There is not much that seems to have changed at the back for the Cherries in terms of commitment and desire to get clean sheets and to stop teams from scoring and yet there is no doubt that the goals against column has seen a slowdown. Continuing that against WBA will need some good organisation.
The return of Artur Boruc has been a big bonus and he has started to play with the confidence that made him a top keeper in past seasons. He knew he would have to be better against Chelsea and Man Utd than he had been against Spurs and he has managed to find the consistency in his performances that are now giving the Cherries that extra strength at the back.
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| The Cherries are working harder to try and get clean sheets. |
I also believe that Simon Francis is feeling more comfortable at centre back. He is winning more headers and is still able to have the confidence to play the ball out from the back and go on a forward run. It must have been difficult for him to switch over from the right back position but he is now looking more and more at home next to Steve Cook, which is more than okay when Adam Smith is playing well on the right as well.
All the injuries and problems of the early defeats this season have given the manager and players a simple choice to either get better or to moan about their bad luck. The latter has never been an option and now the Cherries are finding that there is a new strength to the team having re-found a balance and a shape to the defence that is really providing a solid platform.
On Saturday it is West Brom and that means free kicks and corners are going to be the order of the day to defend more than ever, but I'm confident that the team is better organised to deal with such an examination now than it was a few weeks ago.
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