Canaries fans have been expecting big things from Onel Hernandez as he returns to the Championship but it’s been a relatively quiet start to the season for the tricky winger.
However, the Cuban, like City in general, was looking much brighter overall at Bournemouth - even if Daniel Farke’s team weren’t able to turn their dominance into points against a team they hope will be one of their promotion rivals.
Hernandez started on the right and in the third minute good work from Kenny McLean and Teemu Pukki allowed him the chance to try and play his wide colleague Przemek Placheta in on goal, but he put too much on his pass forward and keeper Asmir Begovic was able to claim the ball.
The 27-year-old turned Steve Cook on halfway and charged through on goal soon after but the Bournemouth skipper clipped his heels slightly and caused him to lose possession, although it was not enough for a free-kick in the referee’s eyes.
City keeper Tim Krul shouted “fantastic” towards the winger as he showed good determination to get up and win a kick clear, flicking to Lukas Rupp and getting the ball back, then putting just a bit too much on the pass down the wing to the midfielder, who was still able to win a corner.
There were several good moments of understanding with Rupp, including after McLean had done well to win back possession as an attack broke down in the 14th minute, with Hernandez cutting in from the right and hitting a rasping left-footed effort which Begovic did well to turn behind.
A few minutes later he skewed a shot but got lucky as it won a corner anyway and then popped up on the left in the 19th minute, exchanging a one-two with Rupp before flashing a cross past everyone in the box.
More nice link-up with Rupp led to Aarons putting too much on a cross in the 29th minute and soon after his determination flicked on a Xavi Quintilla throw to Rupp, who couldn’t find Pukki.
The speedy attacker was chucking his water bottle to the floor in frustration after seeing Bournemouth take the lead through Arnaut Danjuma and that seeped into his play, trying to bundle his way into the box on one occasion, getting in a muddle after Aarons had played him down the right and seeing a pass intercepted by Diego Rico before the break.
His second half was less eventful, nearly getting Pukki away in the 53rd minute and being robbed easily by Chris Mepham on the edge of the Bournemouth box six minutes later.
The Armenia Bielefeld youth product’s frustration was starting to get the better of him, slipping as he tried to shoot just after the hour mark.
He so nearly had Pukki in on goal in the 64th minute, quickly whipping a cross behind the Bournemouth back line in the 64th minute, but just beyond the City striker.
His last significant contribution was to win a corner after being played down the right by Skipp, before being replaced by Adam Idah in the 74th minute.
VERDICT: His brightest display of the season yet, would probably have had something to cheer about for his efforts against weaker opposition, but Bournemouth’s five-man defence did the job to deny the Canaries despite the visitors dominating.
RATING: 7 out of 10
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