Bournemouth falter in race for Europe as 10-man Crystal Palace scrape draw

It is unlikely anyone here will remember this game fondly in years to come. Bournemouth missed the chance to make up ground in the race for European football next season as 10-man Crystal Palace stood firm after a week in which they conceded five goals in two matches.

A red card for Chris Richards at the end of the first half left Oliver Glasner’s side with an uphill task to make it five successive home wins after the referee, Sam Barrott, had bizarrely decided against meting out the same punishment to Bournemouth’s Alex Scott. But while some of Palace’s players looked like their minds were on next weekend’s trip to Wembley, Andoni Iraola will be frustrated that his team could not take advantage as they failed to win for an 11th successive game in London since their triumph here in December 2023.

Glasner revealed that a meeting with his Palace players after their return from the 5-0 thrashing against Newcastle had “changed completely” the mood in his squad. The news that the outstanding right wing-back Daniel Muñoz has extended his contract until 2028 was another reason to feel optimistic as they prepare for the FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa. It was a 4-1 victory over Unai Emery’s side here in February that kickstarted their winning home run, although they will need to improve next week to stand a chance of returning for the final.

Bournemouth’s form seems to have eluded them at a crucial part of the campaign after they ended a seven match wait for a victory over fellow European chasers Fulham last week. Iraola, who is set to hold talks with owner Bill Foley next week over extending his contract amid reported interest from Tottenham, will be kicking himself they couldn’t take the points.

The Spaniard is not the only Bournemouth employee who is coveted elsewhere. Antoine Semenyo, who was rejected by Palace as a teenager and was linked with a move to Manchester United this week, had the first sight of goal after a quiet start from both sides but the Ghana forward mishit his shot and a deflection took Dean Huijsen by surprise at the back post as the ball struck him on the hip.

Bookings for central midfielders Tyler Adams and Scott were all that the home supporters had to get excited about as Palace struggled to find their rhythm in attack. By contrast, Bournemouth looked a threat every time they poured forward as Semenyo – who could cost up to £70m this summer if reports are to be believed – and Justin Kluivert found space in between the lines. Scott looked extremely relieved to escape another yellow card after hauling down Ismaïla Sarr just outside the area but a strangely subdued Eberechi Eze struck the wall with the resulting free kick.

Disaster struck for Palace on the stroke of half-time when Richards, who had earlier been cautioned for a foul on Dango Ouattara, was dismissed for pulling back Kluivert. Referee Barrott left the pitch to a chorus of boos and there were more when the fortunate Scott was replaced by Lewis Cook for the second half.

Glasner sacrificed Eze to bring on Jefferson Lerma against his former club and an already bad-tempered game threatened to spill over as another three players were cautioned within five minutes of the restart. Evanilson’s header from an Adam Smith cross that looped just wide of Dean Henderson’s goal was the nearest that Bournemouth came to break down a stubborn Palace defence. Iraola decided to go for broke and brought on Marcus Tavernier for Adams, who had also come close to being shown a second yellow card.

However it was Palace who came closest to snatching the three points at the end when Muñoz failed to connect with a cross from the right and Bournemouth were able to scramble the ball away just in time. But their winless run in the capital goes on.