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Harry Wilson makes impressive start at Cardiff to earn his side a point against former club Bournemouth

Harry Wilson scores Cardiff's equaliser - GETTY IMAGES
Harry Wilson scores Cardiff's equaliser - GETTY IMAGES
  • Cardiff City 1 Bournemouth 1

Harry Wilson and Alex Smithies were the Cardiff City heroes as they delivered the goods at either end of the pitch to earn Neil Harris’ men a point against impressive Bournemouth.

On his first start Bluebirds start, Liverpool loanee and former Cherries man Wilson cancelled out Dominic Solanke’s opener for the visitors on a drizzly night in the Welsh capital.

But the key moment came when, with Bournemouth 1-0 up, home goalkeeper Smithies produced a miracle save to deny Solanke from doubling his tally.

Wilson promptly went straight up the other end to equalise.

“You saw two really good teams and a point was fair,” said Cardiff manager Harris. “It was toe-to-toe in the second half particularly. Credit to my players for coming back.

“Harry showed his class and quality and you can talk about his free-kicks and creativity, but it’s what he does without the ball as well which is important. I thought he was excellent.

“It was a great, great save from Alex. You need your goalkeeper against the best sides and Alex showed he’s up there with the best in the league.”

After some sloppy early passing, Bournemouth took control and deservedly moved ahead when Solanke tapped in from Jack Stacey’s cross.

Wilson was Cardiff’s bright spark, but Bournemouth should have been out of sight through Junior Stanislas and Solanke in the second half.

Only Smithies will know how he got something on Solanke’s attempted finish when he deflected the ball on to the bar in the second period.

Wilson then hit the woodwork with a trademark free-kick before the Wales international – who joined Cardiff on deadline day – equalised with a low, first-time finish from Junior Hoilett’s ball.

Stanislas hit the bar with a set-piece effort of his own which left Smithies motionless and Solanke missed a sitter of a header as the two sides shared the spoils in an entertaining game.

Bournemouth boss Jason Tindall said: “I’m disappointed we have come away with only a point because I felt we deserved all three. We should really have scored three or four goals.

“The save their keeper made was outstanding so full credit to him. We limited Cardiff – who are a very good side – to very few chances in the game, but we know all about Harry.

“If you give him room from that kind of distance, then nine times out of 10 the ball will end up in the back of the net. We have played well, but I know we can get much better.”

Match details

Cardiff City (4-3-2-1): Smithies; Bacuna, Morrison (capt), Nelson, Bagan; Pack (Ralls 69), Vaulks; Ojo (Murphy 79), Wilson, Hoilett; Glatzel (Moore 72)
Substitutes not used: Phillips, Bamba, Benkovic, Whyte
Goal: Wilson 62
Booked: Morrison, Ralls

Bournemouth (3-4-3): Begovic; Mepham, S Cook (capt), Rico; Stacey, Lerma, Gosling, Smith (Simpson 90); Stanislas, Danjuma (Riquelme 84), Solanke (Surridge 87,6)
Substitutes not used: Travers, Ofoborh, Billing, L Cook
Goal: Solanke 35

Referee: Simon Hooper