How do Bournemouth get back to clean sheets?

Bournemouth haven't had a clean sheet since their 0-1 away win against Chelsea back in December. Only in the FA Cup have they seen a clean sheet in 2020 and it has to be one of the main reason why the club has not been winning enough games.

AFCB haven't had a clean sheet since their 0-1 away win at Chelsea on 14 December.

Eddie Howe has to look at why teams are getting the opportunities they are to score against the Cherries. Defending from corners is one of the areas where the team can improve. The first goal that Sheffield United scored was a goalmouth scramble, but it all came from a corner and a missed punch from the keeper and a failure to clear the box.

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The goal that Aston Villa scored through Samatta might also point towards a failure for Aaron Ramsdale to get their first, but the ball could have been better blocked first of all when it came up off of Francis. More worrying was the way Watford carved Bournemouth open at home and score three without reply. Ramsdale was injured for that game and it didn't help the team do any better with Mark Travers in goal. So it is a problem that the back four and keeper are all accountable and at times I feel Bournemouth simply defend too deep as a group and just heap pressure on themselves.

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I still feel the best way for Bournemouth to defend is to attack. They need to find players quicker in their own half when they win the ball back and play the ball out wider quicker to get attacks going. Even if it is Ramsdale looking up quickly and banging a ball upfield quickly, I don't think the die-hard Bournemouth fan is going to grumble at this stage of the season if the team tries to get on the attack quicker.

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Keeping the ball away form our own goal is now more important than ever and there has to be a better concerted effort to stop opposition in their own half when possible. Whether Steve Cook returns to the starting 11 or not, the 11 players on the pitch have to make it more of a priority to get a clean sheet. Even 12 draws would give Bournemouth a more than average chance of beating the drop. It is not that the players should look for a point from the start of games, but they have to look to take something from games, if they get to that stage being level, with 10 minutes to go.

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