Saturday, 18 November 2017

Can the Cherries capitalise on Newcastle win?

It's been a long two weeks since the Cherries ran out again in a Premier League match and a lot has happened during the international break. The Newcastle win was the first game this season before the international break, where the Cherries have gone into a break period on the back of a win, and although it was not the most impressive performance on the pitch this season, the result was certainly significant. The aim now is to kick on and to have a really successful points gathering in November.

Will we see a changed line up from the Newcastle starters?

While there were five changes to the side that ran out against Chelsea, it would be great if Eddie Howe could go into the Huddersfield game now and be able to name an unchanged side. The fact that the team kept a clean sheet is great news for Eddie and it was done with playing four at the back in an away game. In fact, it was the first clean sheet the Cherries had earned away from home, and only the second of the team this season. In large part, the team rode their luck to get a clean sheet and Begovic played a massive part in keeping Newcastle out.
It can be amazing what one win can do for a team. But this was not just a win, because it moved the team out of the bottom three. Instead of feeling that everything is going against them, the players now have a positive sense that things are starting to go for them and that this is their period when they will pick up points. It should not make such a massive difference, but just being happier on the training ground and looking forward to the next game to carry on the good work does help the team go into the next game with a better frame of mind. If Everton had not got their dramatic win against Watford, things would have looked even better in the table. 

So, yes, I don't see why Bournemouth can't kick on from here. They felt like underdogs at Newcastle with just 1600 fans in the stands and playing against a team that had only been toppled once in the league at home. Now they feel like they are up and running and it remains for the team to get better at their finishing, and to try and really make Dean Court more of a problem for visiting teams. The home form has not been as strong as it might have been and that will be the next objective where Eddie Howe will want to see an improvement.
Possible AFCB line up v Huddersfield Town
While I hope Josh King plays, it's just as likely that Jermain Defoe could also partner Wilson up front with perhaps Benik Afobe returning to the bench if Josh King is rested. I think this could be one of the hardest home games for Bournemouth this season, because Huddersfield will really be keen to turnaround their away from. The Cherries have not had a back-to-back win yet and to achieve that would really give the side a bigger boost. 

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