SUPERSUB Jaidon Anthony completed Bournemouth’s incredible second half comeback to seal victory at the City Ground.
Anthony had only been on the field for two minutes when he collected Dominic Solanke’s pass and slid home the winner after manageress Cherries had gone two goals down.
The goal came with three minutes left of a thriller – as Forest sub Taiwo Awoniyi missed a chance to earn a stoppage time point.
The result may not wipe out the memory of last week’s 9-0 hammering at Liverpool that cost Scott Parker his job.
But this was unforgettable for all the right reasons as far as Cherries fans were concerned.
It was a fightback that saw Bournemouth stage their own Goal of the Month contest.
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They looked down and out when Forest went two up before the break.
But caretaker boss Gary O’Neil must have delivered some team talk as his supercharged Cherries drew level just after the hour mark with two scintillating strikes.
Philip Billing began the comeback with a brilliant long range effort to bring Bournemouth back into the game.
Then Solanke opened his account for the season with a brilliant scissor kick – before setting up an astonishing winner.
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Earlier, big spending Forest looked to have silenced the visiting Cherries fans who sang: “Twenty one players – and they’re all F****** s***!”.
That came after boss Steve Cooper broke the British record for the number of players signed in a single transfer window – 21.
But it was Forest’s No21 Cheikh Kouyate who broke the deadlock with a powerful header.
Brennan Johnson then added a second from the penalty spot following a long VAR check after Lloyd Kelly had handled a Neco Williams shot.
But the second half belonged to Bournemouth and revitalised their season after a traumatic week.
Forest boss Cooper brought back former Bournemouth captain Steve Cook into defence following Tuesday’s 6-0 hammering at Manchester City.
These sides had let in 17 goals between them over the past week so it was no surprise to see both of them make a cagey start.
Chances were few and far between early on from two sides who were promoted from the Championship last season.
One of Forest’s new faces – wide man Renan Lodi – threatened to open the scoring when he saw his close range shot deflected for a corner.
But they did not have long to wait to break the deadlock.
Morgan Gibbs-White’s corner was whipped in from the left and Kouyate dominated his area of the box to head home powerfully.
It was ex-Crystal Palace and West Ham midfielder’s first Premier League goal in almost two years – and gave the game exactly what it needed to lift it out of its stand-off.
The shackles came off for Forest and they soon made it two with a 43rd minute penalty.
Ref Michael Oliver immediately pointed to the spot as Neco Williams’ goalbound shot struck Lloyd Kelly’s hand.
The Bournemouth skipper did not take his arm away in time.
But then a four-minute VAR check saw Oliver told to view the incident, and a possible offside in the build up, on the pitch side screen.
Oliver’s review saw his original decision stand – and Johnson kept his cool after the lengthy delay to put his spot kick out of the reach of Cherries keeper Neto.
But Billing’s strike lifted the Cherries early in the second half and they sensed an equaliser.
Jesse Lingard almost restored Forest’s two goal lead though with a shot that flashed across the face of the goal.
But Bournemouth levelled it after 63 minutes with Solanke’s spectacular strike
Marcus Tavernier’s corner was headed back across the area for Solanke to score with a superb scissor kick.
Bournemouth could have been satisfied with the point – but they there was more in the tank.
Anthony’s winner stunned the home fans who booed their team off at the final whistle.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
