francis was shown a yellow card just before the hour mark after tugging back Rajiv van La Parra, and Josh King was introduced in place of Jordon Ibe as the Cherries searched for a route back into the game.
But the Terriers looked the more likely to add another to their tally, and should have scored again through Ince. Kongolo rolled possession across to Mooy, who swung in a dangerous ball that evaded the Bournemouth backline. Ince arrived at the back post, but headed over the top with the goal gaping.
Lys Mousset replaced Junior Stanislas up top in Eddie Howe’s second roll of the dice, while Ince made way for Collin Quaner.
Despite the offensive changes, Bournemouth continued to look shaky at the back and were soon punished after Steve Cook gifted the ball away on the edge of the penalty area.
Huddersfield cleverly worked the ball across to Mooy, who teed up Mounie. The striker calmly picked his spot and slotted home after a nasty deflection off Cook – after previously only notching up three in his last 18 top flight appearances.
Mooy was soon leaving the pitch, after a clash of knees with Lewis Cook in the middle of the park, and the Australian international was replaced by Philip Billing.
As full-time approached, the Cherries failed to register a shot on target in the second half.
The Terriers were awarded a spot-kick deep into stoppage time, after Pritchard was hauled down by Dan Gosling inside the box. van La Parra stepped up to take it, despite Mounie being poised for a hat-trick, and sent Begovic the wrong way to cap off a disappointing away day in Yorkshire for the Cherries faithful.
The resounding defeat sees Bournemouth drop down a place into tenth, while Huddersfield climb out of the relegation zone.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Jonathan Hogg (Huddersfield)
Huddersfield: Lossl, Hadergjonaj, Jorgensen, Schindler, Malone, Hogg, Mooy, Ince, Pritchard, van La Parra, Mounie
Subs: Coleman, Kongolo, Billing, Sabiri, Williams, Quaner, Hefele
Bournemouth: Begovic, Fraser, Francis, S. Cook, Ake, Daniels, Gosling, L. Cook, Ibe, Stanislas, Wilson
Subs: Boruc, Simpson, Smith, Surman, Arter, Mousset, King
Referee: Michael Oliver
