Bournemouth's players might be at a slight disadvantage when they go up to play at the Riverside this weekend. The ground is part of the government's trial for fans to return to the stadium and it will have 1000 Middlesborough fans in the ground, according to Teeside Live. What they won't have to face is Neil Warnock who has tested positive with COVID-19 and so Kevin Blackwell Boro's number two steps in to manage the team against the Cherries.
It is all very well allowing fans back into the ground on a test basis but it doesn't quite seem a level playing field if no away supporters or at least only media and staff from the opposition are able to attend the game. Somehow I imagine there will be lots of vocal calls at the referee to give Boro the decisions when they have 1000 more fans in the ground than Bournemouth. Referees have to be objective but that is not going to be so easy - we are all human.
Boro lost their first game to Watford 1-0 but were said by many to be the better team. In fact, Warnock was staggered that the player of the match had gone to a Watford player. Bournemouth's away record is not great in 2020, so JT will be looking to get his first away win and only Bournemouth's second away win of 2020.
This is also one of the longest away fixtures for Bournemouth in a week when they have already played Crystal Palace in midweek. That should mean quite a few changes from the Carabao Cup match and Bournemouth will be looking to improve on their defensive record which has not recorded a clean sheet since the Tottenham game in July.
The odds may be slightly stacked against the Cherries but they are scoring goals freely and that could just be the difference if it is an open game up at the Riverside. Boro has not won a league match in their last five at home which bodes well perhaps for AFCB.
Middlesborough League Home record
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AFCB League Away record
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