Cherries need to put games out of sight earlier

The verdict from Eddie Howe at half time at West Ham was that the Cherries should have been out of sight. Sadly the 0-2 margin at the time was by no means enough, even if the Cherries had played the Hammers off the park in the first 45 minutes and had missed good opportunities especially a couple with Max Gradel to wrap up the points earlier in the game.

Max Gradel will get goals.

In the second half too we did see Marc Pugh miss an opportunity before he got his goal and while Eddie may be a bit critical in asking for better finishing at times, there is also the positive side that the team is making an enormous amount of chances. The clinical side of the game is of course the hardest part and taking chances is never such a problem when your strikers are in form and just enjoying playing. The target though is for AFCB's players to increase their shots on target ratio which was seven out of 15 at West Ham.

The exciting fact was that West Ham were well out played in terms of number of shots and possession while at home, but out of their 10 shots four were on target and three were ultimately goals. Given the space, their forwards could beat the keeper when they did get a shot on target and that's what the Cherries need to improve on.

Every shot on target is important.

The timing of AFCB runs though was extremely good. Both Gradel and Wilson were finding space in behind without getting caught offside hardly at all, and in an out and out sprint both of them seemed to have the number of Jenkinson and Cresswell. When teams play deeper against the Cherries there may be more need to see Surman and O'Kane coming forward more. Andrew Surman did not have that many shots again and when he did they lacked a bit of venom. 

So there are areas where the Cherries can improve in attack and it will be intriguing to see if Leicester try and take on the Cherries toe-to-toe like West Ham did, or if they lay deep in wait and play on the break as I expect away from home with their fast forwards.