Hughes proves his value

The performance of Richard Hughes in the Middlesbrough match should not be underestimated. He has not started for AFCB for quite some time but had mainly been used as a late sub to tie-up games if the Cherries came under pressure. He has always been an excellent passer or the ball and one of the best at retaining possession so perhaps it was not so surprsing that Eddie Howe selected him to start at the weekend as he attempted to pass Middlesbrough to death.

Hughes managed to keep going until the 76th minute before he was replaced by Shaun MacDonald who had been struggling with a hip problem, picked up in the Barnsley match. Macca as always put in a strong performance as well when he came on. The man who perhaps would have liked to have had a more imposing game was Eunan O'Kane.

With Harry Arter and Andrew Surman on the treatment table we are still stretched in centre midfield and with the matches against Blackburn, Millwall and Leeds coming up fast I am hoping that some of AFCB's players get back soon.

At home the team has to take the game to the opposition in more of a creative way rather than playing on the break and Macca and O'Kane may be favourites to start against Blackburn, but Hughes has already shown that he is a safe option that still has much to offer in breaking up moves and starting things off for AFCB.