I wasn't there the day Wayne Henderson got in a horrible tangle at Dean Court. But I was listening to Andrew Hawes’ commentary on BBC local radio so got some idea of what was going on. Even if Hawesy himself seemed barely able to believe his own eyes.
The Irish goalkeeper tripped over the ball in front of his own goal seconds from the end and cost Albion what would have been a hard-earned New Year’s Day point in hard-up times. That mishap probably summed up, albeit to an extreme, some of the Seagulls’ experiences at Bournemouth over the last few years. As has been pointed out in recent days, it has not been an easy place to win.
Why is that? It wasn’t the biggest crowd they played in front of back in the Championship. Even League One had more imposing venues to attend. And now they are in the Premier League.
But, a bit like Luton, a small crowd within tight confines can make for a difficult atmosphere when they get going. It is certainly a different challenge of technique and composure to playing before 40,000 or more in bigger stadia. Albion have sometimes seen an initial air of assurance eroded on previous visits to this stadium.
And a cool, clear head is a key element in the way Fabian Hurzeler’s side like to play. They have come up against some shrewd coaches, too, from the tactical point of view. Eddie Howe and his assistant, Andoni Iraola and, on one occasion in League One, Lee Bradbury, whose side downed Gus Poyet’s table-toppers.
So what do we expect this .
