How fitting it was, amid this season of werewolves and vampires, that it was one of James Trafford’s old ghosts that came back to haunt him.
No witches or zombies will give the Leeds goalkeeper a sleepless night quite like this familiar howler that cost his side the game.
The visitors dominated Bournemouth for most of the first half with confident, flowing football and thought they had a deserved lead when Dominic Calvert-Lewin bundled the ball into the net early on after a stunning passing move only for the goal to be ruled out for a handball.
Leeds were firmly on top…and then they had a goal-kick. Trafford didn’t take it but received it short and tried to pass it out to Ao Tanaka only to play it straight to the lurking Justin Kluivert, who squared it to Evanlison for a tap-in.
It was almost identical to the goal Trafford conceded at the Etihad Stadium against Tottenham at the start of last season, on his second league start for Manchester City, when he – again – received a short goal-kick and tried to pass it to a team-mate who was already surrounded. City signed Gianluigi Donnarumma 10 days later and Trafford’s City career was all-but over.
The England keeper has been able to resurrect it at Leeds, and came into the game with the best save percentage of any stopper in the Premier League, and marshaller of the second-best defence in the division behind only champions Arsenal.
Trafford made a fine save from a Marcus Tavernier free-kick, and another effort late on from Junior Kroupi but the damage had been done. He could do little about Amine Adli’s finish that doubled Bournemouth’s lead in second-half stoppage time. The Bournemouth supporters, who jeered him every time he touched the ball, made sure he didn’t forget it.
‘James is a terrific young goalkeeper,’ said Leeds boss Daniel Farke. ‘I’m pretty sure he will save us way more points than he perhaps has cost us today. We win together, we lose together. We’re all happy to have him. He’s still top class and has all my trust and all my love. My recommendation is that he shouldn’t watch the scene back!’
It was almost identical to the goal Trafford conceded against Tottenham at the start of last season when he – again – received a short goal-kick and passed it straight to the opposition
The English goalkeeper could do little about Amine Adli’s finish that doubled Bournemouth’s lead in second-half stoppage time
Cherries slay another giant
Bournemouth have made such a habit of punching above their weight in recent years, that victories over traditional Premier League big boys no longer seem as remarkable as they once did. Running your club brilliantly, signing excellent players and developing them with superb coaches season after season will tend to normalise such success for a club of this size.
The Cherries are no longer content to constrain their heroics to slaying mere domestic giants. In the space of 10 days, they have dispatched former European Cup winners AC Milan, Manchester United and Aston Villa — all 3-0 — and now former runners-up Leeds.
Yes, they needed a bit of luck and a glaring mistake to get them ahead but, once they got in front, they rarely looked like letting it slip. Brazilian sensation Rayan went close before substitute Adli wrapped it up late on after a stunning through ball from Kroupi.
Bournemouth needed a bit of luck and a glaring mistake to get them ahead but, once they got in front, they rarely looked like letting it slip
Rose finding his feet
What is even more impressive is that Bournemouth are doing it without Andoni Iraola at the helm, and under a manager in Marco Rose who was even feeling early grumblings of discontent from sections of the fanbase after failing to win any of their first six league games.
Now, it’s six wins in a row in all competitions. Sixteen goals scored, none conceded. Even for Bournemouth, who make the remarkable look normal, that’s quite something.
Not only that, they are doing it without influential midfielder Alex Scott, out with a hamstring injury, pulling the strings. When you have Ryan Christie and Tyler Adams keeping things ticking in the middle, with Justin Kluivert and Kroupi ahead of them, you barely even noticed.
Marco Rose was feeling early grumblings of discontent from sections of the fanbase after failing to win any of their first six league games
A real number nine
We’re approaching that time of year, with Halloween already upon us and Christmas coming into view, when the constant churn of January transfer rumours will soon become inescapable.
An early one doing the rounds is how Manchester United are ‘exploring a move’ for Calvert-Lewin.
Don’t fall for it, Dominic. He lost here but how different the afternoon could have gone had the ball not bounced on to his arm before going into the net. Even in defeat, this is still a club under Daniel Farke that’s stable, competent and moving in the right direction.
If United are really in the market for someone who knows where the net is, few are doing it with more ruthless efficiency than Bournemouth striker Evanlison, who made it four goals in as many games for the Cherries.
‘I just saw him said: “You are a real number 9”,’ said Bournemouth boss Marco Rose.
The same warning applies to him too.
