Bournemouth news: Scott Parker says Cherries 'deserve' Premier League spot
- Planet Sport writer
- 3 May 2022
Cherries book top-flight return with 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, who land on wrong end of poor decision by the officials.
Bournemouth boss Scott Parker says his side "deserve" their place in the Premier League after winning promotion on a controversial night at the Vitality Stadium.
The Cherries beat promotion rivals Nottingham Forest 1-0 thanks to a late goal from substitute Kieffer Moore to clinch second place in the Championship and return to the top flight after two years away.
However, Forest, who knew a win would keep the promotion race in their own hands, had earlier denied a clear-cut penalty due to an erroneous offside decision, one which their boss, Steve Cooper, later said the officials had apologised for.
Parker, though, was adamant his side fully deserved to clinch promotion with a game to spare.
He said: "I am very proud of the team and the group of players.
"I see this group every day from the minute I walk in here. This group are a special group and they deserve their moment, they deserve to be in the Premier League.
"I am excited and pleased we are in the Premier League. We deserve it. Our aim was to get promoted and we have done it."
A HUGE ROAR 🤯
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 3, 2022
Could this goal secure promotion to the Premier League for Bournemouth? ⬆️ pic.twitter.com/QmofPZthJm
Moore, a January signing from Cardiff, bagged the only goal, firing home seven minutes from time.
But the hosts could not have complained had they fallen behind earlier in the evening with former Cherry Sam Surridge striking the bar after only nine minutes.
Kieffer Moore celebrates his winning goal
The big controversy arrived three minutes before half time when home keeper Mark Travers brought down Surridge inside the penalty area only for the spot kick not to be awarded due to an offside flag which TV replays showed had been wrongly raised.
Cooper, whose side will not have to enter the play-offs, said: "I think we were the better team in the first half but just didn't take our chances, more due to bad luck.
Officials' apology
"It was a big decision from the referee and linesman for the Surridge offside and they have just pulled me into the office to apologise.
"They have held their hands up but we know decisions haven't really been with us this year.
🗣️ "I dreamt of this moment from the start."
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 3, 2022
Kieffer Moore and Philip Billing reveal how their promotion winning goal came about...pic.twitter.com/w7h3yNsXVb
"It hurts but we have to get over it now and get ready for the play-offs."
