Swansea 0-0 Bournemouth: Wilfried Bony's strike on half time controversially disallowed as the Swans share a point with the Cherries in goalless draw

  • Wilfried Bony had a goal disallowed on the stroke of half time as Jordan Ayew was penalised in the build-up
  • Joshua King had the chance to break the deadlock just before but his shot was straight at Lukasz Fabianski 
  • Second-half substitution Tammy Abraham had a penalty claim waved away in the final few minutes
  • Nathan Ake put in a man-of-the-match performance to ensure the Cherries walked away with an away point
  • Swansea remain in the bottom three while Eddie Howe's side move above Newcastle United into 12th 

Advertisement

Paul Clement admitted in his programme notes that he needed a break — instead he got a slap in the face twice.

The two big decisions of a tight game both went against him, leaving his Swansea side still anchored in the Premier League's relegation zone.

Referee Stuart Attwell — you might remember him as the 'ghost goal' official who was promoted in 2008 as the Premier League's youngest ever official before being dumped after a string of poor games — made two big 50-50 calls that both went against the Welsh club.


Wilfried Bony's strike on the stroke of half time was ruled out as Jordan Ayew was penalised for fouling Nathan Ake in the box

Wilfried Bony's strike on the stroke of half time was ruled out as Jordan Ayew was penalised for fouling Nathan Ake in the box

Ake was fouled by Swansea's Ayew just before the ball ended up in the back of the net on the stroke of half time

Ake was fouled by Swansea's Ayew just before the ball ended up in the back of the net on the stroke of half time

Bournemouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic could only watch Bony's shot go into the roof of the net before it was ruled out

Bournemouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic could only watch Bony's shot go into the roof of the net before it was ruled out

 The Ivory Coast international protested his side's innocence before the referee blew his whistle for the half-time break

 The Ivory Coast international protested his side's innocence before the referee blew his whistle for the half-time break

The Swansea players were furious with referee Stuart Attwell after Ayew showed his strength just before Bony scored

The Swansea players were furious with referee Stuart Attwell after Ayew showed his strength just before Bony scored

MATCH FACTS, LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE

SWANSEA: (4-3-3) Fabianski 6; Naughton 6, van der Hoorn 7, Mawson 7, Olsson 6; Mesa 6.5, Ki 6, Sanches 6.5 (Fer 72, 6) Carroll 6; Ayew 6 (Abraham 85), Bony 6.5

SUBS NOT USED: Nordfeldt (GK); Clucas, Dyer, Rangel, Routledge

BOOKINGS: van der Hoorn (69), Olsson (76), Ki (76), Bony (90+2)

COACH: Paul Clement 7

BOURNEMOUTH: (4-4-1-1) Begovic 6; Smith 6, Cook 6, Ake 7.5, Daniels 6; Ibe 6.5 (Gosling 88), Surman 6, Arter 6.5 (Cook 94), Pugh 6; King 5.5, Wilson 5.5 (Afobe 79, 5.5)

SUBS NOT USED: Boruc (GK); Cook, Fraser, Mousset, Simpson 

BOOKINGS: Ibe (76), King (88)

COACH: Eddie Howe 6.5

REFEREE: Stuart Attwell 5

MAN OF THE MATCH: Nathan Ake 

VENUE: Liberty Stadium

ATTENDANCE: 20,228 

Season at a glance

  • Premier League
  • Premier League
  • Championship
  • League One
  • League Two
  • Scottish Premiership
  • Scottish Div 1
  • Scottish Div 2
  • Scottish Div 3
  • Ligue 1
  • Serie A
  • La Liga
  • Bundesliga


Bournemouth's Nathan Ake put in a man-of-the-match performance to ensure his side kept a clean sheet. For more stats and facts, visit our exclusive MATCH ZONE service by clicking here.

Bournemouth's Nathan Ake put in a man-of-the-match performance to ensure his side kept a clean sheet. For more stats and facts, visit our exclusive MATCH ZONE service by clicking here.

Advertisement

First he disallowed Wilfied Bony's effort just before half time because he thought an innocuous challenge by Jordan Ayew on Nathan Ake was a foul.

Then in added time at the end of the game, he turned down frantic appeals for a penalty and said Tammy Abraham had slipped when replays suggested he might have been clipped by Adam Smith.

Clement grumbled: 'I thought (the Ayew challenge) was a soft foul to give. I think if that was between the two boxes the game would have carried on.

'That's what I saw in real time and I made that point to the referee at half time, that it was a soft decision. I looked at it back on the video and I stand by my first opinion.

'Overall I thought the referee had a really poor game and wasn't up to speed. There was another incident where the trailing arm of a Bournemouth player has caught Roque Mesa in the head, split his head open, and that wasn't even given as a foul.' 

Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham went down in the Cherries' box under the challenge of defender Adam Smith (centre)

Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham went down in the Cherries' box under the challenge of defender Adam Smith (centre)

Attwell waved away the claims as the England Under 21 star is sure he was fouled in the Bournemouth area

Attwell waved away the claims as the England Under 21 star is sure he was fouled in the Bournemouth area

The 20-year-old holds his head in his hands as Swansea struggled to break down Eddie Howe's side at the Liberty Stadium

The 20-year-old holds his head in his hands as Swansea struggled to break down Eddie Howe's side at the Liberty Stadium

Truth was that both were 50-50 decisions. 'You won't be surprised I saw it the opposite way,' said Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe.

But it's typical of the way things are going for Clement right now that the fine margins are going against him — and Swansea deserved more for a far more spirited display.

Clement, knowing that the longer he goes without a win the more the pressure will build, shook up his side with five changes and gave Bony, whose £10m return from Manchester City has so far been a huge disappointment, the armband. 

Tensions boiled over as Ki Sung-yueng got involved in a pushing match which also led to Attwell getting in between players

Tensions boiled over as Ki Sung-yueng got involved in a pushing match which also led to Attwell getting in between players

The South Korean midfielder went through the referee to get to Bournemouth's Jordon Ibe which saw Ki pick up a yellow card

The South Korean midfielder went through the referee to get to Bournemouth's Jordon Ibe which saw Ki pick up a yellow card

Players from both teams were separated as referee Attwell tries his best to keep order and assess the situation

Players from both teams were separated as referee Attwell tries his best to keep order and assess the situation

Ki, along with Martin Olsson and Ibe,  picked up yellow cards for their parts in the second-half incident

Ki, along with Martin Olsson and Ibe, picked up yellow cards for their parts in the second-half incident

As inspiring captain's performances go it was a long way behind Steve Smith in the Ashes, but the Ivory Coast striker did hold the ball up well at times.

And Clement's side had nobody to blame but themselves for missing the game's only real chance, when Leroy Fer went on a mazey run, saw his first shot saved, and somehow managed to scoop the ball against the bar from four yards.

Bournemouth were far from their best and needed a quality display from Ake to hold their defence together.

'We're disappointed with our performance,' admitted Howe. 'We never truly got going.

'But we dug in well and made sure we didn't lose the game which hasn't always been the case. I know we can play better.'  

Bournemouth's  Ake put in a man-of-the-match performance as he and the rest of the Cherries defence remained resolute

Bournemouth's Ake put in a man-of-the-match performance as he and the rest of the Cherries defence remained resolute

Bournemouth goalkeeper Begovic superbly kept out Leroy Fer's shot late on in the second half to keep his clean sheet in tact

Bournemouth goalkeeper Begovic superbly kept out Leroy Fer's shot late on in the second half to keep his clean sheet in tact

Swansea forward Ayew was a constant threat but couldn't translate any of Swansea's second-half pressure into goals

Swansea forward Ayew was a constant threat but couldn't translate any of Swansea's second-half pressure into goals

Joshua King should have broken the deadlock in the first half but his shot was straight down Lukasz Fabianski's throat

Joshua King should have broken the deadlock in the first half but his shot was straight down Lukasz Fabianski's throat

Paul Clement's side remain in the relegation zone while Eddie Howe's side move into 12th above Newcastle United

The Cherries manager will be delighted with his side's solid performance as they picked up an away point in Wales

The Cherries manager will be delighted with his side's solid performance as they picked up an away point in Wales

Renato Sanches was heavily involved in the action against the Cherries before being taken off with 20 minutes left

Renato Sanches was heavily involved in the action against the Cherries before being taken off with 20 minutes left

Bournemouth's Smith (right) managed to keep Bony quiet in a physical game on Saturday afternoon

Bournemouth's Smith (right) managed to keep Bony quiet in a physical game on Saturday afternoon