Skip to main content

Stoke City 0 Bournemouth 1: Ake header the difference as Potters' revival falters

Nathan Ake's first goal for Bournemouth helped the Cherries end a three-match winless run by beating Stoke City 1-0 in the Premier League on Saturday.

The on-loan Chelsea defender, making his first league start of the season, rose unmarked to head the visitors into a deserved lead with what proved to be the winner midway through the first half at the bet365 stadium, where Bojan missed a penalty for Stoke soon after the break.

The narrow win was Bournemouth's first since thrashing Hull City 6-1 in October and keeping a clean sheet away from home in the Premier League for the first time since February will afford Eddie Howe's team some welcome confidence ahead of a tough trip to Arsenal next weekend.

Stoke goalkeeper Lee Grant kept out Josh King's shot a minute later following good work in the build-up from Wilson and Wilshere. 

From the resulting set-piece, swung in by Junior Stanislas, Ake climbed unopposed to open his Cherries account from close range. 

The hosts missed a golden opportunity to equalise three minutes into the second half, Bojan smashing a penalty against the bar after being awarded a spot-kick under minimal contact from Francis. 

Wilshere hit the upright with a curling-range shot in injury time, while, at the other end, some desperate Bournemouth defending was required to clear from a goal-mouth scramble in the 94th minute, Howe's men breathing a sigh of relief when East finally blew his whistle.