A STAR IS BOURNE

Kroupi strikes again for Cherries as Dyche is given a reality check

- BY RACHEL STEINBERG

SUNDERLAND sat in second place on Saturday night, replaced by Bournemouth less than 24 hours later. Welcome to the season of the unexpected.

Only Arsenal sit above Andoni Iraola’s side in the table after a victory inspired by their new goalscoring sensation Eli Junior Kroupi.

But it was a disappointing first league match in charge of Nottingham Forest for Sean Dyche, after the euphoria of their 2-0 Europa League win against Porto on Thursday night.

Almost a quarter of the way into this campaign and only two sides have lost a single match each - leaders Arsenal and Bournemouth, second and just four points behind them. Iraola could be on the threshold of one of the greatest Premier League stories.

Marcus Tavernier struck in the 25th minute direct from a corner with Kroupi doubling their advantage - the fourth goal in the 19-year-old’s last three Cherries appearances (celebrating below).