'Proud moment' as Scott makes Premier League bow
Alex Scott became the first Guernseyman to play in the Premier League for more than 21 years on Saturday as he made his AFC Bournemouth debut.
Having recovered from the knee injury he suffered in August shortly before signing for the Cherries in a £20m.-plus deal from Bristol City, the 20-year-old was thrust straight into the starting XI for the home match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Vitality Stadium to follow in the footsteps of Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier, the previous Sarnian to play in English football’s top-flight.
Midfielder Scott was quick to make an impression, too, starting the attack that led to Bournemouth taking a 17th minute lead through Dominic Solanke’s sublime back-heeled finish.
Bournemouth held their lead until half-time, but after Wolves equalised just two minutes into the second half through Matheus Cunha, the Cherries were reduced to 10 men on 54min. when Lewis Cook received a straight red card for violent conduct.
Scott, who had been booked during a flurry of cards towards the end of the first half, was substituted shortly after that sending off while the sides were still level, but the afternoon ended in disappointment for the Cherries as Sasa Kalajdzic came off the bench to grab the winner for Wolves two minutes from time.
After the game, Scott posted pictures from the game on social media with the caption: ‘Proud moment. Stick with us, we’ll put things right’.
His head coach, Andoni Iraola, had words of praise for his young debutant.
‘I think Alex provides us [with] energy now,’ said the Spaniard.
‘We didn’t expect [on] the first day for him to be the best player on the pitch, but he gives us, especially on the ball, his ball-carrying. He works also, today, the manner without the ball and I think he did really well.
‘We knew that he could only play 45/55/60 minutes at the most because he’s coming [back] from a long injury, but he has been training really well so I think he is a very good addition for the team.’
