AFCB need to repeat last season's win over Wigan

The need for three points at home now is going to be very plain for all to see for AFCB. Having only taken four points from a possible 12 at home, it is not the start that Eddie Howe will have wanted to make. Now the team plays host to a Wigan side that have made a slightly slower start to the Championship and have not won away from home yet. The pressure is truly on for both teams with just one point between them in the table.

Wigan and AFCB last season at Dean Court.

In such circumstances it might not be a bad time to play Wigan, but there team is packed with quality and has players we know only too well. Callum McManaman is a handful on the wing, but came off after 36 minutes against Ipswich with a dead leg and James McClean came on for him. Still, Shaun Maloney is also be the player that has the ability to unlock defences with great ease, so I expect a very hard battle to win the ball in midfield. It is a young Wigan team now though, and Adam Forshaw, who was at Brentford, and William Kvist, who signed from VFB Stuttgart, are who they rely on now. Uwe Rosler is a tactical master as well and he'll be keen to get Wigan winning away and playing as well as they have been at home. 

Marc Antoine-Fortune, Andy Delort and Oriol Riera have not got off to a great start this season up front. Martyn Waghorn and Andey Delrot have also been used as strikers. Grant Holt is also on Wigan's books, having spent some of last season on loan at Aston Villa, but has not played since the 2-1 Capital One Cup win against Burton Albion.

Wigan's players warming up.

Repeating last season's 1-0 home win is not beyond AFCB, but they need to keep their heads against a very strong Wigan side. It is the kind of match that would give the Cherries a tremendous boost and put their season back on track if they can get that win, but to do so Francis and Daniels must win their battles and push Wigan back on the wings.

Try and see if you can make time to listen in to the Jesus was a Wiganer podcast as they have some great commentary as ever on Wigan's recent performance against Ipswich and some not so confident predictions on how their team will do against the Cherries this weekend. 

Wigan Away Form:
LLLD

AFCB Home Form:
WLDL

Referee: Gary Sutton
Assistant Refs: Mark Derrien and Matt Foley
Fourth Official: Colin Lymer

Get you match bets on via Free Bet Negotiator