From a 17-point hole to a European home win

Bournemouth’s first European home match was framed by a reminder of how close the club came to disappearing. Supporters at the Vitality Stadium raised a tifo reading “Minus 17 to European dreams” before the Cherries beat Sturm Graz 3-0.

The words recalled Bournemouth’s League Two campaign in 2008-09. After entering administration and suffering relegation from League One with a 10-point deduction, the club accepted a further 17-point penalty to take part in the following season. Managed by Eddie Howe, Bournemouth recovered to finish 21st and avoid dropping out of the Football League.

The escape became the starting point for a longer climb that brought the club its first promotion to the Premier League in 2015. Now, their European campaign has opened with two wins. The victory over Sturm Graz made Bournemouth only the second English side to win its first two matches in a major European competition, following Bolton’s achievement in the Uefa Cup 21 years earlier.

Smith makes his own piece of club history

Adam Smith, Bournemouth’s longest-serving player, had admitted before the match that he could never have imagined captaining the club in Europe. The 35-year-old, who first joined on loan from Tottenham in 2011, supplied the cross for Evanilson to head in Bournemouth’s first European goal at home late in the first half.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Smith told TNT Sports. “The fans were up for it, the players were up for it, so we are very happy.” He added that the performance was “an AFC performance right there.”

Smith has made more than 430 appearances for Bournemouth since making his move permanent in 2014 and has been part of three promotions. When he was substituted for James Hill in the second half, supporters stood to applaud and chanted his name.

Former Bournemouth defender Joel Ward praised Smith’s perseverance, calling him an example of “what hard work looks like” and saying he deserved to enjoy a night like this. Ward also said owner Bill Foley had invested in the club and wanted to see Bournemouth reach Europe.

Focus switches back to the league

Manager Marco Rose said the team’s togetherness and the support of the crowd made Bournemouth difficult to beat, and urged them to carry that attitude into their next match. The article reported the Cherries were 18th in the Premier League and still seeking their first league win of the season ahead of a meeting with Sunderland.

A visit from AC Milan was due to follow, offering another landmark occasion as Bournemouth’s European story continued. For supporters, though, the Sturm Graz result had already delivered an extraordinary contrast with the club’s struggle to survive less than two decades earlier.