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Bournemouth and the Premier League's history of crazy turnarounds

Eurofotbal / Martin Vejdělek
Bournemouth were 0-3 down to Luton, but eventually won 4-3.
Bournemouth were 0-3 down to Luton, but eventually won 4-3.AFP
The unheralded Premier League newcomer from Luton has offered one attractive spectacle after another this season, but their game at Bournemouth on Wednesday was even more special.

It also caught the attention of spectators because it was a repeat of the December game in which Tom Lockyer collapsed.

He thanked the medical staff before the game, but he could only be satisfied with what was happening on the pitch until half-time - in the second half the Hatters lost a three-goal lead and were beaten 4-3.

It was Luton's third seven-goal shootout this season, after the defeat to Arsenal and the draw at Newcastle, with a total of 100 goals scored in their Premier League matches.

In addition to the memories of the fans, the duel at the Vitality Stadium also made history in the competition. It was only the sixth time in its history that any team secured points with four consecutive goals after being the first to score three times.

Here's a list of memorable matches in which one of the participating clubs rallied to snatch at least a point from a three-goal deficit.

Leeds 4-3 Derby (1997/1998)

The first time Leeds managed a similar feat was in November 1997.

They entered the home game from a position just behind their opponents Derby.

The latter, after two goals from Dean Sturridge and a converted penalty in the 33rd minute, was clearly heading for more points, only to be lulled into a comfortable lead.

Before half-time, the home players and supporters were still getting blood in their veins with goals from the team's top scorer at the time, Rod Wallace, along with club and Australian legend Harry Kewell. Nothing happened for a long time after the break, however two late goals set the Whites on their way to victory.

This proved to be very valuable in the final tally, as they were four points away from fifth place and Derby ninth, earned by this heroic turnaround.

West Ham 3-4 Wimbledon (1998/1999)

In their penultimate season among the English elite, Wimbledon helped themselves significantly to salvation at the very beginning of the competition, which still kept them in eighth place after the halfway point of the season. The fourth-round win at Upton Park had its part to play.

Ian Wright's two goals quickly helped West Ham to a three-goal lead. The visitors' lightning reduction did not shake the Hammers and they controlled the game for a long time.

They only turned their attention after just over an hour of play when first goal scorer Marcus Gayle assisted on the next. He then improved his productivity in the 77th minute with a second goal, and Efan Ekoku completed the turnaround with a header.

Tottenham 3-5 Manchester United (2001/2002)

In the spring of 2001, Sir Alex Ferguson's Red Devils completed their league hat-trick, but instead of a determined move to defend their title, the start of the new season brought a series of stumbles. One of those came at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham, also struggling, pulled off a magnificent first half and went into the dressing rooms with a three-goal lead.

Probably nobody at the former Spurs stand imagined anything other than getting the coveted three points against the favourite. But he said a resounding no. In a flash, Andy Cole got Manchester United's blood pumping, with Laurent Blanc's header after a quarter of an hour.

 Ruud van Nistelrooy equalised with the same body of work, quickly followed by Juan Sebastián Verón. If you'd like to see another star name, David Beckham made a five-goal comeback at the end.

Wolverhampton 4-3 Leicester (2003/2004)

Like the previous game on this list, the 20-season-old clash of newcomers at Molineux produced two completely different halves.

The opening one brought a rampage from the visiting Les Ferdinand, whose two quick strikes, along with a late Riccardo Scinmeca goal, put the previously underachieving Leicester team in a promising position.

However, Wolves, who were also not enjoying an ideal start to the season, did not pack anything in. By the time the 70th minute was on the clock, the score was already tied, with another two-goal scorer Colin Cameron contributing.

A huge cheer in Wolverhampton was then triggered by Henri Camara's tidy ground centre between the three posts.

In the final accounting of the season, neither team could attach much weight to this attractive game.

Both ended the season quite clearly on the relegation places and wandered back into the unforgiving waters of a stiff fight for the top competition.

Newcastle 4-4 Arsenal (2010/2011)

A match that stands out in this list and the annals of the Premier League. This is the only time so far that a team has lost by a four-goal margin and still come away with points.

Arsenal travelled from second in the table to St. James' Park as favourites and confirmed that from the start. Goals from Theo Walcott, Johan Djourou and Robin van Persie provided Newcastle 's home side with a horror opening ten minutes, which the Dutch goalscorer followed up during the first half.

The second half was uneventful until the 68th minute when the referee pointed to the penalty kick mark after a Koscielny foul. The upcoming 20 minutes are probably something every Arsenal supporter is trying to erase from their memory.

Joey Barton converted a penalty and then another, while Leon Best made his mark and the late Cheick Tioté made history with a memorable long-range volley.

Bournemouth 4-3 Luton (2023/2024)

The freshest addition happened somewhat in the shadow of Arsenal and Atlético Madrid's penalty turnarounds in the Champions League. Bournemouth came close to being cast in the unflattering role of the losing team last season - after all, despite a two-goal lead, they came away defeated from duels with Tottenham and Arsenal.

However, Wednesday night at the Vitality Stadium was considerably more enjoyable for him, even if it didn't look like it at first.

Tahiti Chong, Chiedozie Ogbene and Ross Barkley all scored goals to underline a successful first half for the visitors from Luton.

However, it was a very different Cherries on their return from the changing rooms. Dominik Solanke threw down the gauntlet to his teammates, the latter picked up within 14 minutes by Ilya Zabarnyi and Antoine Semenyo. The Ghanaian striker extended his goal tally this season to seven late on to fire the Cherries to three points.

Thanks to them, Andoni Iraola's selection increased the lead on the relegation 18th place, currently occupied by Luton, to 14 points and made probably the definitive step towards salvation.

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