Introduction
What a spectacle we witnessed at the Vitality Stadium on 22 November 2025. Bournemouth's thrilling 2-2 draw with West Ham showcased the Premier League at its most dramatic, as the Cherries mounted a remarkable comeback from two goals down against Nuno Espirito Santo's side. In this 12th round Premier League fixture, we observed a match that perfectly encapsulated the unpredictable nature of top-flight football.
Going into the fixture, Bournemouth were experiencing their first real dip of the season after consecutive defeats to Manchester City and Aston Villa, where they conceded seven goals. Meanwhile, West Ham arrived on the South Coast with renewed optimism following consecutive home victories that had moved them within goal difference of safety.
Tactical Analysis
Bournemouth lined up with Petrovic in goal, behind a defence featuring Marcos Senesi, Veljko Milosavljevic, Adrien Truffert and Adam Smith, with a midfield trio of Tyler Adams, Alex Scott and Justin Kluivert supporting an attacking trident of Marcus Tavernier, Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson. However, the Cherries were without star man Antoine Semenyo due to an ankle sprain picked up on international duty with Ghana.
West Ham deployed Alphonse Areola between the sticks, with Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman and El Hadji Malick Diouf forming the defensive unit alongside Aaron Wan-Bissaka, whilst Freddie Potts, Lucas Paquetá and Mateus Fernandes operated in midfield to support the attacking duo of Callum Wilson and Jarrod Bowen.
From our analysis, West Ham's tactical approach in the first half was notably direct. Wilson's two goals were underpinned by brilliant centre-forward play, holding off defenders before bringing the ball down with his chest. We noticed how the visitors effectively bypassed Bournemouth's midfield press through long balls from Areola, exploiting the wet conditions to great effect.
According to our observations, Nuno Espirito Santo's decision to substitute Wilson early in the second half proved costly. Even with the towering Tomas Soucek as replacement, there was no one leading the line to give West Ham respite when clearing their lines, resulting in the second half becoming one-way traffic.
Technical Performance
We observed contrasting halves in terms of technical execution. Wilson's first goal epitomised clinical finishing as he controlled Areola's long clearance on his chest before hitting a low shot from the edge of the box, with Bournemouth goalkeeper Petrovic getting two hands to the ball but unable to keep it out in the slippery conditions.
Wilson's second goal showcased excellent movement and technique, as a deep Freddie Potts free-kick was helped on by Bowen and Todibo, allowing Wilson to swivel and crash a superb volley high into the net. In our view, this demonstrated West Ham's effectiveness from set-pieces in the opening period.
Defensively, we noticed significant vulnerabilities in West Ham's second-half performance. The penalty incident highlighted defensive frailty as Max Kilman slid in to dispossess Evanilson but caught the ball with his trailing arm, allowing Tavernier to lash home from the penalty spot.
Areola's performance was absolutely phenomenal, making a staggering 10 saves including eight from inside the box, and was the only reason West Ham left with a point. From our analysis, his shot-stopping ability kept the Hammers in the game during Bournemouth's relentless second-half pressure.
Statistical Analysis
The statistical disparity tells the story of two distinct halves. Bournemouth's 76% possession dominance reflected their territorial advantage, particularly after the interval. Their 21 shots compared to West Ham's 3 illustrated the home side's attacking intent, though we noted that West Ham's clinical edge in the first half made the difference initially.
The 8-2 shots on target ratio in Bournemouth's favour demonstrated their ability to work clear opportunities, whilst the 9-2 corner count highlighted their sustained pressure. We observed that the relatively even foul count (9-10) suggested a competitive but fair contest, with the 3-2 card distribution indicating West Ham's slightly more aggressive defensive approach in the second period.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Bournemouth
Strengths:- Exceptional mental resilience to fight back from two goals down
- Dominant second-half performance with relentless attacking pressure
- Clinical penalty conversion and immediate impact from substitutes
- Vulnerable defending in wet conditions during the first half
- Missed the creativity and pace of absent Antoine Semenyo
- Poor finishing in crucial moments, particularly Tavernier's late miss
West Ham
Strengths:- Devastating counter-attacking play through long balls and Wilson's movement
- Outstanding goalkeeping performance from Alphonse Areola
- Clinical finishing when opportunities arose in the opening period
- Complete loss of attacking threat after Wilson's substitution
- Inability to maintain possession and territory in the second half
- Defensive frailty when under sustained pressure
Key Moments
Wilson's 11th-minute opener silenced the Vitality Stadium as he expertly controlled Areola's long ball before firing into the net. We identified this as the moment that shifted early momentum decisively towards the visitors.
Wilson's second goal on 35 minutes was a moment of individual brilliance, as the striker who scored 67 goals in six years at Bournemouth celebrated his first appearance back at the Vitality Stadium since leaving for Newcastle in 2020.
The penalty award after 67 minutes proved pivotal, as Kilman's handball gave Bournemouth their lifeline back into the contest. From our observation, this moment galvanised the home support and shifted momentum irreversibly.
Unal's 81st-minute equaliser was perhaps the most emotional moment of the match, as the Turkish forward struck just moments after coming off the bench, making only his second substitute appearance after recovering from his second ACL injury.
Player Ratings
Bournemouth
Marcus Tavernier - 7.5/10: We noticed his penalty conversion was crucial in sparking the comeback, though his late miss when well-placed cost his side all three points.
Enes Unal - 8/10: An inspirational substitute performance. Making only his second appearance after recovering from his second ACL injury, his emotional celebration reflected the significance of his crucial equaliser.
Evanilson - 6.5/10: Worked tirelessly in attack and won the penalty, though according to our analysis, his final ball lacked precision on several occasions.
West Ham
Callum Wilson - 8.5/10: The striker made Premier League history as the first player to score two or more goals in a first half without completing a single pass. We observed his clinical finishing and intelligent movement throughout his 52-minute display.
Alphonse Areola - 9/10: An absolutely phenomenal performance from the Frenchman, making 10 saves including eight from inside the box, and providing a rare assist for one of the goals. In our view, he single-handedly prevented a heavy defeat.
Max Kilman - 5/10: A difficult day at the office as he conceded the penalty that shifted momentum entirely, losing possession eight times and looking unsettled throughout.
Overall Summary
From our tactical perspective, Bournemouth deserved at least a point based on their second-half dominance and character shown in the comeback. The second half was the definition of one-way traffic, with the Cherries creating wave after wave of attacks even when thwarted by Areola's brilliance.
We believe West Ham's tactical approach in the first half was exemplary, but Nuno's decision to replace Wilson in the 52nd minute looks a head-scratcher given the striker's impact and the difficult conditions. The visitors must learn to better manage leads and maintain attacking outlets when defending advantages.
For Bournemouth, this result demonstrates their mental fortitude and attacking quality even without key players. However, they must address their vulnerability to direct play and improve their concentration levels to avoid falling behind so dramatically.
Future Outlook
This result denied West Ham a third consecutive Premier League victory under Nuno Espirito Santo, potentially slowing their climb away from the relegation zone. We expect the Portuguese manager to reassess his substitution policies, particularly regarding key performers like Wilson.
For Bournemouth, this comeback could prove psychologically significant. According to our analysis, their ability to mount such a dramatic fightback without Semenyo suggests strong squad depth. With their last three-game losing streak dating back to May 2024, this point could maintain their positive momentum.
Tactically, we anticipate Bournemouth will look to start matches with greater intensity to avoid early deficits, whilst West Ham must find ways to maintain attacking threat when protecting leads. Both sides showed enough quality to suggest mid-table security, though consistency will be crucial for their respective ambitions this season.