Wednesday 4 October 2017

Can Bournemouth build on the clean sheet?

Eddie Howe wanted to focus on the positives after the point earned against Leicester and that is mainly the defensive work that the team is putting in now. It is apparent that squad worked hard on defending quite a high line against Leicester, even though they faced the pace of Jamie Vardy. They managed it very well and there were none of those defence splitting balls between Francis and Aké that proved fateful moments in the matches against Man City and Everton.

The defence aspect of Bounemouth's game has improved.
What pleased me was it was not a backs to the wall defensive performance. Bournemouth were holding Leicester's fine attackers without too many last ditch tackles, but when they had to be made the two centre backs did what needed to be done. The second balls were also picked up very well and enabled AFCB to turnaround possession quickly. 

Daniels and Adam Smith also played their part in just playing simple passes rather than trying too much in their own half. There was much more speed in getting the ball forward and it got Leicester's players on the turn for most of the game. I can't imagine what Craig Shakespeare said to his team at half time - something like, just well done for hanging in there because that was an onslaught! 


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If AFCB can find that kind of mastery against even better teas in the league then you'd fancy them to win more games fairly quickly. However, they do have two away games coming up and they need to be able to defend under more pressure when they are away from home. So, I don't think all the defensive worries have disappeared with one clean sheet. AFCB can look to get another shut out and if they do that against Spurs it will be a true sign that the team is making progress.

In other news, Callum Wilson is expected to be name to play tonight for AFCB's U21 match against Norwich City in the Premier League Cup.

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