Consistency is now the message for the AFCB players

Eddie Howe called for consistency after the match against Spurs. While the Cherries now have 12 points and are three points ahead of the point a game stat, they are at the start of the campaign with a knowledge that they can live with the best sides only when they play at their very best.

A slight drop off in performance levels would soon bring about a downfall and it is important to keep driving for more when the relegation zone is only three defeats away. Having now been in the Premier League for a season and a quarter,  I do see a change in mentality from the side when it comes up against the most talented sides. AFCB do have to work harder against these top teams, but they are also now able to play their usual game. Eddie Howe will be most pleased that the side did impose itself on Spurs rather than just react.

AFCB players after another valuable point against Spurs.

AFCB battled for the ball as well. There has been a tendency in the past to stand off and just hold the shape when being pushed back, but in the second half there was a carefully carried out plan to get players forward quickly when Spurs had the ball robbed from them. Max Gradel almost got through on one occasion at the end, but just did not have the legs to make a telling pass or get a shot away. It was that last bit of magic that was just missing against Spurs.

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The point was grounded in doing the simple thing swell. Marking up and chasing down players was a must and the space was always cut down as soon as Spurs tried to get in behind. I do think that AFCB's centre-back pairing of Steve Cook and Simon Francis are improving massively on what they could offer in that first game against Man Utd. There is confidence flowing through the team now and another clean sheet is something to be proud of, but we need to see that defensive control every week. AFCB are now fourth in the clean sheet stakes, behind Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea.