Bournemouth 2 Stoke 2: The visitors were pegged back twice by the Cherries as both sides confirmed Premier League status at the Vitality

STOKE CITY will be kicking themselves as they twice threw away the lead against Bournemouth at the Vitality stadium.

A Lys Moussett own goal and Mame Biram Diouf's first goal for a year gave the visitors the lead twice, but Bournemouth fought back through Junior Stanislas and a Ryan Shawcross own goal.

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The Cherries home is called the Vitality, but there was none of that in the opening 20 minutes, the game had all the intensity of a Village fete, with both sides assured of Premier League safety.

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Harry Arter had other thoughts, with his crunching tackle on Joe Allen, he just about got the ball first, and referee Paul Tierny could have easily swapped his yellow card for red.

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Adam Smith hit the post for the home side after an excellent passing exchange between Josh King and Junior Stanislas.

Xherdan Shaqiri was unlucky not to strike first for Stoke, Marko Arnautovic on the break found the Swiss international, whose shot had beaten Artur Boruc, but Steven Cook got back to block his goal bound shot.

Finally, after 10-and-a-half hours without an away goal, Stoke scored, but it was thanks to a Mousset own goal.

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The French striker, making his full home debut, headed into his own goal, defending Arnautovic's in swinging corner, for his first goal of the season, unfortunately at the wrong end.

Cherries top scorer Josh King should have equalised before the break, when Stanislas' cross found the striker who skied his close range volley.

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Stoke boss cut a frustrated man in the technical area, as Arnautovic should have killed the game off when he headed Allen's cross over the bar from six yards out.

Stoke were punished seconds later when Smith raided down the right, and his cross was coolly finished by Stanislas for his fifth goal of the season.

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The visitors took the lead again on 72 minutes when Mame Biram Diouf finally ended has 25 game goal drought.

The Senegalese striker bagged from close range after the home side failed to deal with Geoff Cameron's cross.

Josh King thought he'd scored his 16th goal of the season, Smith again forcing the issue down the right, sub Max Gradel's miscued his header and it fell to King who forced it home.

Replays showed Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross got the final touch and was credited with an own goal.

Facts, Stats, Goals and Lols

• Stoke are known for their passionate fans but their section wasn’t full. Was it the part-closure of the M3 or nearly 10 hours without an away goal which put them off?
• Stoke may wear a sky blue away kit but Mark Hughes’ bid to make them a bit more like former club Man City has stalled a bit, hasn’t it?
• Whoever predicted a low-key game was right early on, the only moments of interest being the niggly little battle between Adam Smith and Marko Arnautovic.

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• As a forward who liked to put himself a bit, Stoke boss Mark Hughes was incredulous about some of the free kicks given against his team and against Arnautovic in particular.
• When Smith hit the post it was the 19th time Bournemouth had been denied by the woodwork this season, behind only Tottenham and Manchester City?
• “You’re just a fat Ryan Fraser” was the perceptive assessment by the Bournemouth fans of Stoke’s Xherdan Shaqiri as he lined up a free kick.
• “If he plays for Stoke, you send him off” was the visiting fans’ retort when Harry Arter was guilty of an X-rated lunge on Joe Allen. Sure enough, Arter was only booked. Another terrible decision.

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• This was the same Harry Arter who had cleaned up his act and controlled his emotions this season, according to an interview with Howe in the local paper.
• Stoke fans were soon in a better mood, greeting the end of the goal drought on their travels with a chorus of “How s*** must you be, we’re winning away”.
• It was Little and Large on the respective benches, with 5ft 4in Ryan Fraser in the home dugout and 6ft 7in Peter Crouch in the other.

Big Picture

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Dream Team Ratings

Bournemouth: Boruc 6, Adam Smith 7, Francis 6, Steve Cook 6, Daniels 6, Stanislas 7(Gradel 72,6) Arter 6, Lewis Cook 6, Pugh 6 (Ibe,78,6), King 6, Mousset 5(Fraser 58, 6).
Subs not used: Allsop, Mings, Cargill, Brad Smith.
Booked:Arter, Gradel
Goals: Stanislas (62) Shawcross OG (81)
Stoke City:Butland 6, Johnson 6, Shawcross 5, Martins Indi 6, Muniesa 6, Cameron 7, Whelan 6, Allen 7, Shaqiri 6, Diouf 7 (Walters,76,5), Arnautovic 6 (Pieters,90,6).
Subs not used: Grant, Berahino, Adam, Crouch, Ramadan.
Goals:Mousset OG (33), Diouf(73)

STAR MAN: ADAM SMITH

Social Says

What they said

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe: "It means everything to the club to establish ourselves in the Premier League. It is an incredibly tough league as we found this year.

"It was a real challenge to break down Stoke but we made it harder for ourselves by twice having to come from behind.

"We have the same points total as last year so now we are looking to beat that and try and finish in the top 10."

On Harry Arter's challenge on Joe Allen: "A few years ago that would have been seen as an outstanding tackle but it is a difficult one, I think he got the ball flush but you don't want to see players hurt and I think the referee made the right call."

Stoke boss Mark Hughes, speaking to BBC Sport: "Disappointed not to win but I thought it was a good performance. We had a gameplan to frustrate them and it worked.

"I think their first goal was offside, and we are disappointed the referee did not see fit to send one of their players early on in the game. A terrible challenge on Joe Allen, the lad was out of control.

"You saw the result for West Ham last night. By getting the three points they went up six places, it shows how close the middle group is. I felt we were the better side today."