Wednesday 30 January 2019

Bournemouth look to close the gap on Chelsea

Bournemouth have not come off well from the two games against Chelsea at the end of 2018. The league away result was slightly unlucky, and the team put up a brave fight against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup. It would be a first though for Bournemouth to beat Chelsea at home in the Premier League and the players need to get something from this game to be satisfied that Chelsea haven't completely got the better of them in this season.
Bournemouth look for a back to back win.
The gap between the two teams has opened up to 17 points and while Bournemouth won't expect to finish higher than the other Russian-backed club in the league, they will want to close the gap on the top six and the bast way to do that is to start taking points off these teams. It will be of key interest to see if Nathan Aké and Callum Wilson start this game. Both are in the spotlight as Chelsea targets for signing, but if they both play 24 hours before the window shuts it is doubtful that Chelsea would have agreed a fee for either player and Bournemouth fans can take a sigh of relief.

Bournemouth need to play both players to give themselves a strong chance of winning the game. There will surely be a late check for Wilson if he is still struggling with his hamstring while Aké could be rested if Howe feels Mepham can step in straight away. Personally, I expect Mepham to have to wait a while to make his first Premier League appearance as Bournemouth don't need to put him in the deep end straight away.


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What I do hope is that Dominic Solanke is fit enough to make the bench. Howe said that it would be February before we are likely to see him but with transfer rumours about Lys Mousset this week, it might be helpful for Howe to have Solanke available just to take the heat off Mousset, who might be wondering if a late bid could come in for him this window.


Possible AFCB line up
AFCB Subs: Begovic, Simpson, Surman, Mepham, Ibe, Stanislas, Mousset

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Transfer News
Tyrone Mings is being linked with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. Aston Villa and WBA are said to have cooled their interest after AFCB are said to have asked for a fee of £1m for loaning the player.

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