The Hibees concluded their mini pre-season camp with a behind-closed-doors match against AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday afternoon (15 July).
We fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat to the English Premier League side in what was another good exercise for both clubs at the AFC Bournemouth Performance Centre.
Philip Billing and Evanilson were on target for the Cherries in the first half before Kieron Bowie pulled one back in the second 45 in what was a thoroughly competitive encounter from start to finish.
The match was part of our pre-season preparations, with the squad training at Bournemouth’s training facilities in the lead-up to the fixture after being invited down for a mini-training camp lasting four days.
David Gray used the game as an opportunity to get more minutes into the legs of key players ahead of our trip to Denmark next week to face Midtjylland in the UEFA Europa League.
Jordan Smith started in goal, behind a back-three of Warren O’Hora, Marvin Ekpiteta and Jack Iredale – with Chris Cadden and Jordan Obita on the right and left flanks, respectively. Josh Mulligan, Alasana Manneh and Josh Campbell occupied the midfield three, with Martin Boyle and Kieron Bowie leading the line.
The hosts named a strong side which included the majority of regular first-team players who finished ninth in the Premier League with a club-record points total last season.
Hibs Starting XI: Smith, C.Cadden, Ekpiteta, O’Hora, Iredale, Obita, Manneh, Mulligan, Campbell, Bowie, Boyle.
Subs: Sallinger, Johnson, Rocky, Levitt, N.Cadden, McGrath, Youan, Megwa, MacIntyre, Hoilett.
Bournemouth Starting XI: Neto, Cook, Senesi, Mepham, Brooks, Evanilson, Tavernier, Soler, Faivre, Hill, Billing.
Subs: Paulsen, Truffert, Ouattara, Smith, Kluivert, Kroupi, Semenyo, Zabarnyi, Traore, Winterburn, William.
The match started with a good tempo and speed to proceedings, with both sides fully committed in the south coast sunshine.
Smith was called into action inside the first five minutes – making a good save to deny Marcus Tavernier from the right-hand side.
David Gray had his side well drilled and organised from the off, with the likes of Campbell and Mulligan running hard in the middle of the pitch and forcing the hosts back from the off.
Our first sighting of goal came after eight minutes, after some good link-up play between Mulligan, Boyle and Alasana Manneh. The Gambian midfielder found Boyle running in-behind who unselfishly tried to find Kieron Bowie in support. Unfortunately, Boyle’s cutback was just too far in front of his strike partner, and the hosts were able to scramble clear.
Jordan Obita created the next half-chance for Hibs moments later – running from his own half before digging out a cross in the direction of Boyle. Unfortunately for Hibs, Neto read the danger and was out quickly to punch clear before Boyle could make contact.
Obita and Bowie both had efforts on goal inside the first 20 minutes, but neither could properly cause the Bournemouth keeper any real danger.
After a lively opening 20 minutes, the Cherries took the lead through Philip Billing. The powerful midfielder was alive to the second phase following a corner-kick and found the bottom corner with an excellent finish from the edge of the box to give the hosts the advantage.
Both sides battled throughout the first 45 in what was a competitive encounter from start to finish.
The hosts went into the break with a two-goal cushion, adding a second through Evanilson after he capitalised on defensive mistake to slot the ball past Smith via a slight deflection.
Right on the half-time whistle, Bowie showed good strength and power to pin his man before heading his effort straight at Neto.
Half-time: AFC Bournemouth 2 Hibs 0
After a positive first-half display, the Hibees fought their way back further into the match in the second half thanks to a combination of excellent goalkeeping from Smith and positive, aggressive counter-attacking.
Smudge did well to prevent the hosts from adding a third at the beginning of the second period – providing a vital touch on a dangerous ball into the box to prevent a tap-in at the back post before Semenyo blazed over.
We continued to frustrate the hosts and kept our discipline in defence – keeping chances to a minimum – before pulling back a deserved goal just before the hour mark.
Bowie provided the finish to an excellent counter-attack which was crafted by Campbell. The Hibs midfielder won the ball back from deep before advancing powerfully into the Bournemouth half. He showed great composure to find Bowie, who steadied himself and calmly found the bottom corner with a clinical finish.
On the hour mark, Gray made a triple change – introducing Dylan Levitt, Jamie McGrath and Rocky Bushiri, with Manneh, Ekpiteta and Chris Cadden making way.
Both sides continued to carve out opportunities, with Junior Kroupi firing just wide of Smudge's left-hand post after a good pull-back from Justin Kluivert. Bowie won a corner in response after some positive hold-up play, before his shot was blocked - with the resulting set-piece eventually coming to nothing.
After 70 minutes, Smith made another comfortable routine save to deny Kroupi again, whose shot from range was comfortably held.
Boyle, Campbell and Obita all made way with 15 minutes to play – with Nicky Cadden, Junior Hoilett and Elie Youan all introduced into proceedings.
We carved out a flurry of corners and set-pieces as we went in search of an equaliser in the closing stages, while Smith made another good save to deny Semenyo. The pair were at it again minutes later, this time the Hibs goalkeeper saving with his feet to excellently deny Semenyo one-on-one.
Gray brought on Academy graduates Jacob MacIntyre and Kanayo Megwa, replacing Bowie and Mulligan, who both put in a tremendous shift for the best part of 80 minutes.
Semenyo was denied by Smith for a third time in quick succession, after Bournemouth turned the ball over in the middle of the pitch and countered quickly. The ball was eventually worked back to Semenyo on the penalty spot – who looked certain to score – but Smith was out quickly and blocked again, this time with his thigh.
Semenyo was then thwarted by a perfectly timed tackle from O’Hora as he was about to pull the trigger, before Rocky defended his near post bravely from a Bournemouth in-swinging corner.
The final kick of the game saw Levitt try a speculative effort from long-range as he looked to catch the Bournemouth ‘keeper off guard. The midfielder made good contact and had the goalkeeper scampering back, but his effort was held, and the referee brought a hard-fought encounter to a close.
Full-time: AFC Bournemouth 2 Hibs 1
Photo credits: Robin Jones, AFC Bournemouth
