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Premier League
AFC Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham United 

Saturday, 22nd November 2025
by Chris Wilkerson | Forum match thread

On a weekend where big leads have been blown in spectacular fashion, West Ham United did just enough to hold onto a point down at the Vitality Stadium as Bournemouth fought back from two goals down to share the points in an engrossing 2-2 draw.

And where Ben Stokes's sorry team can be questioned for only attacking, Nuno may wonder whether he went too defensive with a 2-0 half-time lead as his side struggled to break out of their own box or relieve any pressure on their defence.




In the end, West Ham can be happy with a point, a result they may well have taken before the start of play up against one of the league's most heralded sides so far this season. They would have felt differently at half time, but having been forced to hang on with desperation, they can thank Alphonse Areola for the point they got after the French goalkeeper made a reel of fantastic and crucial saves.

With Paqueta suspended, and Summerville a surprise injury absence, the manager made two changes, replacing the Dutch winger with Luis Guilherme, and bringing Igor in for Paqueta to move the team into a back three. On his bench, he welcomed back wantaway striker Niclas Fullkrug.

For Bournemouth, the talismanic Semenyo was unable to recover from an injury in time to appear, so Iraola, unbeaten in four against Espirito Santo, used both Evanilson and Kroupi Jr in a front two, a rare occurrence in football these days.

Both sides had to contend with horrible conditions, the wind a key factor in play and a consistent downpour throughout to welcome back the players from their international breaks. It was The Hammers with the winds at their back in the first half, looking to win three on the spin for the first time since December 2023.

They were under early pressure, Kilman with a fantastic defensive header in his own six-yard-box inside the first minute, but the wind gave them some help in defence, holding crosses and high balls up and protecting West Ham from one weakness.

Indeed, it was the away side who used the wind to good effect and took the lead after 11 minutes, and Callum Wilson's opener could well be West Ham's goal of the season. A long ball forward from Areola arrowed into the Bournemouth final third, and the centre back Senesi got under it and missed his header.

Wilson didn't make an error, jumping to take the ball on his chest beautifully, cushioning it down into his path and watching with glee as it bounced up perfectly for the striker to take on a shot from 20 yards.




The slick, wet surface was ideal for his skidding effort, which fired off the turf and at Petrovic in the Bournemouth goal quicker than the Serbian could handle. He lost his footing trying to react as it rifled low to his right, a desperate hand only enough to parry it on its way into the back of his net, and West Ham had a surprise lead. What physicality and agility he may have lost, Wilson is still a top-class goalscorer, and this was as good a goal as he's ever scored.

That was the only shot of the opening 20 minutes, but the game was becoming all about the pressure Bournemouth could build.

The Hammers strugged to retain possession, a problem that only got significantly worse in the second half, and more guilty than anyone was Guilherme, who was struggling. Everything was just a touch off, his passes a little short or a little wayward, his control just a little too loose when trying to carry. It was good to see the young Brazilian used with Summerville out, and whilst his game was ended at half time, this poor performance hopefully isn't his last chance to make an impression with the new manager.

Brooks created Bournemouth's first chance with a lovely flicked pass over the defence that Kroupi could not get over as he volleyed high and wide. Having created that opening, the Welshman should have done better five minutes later when the lively Tavernier played a low ball into the box. It was on Brooks's favoured left, but he dragged it wide from 12 yards out.

There was some handbags on the sideline that saw Brooks and Todibo booked, the situation calmed as Nuno dragged the Bournemouth winger away, but moments later, the lead was doubled.

A long diagonal freekick from the left was arrowed towards Bowen on the right side of the Bournemouth area. Alex Scott won the header, but only into the air, and then lost the second duel with Bowen, who flicked it into the middle. Todibo rose to nod it forward, and then it was penalty box magic from Wilson.

The striker took it on the chest, and as it bounced down at his feet, he swivelled and took on the shot as he span around, hitting with his left as he suddenly went from his back to goal to facing it, and his effort flew off into the top corner of the Bournemouth. West Ham had a 2-0 lead on the south coast.




Areola was forced into a sharp save from Scott as the midfielder danced into the box and struck low at the near post, but that was all as West Ham went into the half-time break with a two-goal lead.

A strong position at the break can quickly disappear, and with the wind now pushing Bournemouth forward, the second half quickly devolved into an exercise of attack versus defence. Walker-Peters was brought on to replace Guilherme, and seven minutes into the half, Wilson went off for Soucek and West Ham signalled their intent to cling on to what they had.

And that is what they did. The Hammers could not form an attack, could not find a man to clear to, and could not hold onto the ball. It was desperate. Kilman may have saved a goal from a corner as the otherwise flawless Areola got lost under a ball and the wind nearly helped it on its way into the net, but the big defender covered around to clear off the line.

Considering the conditions, with the wind whipping the rain and the ball at their goal, West Ham showed remarkable resolve in defending set pieces. Christie could have done better just short of the hour mark, walking onto a ball in the box and shooting from a central area, only to fire right at Areola.

There was always the sight of Bowen fighting his hardest to West Ham up the pitch to find encouragement from, and the captain fought valiantly when consistently surrounded by the black and red of Bournemouth. But even when he beat two or three, there was always another man to face, such was Bournemouth's dominance of territory and relentless workrate.

But with 25 minutes remaining, Bournemouth were quite literally handed a lifeline. A rare moment where West Ham were out of shape and not packed into their own half saw Jimenez coming off the right wing and driving at an exposed defence. He slotted the ball cutely through to Evanilson into the box and the Brazilian striker looked free to slot it home from close range and only Areola to beat.

If not for the sliding figure of Kilman, who came across the area and slid desperately in front of Evanilson, looking to block the shot he expected to come. But the centre back was down and in front of his man before that shot came, and all he ended up doing was poking the ball away from him with his outstretched hand, that was out and sliding with him to break his fall.




The referee quickly, and correctly, pointed to the spot, and VAR was happy to agree with him that Kilman's arm was to support his fall, not an intentional handball. Tavernier stepped up and smashed it home, Areola diving to his left and diving too far, the ball hit too hard for him to throw an arm out and stop it.

The West Ham manager reacted, probably hoping he could find a way to get the ball to at least stay in the Bournemouth half for a minute or two at a time. On came Fullkrug for Fernandes, sacrificing some midfield energy.

It was hard for the manager. He may have gone defensive, but he would never have asked his team to lose possession so consistently. His mistake may have been the half-time change, Walker-Peters just too defensive, and Fernandes could have played on the left with Soucek into the midfield.

Fullkrug didn't really work, a few nice touches not enough to cover his lack of mobility, but the rest of the game truly was about what Areola could do to save his team. The best came with 15 minutes to go. A fantastic sweeping move saw Bournemouth play deftly through the middle, cute touches unlocking the space to move them into the final third.

A quick pass out wide was immediately fired low into the area, and Kroupi Jr stepped up to it and passed the ball towards the corner, only for Areola to flick out a leg and deflect it wide as he ran across his own goal, going in the opposite direction to the shot. How he managed to get his leg out so sharply, reacting so well to quickly and firmly knock it wide from such close range, was astonishing.

Unfortunately for him, the defence was too easily cracked again five minutes later, and this time the finish beat him.

With no release to Bournemouth's pressure, the defence was able to push high and play forward. Senesi stepped up with the ball, 30 yards from goal. Nobody closed him down, and it looked like the centre back might shoot. Instead he fired a pass into the feet of substitute Eres Unal.




The Turkish forward had scored a stoppage time equaliser against West Ham last season, but was there to break hearts as early as the 81st minute this time. On the field for 55 seconds, he swivelled in the box when taking the pass in, beat his man in doing so, and then clipped a shot past Areola from close range to make it 2-2 and set up his side for a dramatic finish.

The hosts were primed for victory, with West Ham hanging on. Evanilson soon forced another good save, a freekick passed low into the box ricocheting to Senesi, who found the Brazilian striker ready to shoot, only to see his quick effort batted away by Areola, the rebound fired over by Tavernier.

A minute later, Evanilson was put through on goal by a bad header from Igor, who got under a high clearance and only flicked his header on through his own defence. Evanilson sprinted through, Todibo on his shoulder, only for the striker to slip without a touch just outside the box.

Areola made another strong save as Wan-Bissaka let the ball bounce and lost his man, and the pressure wouldn't stop. With barely a second to rest, Unal should have scored straight after, a shot from the edge deflecting around the box and to the feet of the forward, but his shot saw Areola with another great reaction save with his feet.

With 28 shots in the game, Bournemouth had forced Areola into eight saves, and many of them very good ones. A last-gasp opening in stoppage time was shut down by some great reactive defending by Todibo, reading the danger when Unal was played in behind and storming across to snuff it out.

There was a late challenge by Senesi in the middle of the park that could have been punished with more than a yellow, but West Ham played out the remaining time and held on.

It could be a very valuable point against a team not many will enjoy facing away from home, but wins for Fulham and Forest put a bit of a dampener on things. Still, it was enough to take them above Leeds on goal difference, even if Forest jumped above both to keep West Ham in 17th place.




Manager's Rating

Nuno Espirito Santo: 6/10 A tough one, his bench options are so limited, but Walker-Peters did not help push the team forward and it needed it. The team were left too long just defending with no option to release the play, but Fullkrug barely moves and Earthy is barely fit.

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Player Ratings

Alphonse Areola
Just short of perfection, he made a raft of fantastic and vital saves to keep this from a cricket score - an Australian cricket score. Reactions were fantastic, both with his feet and hands, and all he could have done better was command on corners. He had a slight chance with the penalty, but no judgement for not getting to it.


Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Solid enough, but nearly gave the game up by allowing a very good chance as he slept on a bouncing ball.


El Hadji Malick Diouf
He was busy defensively, making 10 clearances, but his ability on the ball was very much lacking. He lost the ball too often.


Igor Julio
Good on the ball, but not a disciplined defender. Possibly culpable on both goals, and nearly set Evanilson up with a bad header.


Max Kilman
Not a bad performance, and the penalty was him throwing himself across to cover the mistakes of others, but he was turned too easily a couple of times in the box.


Jean-Clair Todibo
Todibo is looking better and better under Nuno, Since being dropped for Mavropanos, and coming back with the Greek injured, he has been very good, and today he was up for the fight and maintained his concentration throughout, staying aware of dangers.


Freddie Potts
Snapped into some tackles, but got absolutely swamped in the second half as his side retreated and midfield was lost. Struggled to keep possession, with forward passes absolutely limited by lack of options.


Mateus Fernandes
Was better than Potts but also got a bit lost in the desperation of the second half. Surprised to see him substituted.


Luis Guilherme
He didn't look ready for the pace of Premier League football, which is no real surprise of a young Brazilian on only his second PL start. Lost the ball too easily on a number of occasions and just seemed on the periphery of the game.


Jarrod Bowen
Scrapped and fought, and had any of the others shown his ability to deal with Bournemouth's pressure, or indeed had a teammate been able to play a pass to him, the result may have been different.


Callum Wilson
There's scoring goals by being in the right place and using your striker's nous, and then you get the brace he got here, both entirely of his own making and skill. The first goal is absolutely fantastic, the perfection of the chest control into his path on a ball from so far, in wild wind, and dropping over the head of the defender, it was so difficult even before the finish, which he then did with aplomb. A little unlucky to go off so early.

Substitutes

Kyle Walker-Peters
(Guilherme 46') Disciplined and hardworking, but contributed to the team falling deeper and deeper.


Tomas Soucek
(Wilson 52') Struggled on the ball and had no impact in play, but won more headers in 40 minutes than anybody else.


Niclas Fulkrug
(Fernandes 74') A touch too static for the game state, but did show a couple clever little touches and passes.


Mads Hermansen
Did not play.


Guido Rodriguez
Did not play.


Soungoutou Magassa
Did not play.


Andy Irving
Did not play.


Ezra Mayers
Did not play.


George Earthy
Did not play.

Match Facts

West Ham United: Alphonse Areola, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Igor Julio, Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo, Freddie Potts, Mateus Fernandes, Luis Guilherme, Jarrod Bowen, Callum Wilson.

Goals: Callum Wilson 11 Callum Wilson 35                .

Booked: Jean-Clair Todibo  0 Aaron Wan-Bissaka 0        .

Sent Off: None sent off.     .

AFC Bournemouth: Petrovic, Cook (c), Diakite (Jimenez 46), Senesi, Truffert, Adams (Unal 80), Scott (Christie 46), Brooks (Adli 61), Tavernier, Evanilson, Kroupi (Smith 86).

Subs not used: Dennis, Soler, Hill, Milosavljevic.

Goals: Tavernier (69), Unal (81).

Booked: Brooks, Truffert, Senesi.

Sent off: None.

Referee: Thomas Bramall.

Attendance: 11,216.

Man of the Match: Alphonse Areola.