AFCB's centre back pairing are improving all the time

Tommy Elphick must be scratching his head wondering how he is going to manage to get a good run in this Cherries team. Elliott Ward had something to prove when he came back into the starting 11 at Burnley. It would have been easy for Eddie Howe to leave him out, but his experience of playing at Turf Moor and his special role of keeping Danny Ings quiet was set as a big challenge for him which he relished.

Elliott Ward is starting to look like a Premiershi player again.

Elliott is starting to show why Eddie Howe was so keen for him to come to the Goldsands stadium. Certainly when he has a good game the team plays well as a whole. The tempo is often set by those at the back and Elliott has such a presence that others play with more confidence when he is having a good game, because he is such an influential figure.
The point at Burnley though was also won in large measure to Ward's partner at centre back Steve Cook. Just how good can he get? He is starting to remind me of Jason Pearce a little in the way he throws himself into challenges and puts his body on the line time and time again in an effort to do anything to keep the opposition from scoring.

Steve Cook has had an incredible start to life in the Championship.

Considering that the two of them and the full backs were working with a keeper who was making only his second appearance for the Cherries, the draw at Burnley was a great achievement. That Lee Camp is impressed with the way AFCB play and can add his experience to their game at the back all bodes well for the future.

Elliott Ward looks comfortable in the team now.