From -17 points to dream European start for Bournemouth

Adam Smith leads Bournemouth players celebrations after win at Real Sociedad

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption,

Adam Smith captained Bournemouth on their European bow after making his debut for the club in League One

BySam DruryBBC Sport journalist

Published2 minutes ago

'From -17 to Europe', read a flag in the away end at at the Anoeta Stadium.

As Bournemouth embarked on the first European campaign in the club's 127-year history, it served as a reminder of just how far they have come.

But a 2-1 victory at Real Sociedad in their Europa League opener shows they are not ready to stop there.

It is now 11 years since the Cherries were first promoted to the Premier League, meaning there is now a generation of supporters who will view top-flight football as the norm.

From that perspective then, qualifying and playing in Europe might simply appear the next logical step for a well-run and ambitious club.

"It's a brilliant win in our first European game. It's brilliant for the club and the 2,000 fans from Bournemouth," manager Marco Rose told TNT Sports.

Yet for the vast majority of fans celebrating a famous victory on Thursday, the whole thing still seems surreal.

Just 18 years ago, the club was on the brink. A 10-point deduction for entering administration resulted in their relegation to League Two.

To even stay in the Football League for the 2008-09 season, they had to accept a 17-point deduction and agree not to appeal against the decision after it was ruled that, as they had been unable to agree a Company Voluntary Arrangement, they had not met their terms for exiting administration.

Thoughts of a £100m-rated midfielder picking out a Brazil winger to head Bournemouth to victory in Europe was the stuff of fantasy as the Dorset club battled for survival.

But that now is Bournemouth's reality with Alex Scott swaggering around San Sebastian, showing why there is such a clammer for his signature among top Premier League clubs, and Rayan providing another example of why the Cherries will demand every penny of a reported £130m release clause to let him go.

Bournemouth have nothing to compare it to but this was a proper European away performance.

Up against a Real Sociedad side led by a World Cup-winning forward in Mikel Oyarzabal and who beat Atletico Madrid to win the Copa del Rey last season, they were dominant for 45 minutes.

They suffocated Sociedad with their relentlessness off the ball, winning the ball back high up the pitch time and again and showing the quality on the ball to create chances - even when the defence was set.

But there is an edge to the Basque side and, poor as they had been, that they came out fighting after the break was no surprise.

The adrenaline-fueled exuberance of Rose's side in the first half appeared to catch up with them in the second, but their desire to compete never wavered.

Bournemouth are not known for their defensive resilience and, as Sociedad ramped up the pressure as the game wore on, thoughts might have turned to leads surrendered in each of their first four Premier League games.

But the Cherries, aided by the sharp reflexes of Djordje Petrovic in goal, held on to secure a famous win.

"It was very intense and tough," Rose told TNT Sports.

"Brilliant first half in everything. The way we won balls and the possession high up. In the second half, we needed to suffer because we were not so sharp."

Speaking on BBC Radio Solent, former Cherries full-back Charlie Daniels added: "It is a big occasion. A big moment for the club, and they should be applauded for it."

Bournemouth hold on to win at Sociedad on European bow
Cherries fans hail historic day in San Sebastian
- Published11 hours ago

Special moment for captain Smith

Bournemouth's incredible rise can be traced back to the appointment of Eddie Howe in January 2009.

The former boss guided the Cherries to safety, finishing nine points clear of the relegation zone despite that 17-point deduction.

A mere six and a half years later, Howe - back for his second spell as manager - had taken a transformed Bournemouth to the Premier League.

It was fitting then, that on this latest milestone night for the club, the team was led out by a man involved during Howe's first stint.

Adam Smith joined Bournemouth on loan during the 2010-11 campaign, returned on a permanent deal in 2014 and has been at the club ever since, with approaching 400 league appearances to his name.

"Adam has been with the club for so long," Daniels said. "Dedicated himself to the club, and it's such a proud moment, not only for him, but for his family, his team-mates and old team-mates to see how he's grown - not only as a player but as a man as well.

"To lead out the Cherries on this historical night is fantastic."

Smith also made history of his own, becoming, at 35 years and 141 days, the oldest English outfielder to make their debut in major European competition since Ipswich's Reginald Pickett in 1962.

The club captain will appreciate more than most what a special night this was for Bournemouth.

Things have been far from straightforward for the club, even in recent years, with relegation in 2020 and, since re-establishing themselves in the top-flight, the seemingly annual battle to replace players picked off by Europe's top clubs.

Even qualifying for Europe was not enough to keep hold of manager Andoni Iraola, who returns to the Vitality Stadium with his new club Liverpool on Sunday.

That pattern is unlikely to stop anytime soon but, while there is the prospect of more nights like this one, Bournemouth supporters won't be complaining.

They've seen enough to know that these are the good times.

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