Bournemouth’s Unbeaten Run Ends As Zemura Misses Out For The First Time

Bournemouth’s record long unbeaten start to the season came to an end after suffering a 1-2 loss to Preston North End on Wednesday in the absence of key player Jordan Zemura who missed out for the first time this season due to injury.

The Cherries had gone for 15 games in the English Championship league without a loss, 11 wins and had only conceded eight goals with a five-point cushion at the top of the log- the club’s best-ever opening to a league campaign, breaking a previous benchmark that had stood for 60 years, but all came to an end at home against a side placed 14 places behind them on the log.

Coach Scott Parker was forced to make three changes to the team that started in 0-2 win against Reading including bringing in Welsh international Chris Mepham to replace Jordan Zemura who took a knock to his ankle at Reading.

It was the Cherries ‘first match without the Zimbabwean this season. The 21-year-old left-back had played in all previous 15 matches helping the team to keep nine clean sheets, scoring three goals and was the only player to play every minute of football in all 15 matches before he was forced off in the second half against Reading.

Bournemouth are still on top of the Championship league log table, but their lead gape was reduced to two points with Fulham who thrashed Blackburn 7-0 on the same day.

Zemura’s injury is a big blow to Scott Parker as his influence was plainly missed in yesterday’s loss where the team did everything, but lacked the tenacity and that last edge that’s usually brought by the presence of Zemura.

He will also be missed at internationals where he was expected to lead the Warriors against South Africa and Ethiopia on the 11th and 14th November after his impressive outing against Ghana in September.