Muff put on 3 changes at half time, those players had a combined valuation of over £40 million , they promptly upped the pace and those 3 dominated the game .
Yes, but our defending was shockingly poor for all three goals.
We lose possession in the middle of the park and the ball bounces back into our half. Suddenly we are overloaded, especially on the left, as Abdulai and Oli Cooper fell asleep. But we can still do better here. We play three at the back and the three at the back should hold their positions no matter what. The worst thing is when defenders create confusion by leaving their positions to 'help'. Naughton plays in the middle of the back three and should mark the Bournemouth striker in the middle (red number three). Cabango, playing on the left, should mark the Bournemouth player on our left (red number 5). Darling is behind the Bournemouth player on our right (red number 1), which is fine. Grimes is also doing the right thing here, covering the defensive midfield.
Look at what Naughton and Cabango do instead. Naughton runs towards the Bournemouth player (red number 2), who is also marked by Grimes, leaving his man behind. Cabango is suddenly left alone with two Bournemouth attackers, so he decides to do Naughton's job by marking the Bournemouth attacker in the middle (red number 3), leaving the Bournemouth player on the left (red number 5) completely unmarked.
(Red arrows show the wrong moves, the yellow show the right moves.)
This is the result of Naughton and Cabango's "I want to help" stupidity. Brooks gets the ball totally unmarked and scores.
Here is another example of poor defending. I see this in too many games, even in the top leagues, and I'm really surprised that so many defenders make the same mistake game after game. When they try to block a shot, they either jump with their legs outstretched or they take a step and leave a tunnel between their legs. In both cases, they're not doing their goalkeeper any favours. A slide block is much, much better.
The ball goes under the Cabago's legs and Brooks scores.
Our complete back line is watching the ball here. Six against one, and that one scores.
Incredible.