A new Championship centre back pairing for the Cherries?

I have already enthused about 19-year-old Baily Cargil taking to first team action like a duck to water in the last few months. Having aided AFCB to a clean sheet away at Cardiff City and having played in the other rounds of the Capital One Cup, I don't expect any AFCB fans to have any doubts about seeing Baily play in a Championship game very soon. With the groin strain that Steve Cook felt on Tuesday night it may well be that Baily takes that step this weekend when AFCB face Wigan Athletic at home.

Steve Cook may struggle to make the team
this weekend, but he usually pulls through.

I can only guess at what it must be like to run out in front of a packed Dean Court to play your first Championship game. It is something that Steve Fletcher was unable to experience it this level, but I bet he is one of those who will have a big smile on his face when Baily does get his chance. Eddie Howe has been grooming Baily all along to this stage, and while the young centre back may have allowed himself a moments thought about when his big day may come at home in a league game, I suppose nothing will prepare him totally for the moment. He will be excited, but in this AFCB side there are plenty around him to see him through any difficult parts of the game and Baily will be well used to playing with those around him now.

If he comes in for the Wigan match then Baily will have a big job to do. Martyn Waghorn and Marc-Antoine Fortune could well be Wigan's strike force and Baily will be eager to get the Cherries a clean sheet and to stay on his feet. I don't think defenders can ever worry about whether they might make a mistake, they have to be positive and play whatever situation they face with full determination to come out on top. Here's hoping Baily soon shows us all how well he can do the job he has been trained to do.