Huddersfield warned after dismal display

Two goals by the hosts in the final 18 minutes punished a woeful performance by Simon Grayson’s side, who trail second-placed Sheffield Wednesday by nine points.

Grayson’s assistant Glynn Snodin said: “We were all suffering on the bench because we expected a great performance. We did great preparation but we did not perform.

“We did not work hard enough off the ball and need to do better in the next four games.

“There have been words said in the dressing room. The players are playing for their futures and a place in the next four games.”

Huddersfield were lucky to be on level terms at half-time after Bournemouth striker duo Wes Thomas and Zavon Hines both passed up good chances.

It looked as if lady luck was smiling on the visitors when the ball somehow stayed out of Alex Smithies’s net following an amazing 50th-minute goalmouth scramble.

Smithies, the only visitor to emerge with any credit, did well to tip Marc Pugh’s free-kick onto a post before Hines’s rebound effort was cleared off the line and Thomas then blazed over.

Bournemouth opened the scoring through Scott Malone’s close-range shot and Pugh sealed the points with a neat finish past the onrushing Smithies eight minutes from time.

Bournemouth: Flahavan; Francis, Addison, Cook, Malone; Fogden, Cooper, Gregory (McDonald, 58), Pugh; Hines (Tyler 86), Thomas. Unused substitutes: Jalal, Zubar, Partington.

Huddersfield Town: Smithies; Morrison, P Clarke, T Clarke, Woods; Arfield, Robinson, Arismendi (Kay 79), Ward (Roberts 64); Rhodes, Cadamarteri (Lee 63). Unused substitutes: Bennett, Gudjonsson.

Referee: G Salisbury (Preston).