Championship: In switch of tactics, Bournemouth ‘defended for our lives’ to stay top

'We're finding a new way to win and I'll take that at this stage' said Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe after a 1-0 win against Reading on Tuesday kept them on a path to the Premier League with three to play.

Callum Wilson of Bournemouth, left, celebrates after scoring their goal in a 1-0 Championship win against Reading on Tuesday. Tom Dulat / Getty Images / April 14, 2015

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe praised his Championship leaders for their defensive stubbornness in a scrappy 1-0 win at strugglers Reading.

Howe’s normal free-flowing football had to be sacrificed as Reading launched a late onslaught that could have denied Bournemouth a vital victory.

With the three points sealed, courtesy of Callum Wilson’s fourth-minute goal, the club have at least guaranteed themselves a place in the play-offs.

“It was a nervy ending,” Howe said. “There was a lot at stake. We defended for our lives, we protected our goal superbly and we showed incredible mental strength to score so early and see the game out in the manner that we did.

“It was a different kind of win for us. But performances now are of less importance than results. We were strong at the back and I was pleased with our whole team’s defensive performance.

“I’d much prefer that we were playing total football as we’ve done the majority of the season. But we’re finding a new way to win and I’ll take that at this stage.”

Howe added: “It’s great to be in the play-offs. We’ve never been in this position before. We’ve come from nowhere this season to be where we are. So that’s a real achievement.”

Bournemouth went into the game top of the Championship and on the back of an unbeaten nine-match run. With 89 goals to their name, they led the scoring charts in the four divisions.

Within four minutes, they had added the 90th to their tally. Andrew Surman took aim from 20 yards and, after the effort had bounced off a post, Wilson guided it home from close range. It was his 22nd goal of the season.

Reading responded quickly, with Jamie Mackie almost equalising in the 17th minute with a toe-poked volley from Hal Robson-Kanu’s cross. Bournemouth keeper Artur Boruc pulled off a magnificent point-blank save.

Reading created more chances, as Bournemouth sat back, with Nathaniel Chalobah, Jordan Obita and Robson-Kanu all wasting opportunities.

Though Bournemouth were unable to get forward much, Matt Ritchie could have stretched their lead with a curling 20-yarder early in the second half that just crept over Adam Federici’s crossbar.

Although Reading finished in frantic fashion, Bournemouth held on firmly without any major scares.

“We gave it a real go throughout the whole game,” Kevin Keen, Reading’s assistant manager, said. “That shows the integrity of our club and the league. And we gave it a real go at the end.

“Perhaps the better team on the night probably lost but the best team throughout the season is going to go up to the Premier League. All credit to Bournemouth.

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