Rantie and Pitman ask the questions

Just when you feel that AFCB's team is sorted from Eddie Howe's team selections there are a couple of players who are starting to ask some timely questions as to whether they should be among those first to be considered. The manager must be pleased that Tokelo Rantie and Brett Pitman have shown that they can score goals when at the front of this AFCB team. While they may not be the first picks, it is vital that they keep their eye in on goal as well as Kermorgant and Wilson, because they could find themselves playing more games than expected this season.

Pitman is now level with Kermorgant on four pre-season goals.

The pleasing aspect of beating teams like Pompey was not that the victory came from a dominant first half but more that the players are enjoying their moment to shine. Rantie and Pitman were pleased for each other that they both scored and whether MacDonald, Arter, Gosling or O'Kane play in midfield they are all trying to keep the same shame and do the right things. Playing teams off the park is never easy and against Southampton the tables were turned on AFCB when we saw some shortcomings to the Cherries game. 

Against Portsmouth, the back four had  more to do in the second half of the game and it will have been good for Baily Cargill to have been really tested against some clever movement up front from the Pompey strikers. I am not sure if three minutes for Sam Matthews was that beneficial for him but I hope he gets some more time against Swansea.