AFCB's impressive December form

It's hard to put your finger on exactly why AFCB have been on such a good run of form in December but there are a couple of things that have helped. The return of Matt Ritchie I believe is the biggest factor as he has been magnificent with his goal contribution and his crossing delivery. The way the other players are also so pleased for him doing well seems to help them raise their game. 

Matt Ritchie has been the star of the show for me. It's been
great to see him back playing.

At the back I would also say that Tommy Elphick and Elliott Ward have started to benefit from playing more often in the starting line up. Against Ipswich I really did not see McGoldrick get much of a sniff at goal when he has been one of the inform strikers in the Championship. 

I can't ignore the form of Lewis Grabban either who has led the line so well. He probably could have had a couple of goals against Ipswich, but the way he is playing is great as he is making most of his chances with clever runs that are being picked out by players. One of those players is certainly Eunan O'Kane who has stepped up in the last few games and has probably been the player to catch the eye in the last few weeks of December. His tenacious and scurrying style is very deceptive and he rides tackles so well that he can be a more direct threat to defences when he runs with the ball, as we saw against Yeovil.

Every one is starting to hit form at the same time and Eunan
is another who has had a great December.

To see Mick McCarthy coming away thankful of a draw at Dean Court shows us that AFCB are on the right track and Ryan Fraser among others is stepping up to the demands of the Championship. AFCB look like a team that can climb the league and now that they are unbeaten in three, it is a challenge to see how many games they can go undefeated. The December home and away record reads: LWLWWD, who would have thought that at the start of the month with the teams the Cherries had to play?

In all, I would have to say it has been a great December for the team and the New Year looks promising with the possibility that Mohamed Coulibaly and Wes Fogden could be about to play their part from January or February, while Steve Cook is likely to be recovering and Lee Camp will hopefully be one of the January signings that Eddie Howe hopes to make. It's easy to look forward to 2014 if you are an AFCB fan, but the team has quite a job to beat what was a magnificent 2013 for the club. 

I am sure you are all with Cherry Chimes in wishing the team and all the staff at the club the very best in 2014. UTCIAD!   

Mike Dunne has released a new All Departments' Kangeroo Court podcast. Visit All Departments' website or listen on Cherry Chimes by scrolling down to the All Departments badge in the right hand panel and clicking on the sound bar.

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