Crystal Palace are only two points above the relegation zone and will come to Dean Court with plenty of fire power to try and extend that gap. Roy Hodgson will have his team well-motivated for this game having dropped points against Liverpool in their last game and they can't afford to drop any more points at this stage
Still, Palace have to come and attack and that could dictate how Eddie Howe goes about this game. He could allow Palace to have the ball if they start to flood players forward to get a goal, hoping that the speed of Wilson, Ibe and King can catch Palace on the break. It is not how Bournemouth set about games in the early minutes, but it could become the tactic if the scores are still level going into the second half.
This game will be all about management and formations I feel, as the tactical battle should be fascinating. Bournemouth's problem is that while they have the capability of scoring they are not keeping clean sheets and some way of making the defence less exposed is a problem Howe will have to look at this week. With Andros Townsend and Wilfred Zaha on the wings for Palace, Howe has to make these players do more defending than they want to and that could mean that Fraser and Ibe become Bournemouth's most important players as they'll have to win their battles to push Palace back.
Cherry Chimes T-Shirt competition
If you want to try and win a T-Shirt, Tweet the correct score for AFCB v Crystal Palace before 9am on Saturday. We will pick a winner from the correct entries if there is more than one correct prediction. Tweet your score prediction to @CherryChimes
AFCB at Selhurst Park earlier in the season. |
Wilfred Zaha is the main danger man for Palace and although he has not scored in the three games since his return, he has been involved in winning a penalty against Liverpool and his speed and fast play should send warning lights up whenever he is on the ball. Another player that looks in form for Palace is Patrick van Arnaanholt who is a powerful player who was great in recent games against Chelsea and Man Utd. Bournemouth also know that Milivojevic is excellent from the penalty spot. The worry for Hodgson is that Christian Benteke has been stinking the place out and now he's got a groin strain and will probably miss the game. Having no big striker is not great for Palace when every goal and point is so important at the moment.
Still, Palace have to come and attack and that could dictate how Eddie Howe goes about this game. He could allow Palace to have the ball if they start to flood players forward to get a goal, hoping that the speed of Wilson, Ibe and King can catch Palace on the break. It is not how Bournemouth set about games in the early minutes, but it could become the tactic if the scores are still level going into the second half.
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This game will be all about management and formations I feel, as the tactical battle should be fascinating. Bournemouth's problem is that while they have the capability of scoring they are not keeping clean sheets and some way of making the defence less exposed is a problem Howe will have to look at this week. With Andros Townsend and Wilfred Zaha on the wings for Palace, Howe has to make these players do more defending than they want to and that could mean that Fraser and Ibe become Bournemouth's most important players as they'll have to win their battles to push Palace back.
Cherry Chimes T-Shirt competition
If you want to try and win a T-Shirt, Tweet the correct score for AFCB v Crystal Palace before 9am on Saturday. We will pick a winner from the correct entries if there is more than one correct prediction. Tweet your score prediction to @CherryChimes
Match Preview - Questions and Answers with the Eagles Beak
RedNBlue Army podcast - Cherry Chimes talks about AFCB's season and replies to dirty Bournemouth suggestion!
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