Cherries fight back to beat in form Reading at Vitality Stadium

AFC Bournemouth produced a stunning comeback against previously Championship leading Reading to go top after an exhilarating game at the Vitality Stadium

Reading started the day top, but their Championship rivals Bournemouth came back from 0-2 down at half-time to romp home 4-2 winners after a MOTM performance from David Brooks.

The visitors took the lead through an early penalty after Asmir Begovic tripped Alfa Semedo in the opening 5 minutes off the match. Lucas Joao converted the spot kick to grab his 10th goal in all competitions.

Bournemouth responded well from going a goal behind and David Brooks was denied by Reading keeper Rafael from close range as the host pressed for an equaliser.

Reading struck again on 43 minutes through Sone Aluko to leave the Dorset side 0-2 down at the break.

Whatever Cherries boss Jason Tindall said at half-time seemed to work,  as Bournemouth came out in the second half with more intent and purpose.

Dominic Solanke started the comeback off when he tapped in from six yards after a superb cross from Lloyd Kelly down the left flank on 55 minutes.

Just three minutes later Arnaut Danjuma latched on to a superb through ball from Brooks to see the South coast side pull level.

Bournemouth continued to press in search of a winner and up stepped Lewis Cook.

Back from injury, the midfielder scored probably the best goal he will ever score, as he let fly from 25 yards and see his strike clip the underside of the bar to take the host into the lead.

Begovic made up for his earlier mistake as he produced a magnificent save after Joao drove a powerful header to the near post from a Reading corner, a vital save that kept Bournemouth in the lead.

But with 13 minutes left on the clock Raphael came storming out of the Reading goal and allowed Solanke to charge him down, the former Liverpool and Chelsea player knocked the ball past the Reading shot-stopper to blast home into an empty net.

Jason Tindall was delighted with his side’s second half performance as he spoke to Sky Sports after the game.

He said: “I thought we were excellent in the second half, we needed to respond to a disappointing first half and we certainly did that second half.

“I felt I needed to make a couple of tactical decisions at half-time, I wasn’t happy with what I saw in the first half, it wasn’t good enough and we needed to come out and show everyone what the real Bournemouth is about and I certainly felt we did that second half.”

The victory came from a lunch time kick off and briefly put the Cherries top of the Championship before the 3pm kick offs. However, a late Teemu Pukki penalty saw Norwich win 1-0 at Middlesbrough to put the Canaries at the top of the tree.

A 1-1 for Watford at QPR prevents the Hornets also leapfrogging Tindall’s men, who proudly sit in second place ahead of their Tuesday night fixture hosting strugglers Nottingham Forest.