Matchday Live: Cherries v Crewe (From Bournemouth Echo)

4:57pm

Crewe free-kick headed over.

4:57pm

Pugh booked. Looked extremely harsh.

4:56pm

4:55pm

Deep into the scheduled five minutes of added time.

4:53pm

Pitman's last hat-trick came in August 2010 in the final game of his first spell with Cherries. They beat Peterborough 5-1 at Dean Court on that occasion.

4:52pm

4:49pm

Cherries sub: Tubbs for Grabban. 88 minutes.

4:49pm

4:47pm

Pitman completed his hat-trick by drilling the penalty low down the middle. He was then replaced by Richard Hughes and received a standing ovation.

4:44pm

Awarded for a foul by Osman on Fogden. Pitman to take...

4:41pm

Cherries sub: Fogden for McQuoid. 80 minutes.

4:39pm

Pogba forced his way into the box and his shot across goal from the left was turned home by Colclough from two yards.

4:37pm

Harry Arter challenges Byron Moore.

4:36pm

Phillips can only parry Francis's cross but Arter somehow heads over with the goal gaping.

4:35pm

Pitman chance for the hat-trick but he shoots straight at Phillips.

4:34pm

Pitman gets his second with a routine finish. Phillips parried a low shot from Arter, McQuoid reacted well to win the rebound before squaring for Pitman to tap in.

4:29pm

Nice one-two between Grabban and Pitman, with Phillips saving Grabban's shot with his legs.

4:26pm

Double substitution for Crewe: Colclough for Inman and Leitch-Smith for Clayton. 63 minutes.

4:24pm

McQuoid cross, Pitman header, well saved by Phillips.

4:22pm

What a chance for Mathias Pogba. Unmarked at the far post six yards out, he opted to head across goal instead of going for goal himself. Poor decision.

4:20pm

Abdul Osman booked for attempting to halt Arter's run.

4:20pm

Another Pitman curler flies over. This time from 20 yards.

4:18pm

Brett Pitman celebrates his first-half penalty.

4:16pm

Superb run from McQuoid who allows the ball to run for Pitman 15 yards out, but his attempted curler sails high and wide.

4:13pm

A few technical issues are preventing me from uploading some more action shots unfortunately.

4:08pm

Under way and McQuoid darts towards the byline but his cut-back is just behind Grabban.

4:07pm

Teams back out here and the wireless has also decided to work again, which is a bonus.

4:06pm

3:59pm

General view in the press box is that Crewe have played some excellent, passing football, without troubling Cherries too much.

3:48pm

Big chance for Cherries missed by top scorer Lewis Grabban. Set clear by O'Kane, Grabban rounded keeper Phillips but, running away from goal, hit the side netting from 15 yards.

3:47pm

Into two minutes of added time.

3:46pm

Some late pressure from Crewe in the closing stages of the first half.

3:45pm

Harry Arter is booked for a late challenge on Jon Guthrie.

3:39pm

Now back under way.

3:38pm

Break in play as Arter receives treatment.

3:37pm

ACTION SHOT - Brett Pitman puts Cherries ahead from the penalty spot

Picture: Corin Messer.

3:34pm

Neat, patient build-up from Cherries leads to Francis setting up a McQuoid crossing opportunity. He picks out Pitman and the striker's glancing header is inches wide of the far post.

3:29pm

Clayton's shot looked to be goalbound before a good headed block from Pitman. Moore and Clayton both impressing for the visitors.

3:28pm

Another corner for Crewe. Even contest so far.

3:24pm

Crewe are giving as good as they get here. Cherries getting most joy via Pugh down the left.

3:23pm

Byron Moore is posing a threat. He started wide on the right but is taking up some useful positions in the centre of the park. Looks composed in possession.

3:18pm

McQuoid heads wide with a decent chance from a Francis cross.

3:18pm

Crewe's Max Clayton is a highly-rated 18-year-old forward who has been capped numerous times at England youth level.

3:14pm

Header from Max Clayton comfortably saved by Jalal.

3:14pm

For the penalty, Pugh produced a lovely Cruyff turn to deceive Dugdale. The referee Iain Williamson pointed to the spot, while the linesman flagged for offside as the ball rolled through to Lewis Grabban. However, the penalty had already been awarded.

3:09pm

Adam Dugdale tripped Pugh.

3:08pm

PENALTY TO CHERRIES

3:07pm

Crewe corner headed wide. Tame effort.

3:06pm

3:03pm

Pitman's delivery finds Arter unmarked but, having controlled well, the midfielder lashes way over from 15 yards. Good chance.

3:02pm

Cherries off to a flyer, with McQuoid winning a corner in the first minute.

3:01pm

The first half is under way.

3:00pm

The teams are out and we are nearly ready for action.

2:57pm

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM – Cherries midfielder Eunan O’Kane

Explaining Eddie Howe’s role in his recent form, O’Kane told the Daily Echo: “Before I played against Carlisle, he sat me down and said ‘I need to demand things of you physically if you want to play in there (central midfield) in a two’.
“He basically told me if I couldn’t do it, then I wouldn’t play. Thankfully, I went in and managed to do what he required of me.
“He said he didn’t want to have me as a luxury player who could only play in the hole or in a three.
“He said he needed me to prove that I could play in a two and that requires doing a lot of the dirty work.
“But he also said he didn’t have any doubt about my footballing ability, it was just the uglier side he needed convincing on. Hopefully, I have now managed to convince him I can do that and I will stay in the team for quite a while.”

2:54pm

Close to a capacity crowd expected here today. Crewe look to have brought 200 or so followers.

2:50pm

LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD
Cherries wins 13
Crewe wins 13
Draws 8

2:49pm

FORM GUIDE
Past six league games...
Cherries – W L D D W W
Crewe – D L W W L W

2:48pm

DANGERMAN – Crewe striker Mathias Pogba
Brother of former Manchester United midfielder and current Juventus star Paul Pogba, the Crewe frontman has made a fine start to his career with the Alex.
Signed on a two-year contract from Wrexham in the summer, Pogba has netted 11 goals in 28 appearances.
The former Celta Vigo youth player had a spell in French football before switching to Wrexham following a successful trial spell.
After scoring 12 goals for the Conference outfit, he earned his chance to move into the league ranks with the Alex.

2:44pm

We will have regular updates from Andy Mitchell at Cuthbury, where Cherries loan players Ryan Case and Alex Moth both feature for Wimborne against Paulton Rovers.

2:42pm

2:42pm

2:42pm

2:40pm

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM – Walsall boss Steve Davis
Davis told the Sentinel: “I’m sure Bournemouth will be right up pushing for promotion. They have the finances to do that.
"They can improve their team if they need to, which they have. They’ve already got quality players who are playing better and more positively.
"Their bench is good, right through the squad, Eddie's got 18 strong players. Going into the last part of the season, he has a good group ready to make that final push."

2:38pm

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM – Cherries boss Eddie Howe

Howe told the club website: “Crewe are renowned as being a very good football team and they have always played that way.
“They are a really well-run club and a very good example of what can be done in the lower leagues in England.
“We know it will be a difficult game. They are very well coached and tactically aware, so it will be a good test against a team with a good balance about them.
“We are back in the top six and we can go into the game full of confidence and, hopefully, that will reflect in our performance.”

2:32pm

Crewe defender Jon Guthrie starts. It has been quite a rise for him, having earned his chance in the professional ranks after impressing for Pewsey Vale in Wessex Division One. That is the same level as Ringwood Town.

2:29pm

Cherries boss Eddie Howe has made two changes to the team which beat Hartlepool 2-1 on Tuesday night. Steve Cook starts in central defence with Dan Seaborne switching to left-back due to Charlie Daniels' foot injury. Richard Hughes drops to the bench with Brett Pitman coming in to partner Lewis Grabban up front.

2:26pm

Good afternoon all and welcome to Dean Court for the League One clash between Cherries and Crewe.