Rico doesn't need to look at goal to score

The win at Barnsley was a welcome three points. Just as pleasing was the goal that Diego Rico scored in the second half that was most unexpected. Diego has been well noted as a crosser and for putting balls in the box, but we haven't really seen him shoot at goal very often and his first goal for AFCB is something we will remember for some time.

Diego Rico has a sixth sense when it comes to taking free kicks.

The way Diego looked when lining up the free kick, I thought why doesn't he have a go at goal. He didn't even look at the goal, but was signalling for players to get in the box. It was a clever tactic and very brave of the Spanish defender as if he had missed he would have had the rath of his teammates to contend with afterwards. As it was, he struck the ball very cleanly and it rocketed into the net with the keeper having no chance. I liked his celebration as well covering up one eye, as if to say, I don't need to even look at the goal to know where it is.

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Bournemouth have suddenly started to look like a team that can score from set-pieces again. While the corner routines have not been coming off there has been plenty of practise on the training pitch with free kicks it seems. That is probably due to the absence of Harry Wilson this season. The players will know that some of them have to step up and fill that opportunity. 

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Junior Stanislas has been the regular free kick taker, but it is good to see he has competition. Junior scored his trademark free kick against Preston North End and now I suppose all eyes will be on David Broks to see when he can pop a free kick in from outside the box. The shooting from outside the area has been terrific this season. Philip Billing also chipped in for the first goal against Barnsley and with Lewis Cook's first goal for Bournemouth the other week, and Danjuma's long-range winner against Norwich a while back, AFCB are accruing quite a catalogue of spectacular goals from distance.

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Whether Rico will be allowed to take more free kicks remains to be seen. It seemed that Steve Cook was certainly hoping that a few more free kicks and corners could be sent his way, so that he could head in a goal and get his scoring off to a start at some point.

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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Bournemouth crush Barnsley 0-4 to go top

Bournemouth crush Barnsley 0-4 to go top

Match Report

3 December 2020

Barnsley 0 v 4 AFCB 

A wet and blustery night at Barnsley will test the best of teams and Bournemouth was under pressure in the first half until they started to assert their superiority with two well taken goals. Philip Billing hit an early shot from distance to take the lead on 12 minute and Dominic Solanke made it 0-2 right on half-time. Diego Rico's clever free kick made it 0-3 on 52 minutes and Sam Surrdige rounded off an impressive night for the Cherries, as they stuck four past luckless Barnsley. The Cherries are top of the table for at least a few hours, but Jason Tindall will know that Bournemouth racked up an impressive scoreline without totally dominating the opposition.

Billing gets Bournemouth off to a flying start.

Bournemouth made three changes with Stanislas and Riquelme moving to the bench and Lerma suspended. Sam Surridge, Lloyd Kelly and Philip Billing came into the starting line-up. Josh King and Arnaut Danjuma were still not available.

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First half

Bournemouth are playing three at the back. Adam Smith and Rico are the wing-backs. Brooks is playing next to Lewis Cook in the middle. Sam Surridge almost makes the most of a long ball but is beaten by the angle.

Dominic Solanle gets in on the end of a long crossfield ball from Billing but delays too long before the block came in. Bournemouth get round the back and Surrridge picks out Solanke but the header goes over.

Chaplin feeds Mowatt and the long shot is parried away by Begovic. Lewis Cook makes a foul and Barnsley have a free kick just outside the box. Begovic loses it and the clearance cannons off Billing for a corner. The game is really open with both sides making chances.

Bournemouth play from the back and beat the press. Brooks and now Adam Smith comes in from the right and finds Billing. Billing has snuck a long-range shot right in the bottom right corner on 12 minutes. A superbly struck goal, from a sweet left foot. 

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Solanke in the box is denied by the keeper's legs, corner. Solanke just runs out of room before getting his cross in for Surridge. Adam Smith fouls and Barnsley have a good position to strike at goal. Kane puts it miles over the bar.

This is a very fluid game, which is suiting Bournemouth as long as they don't take too many risks in their own half. Bournemouth are playing very much on the break. Woodrow has been booked for a trip on Lewis Cook.

Steve Cook gets a good header out. Adeboyejo finds the ball just behind him and out of reach in the box. Chaplin puts the ball across the face of goal, but there is nobody there for Barnsley.

Helik puts it back across goal at the far post, but Bournemouth squeeze the ball out at the far post some how.

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Lewis Cook robs the ball and Solanke has made it 0-2, outpacing Helik to score on 45+2 minutes. He's scored bottom left corner past the outcoming keeper on a narrow-angle. That makes the half-time team talk easier.

Second half

There are no changes at half-time. The ball is being played long most of the time with little control. Bournemouth have a free- kick with Surridge falling after Andersen blocked him.

Rico has smashed in the top right corner from the free kick. What a shot! It's 0-3 on 52 minutes. Brooks on the break is forced wide by Brittain.

Barnsley sub Chaplin on 58 minutes and Styles and Adeboyejo. On come Frieser, Odour and Thomas.

Brooks fires a shot over from 25 yards. Brittain does brilliantly coming in from the right and smashing a ball along the goal line, but there is no Barnsley player filling to gamble on it. Halme has replaced Helik on 63 minutes.

Woodrow hits a long shot but Begovic is equal to it, corner. Begovic catches the ball from the corner. Thomas dummies Kelly well, but the shot doesn't curl enough.

Sam Surridge on the break and his shot is half-saved by the keeper but it trickles in. That's 0-4 on 68 minutes. This game is over and Barnsley have been a tad unlucky with such a large scoreline. Bournemouth have scored 29 goals this season and 11 of them have been from outside the box.

Bournemouth sub Brooks and Solanke on 72 minutes. On come Dan Gosling and Jaidon Anthony.  

Barnsley almost catch Lewis Cook out when they press, but they haven't managed to capitalise on it as Steve Cook is there. Andresen has been booked for a foul on Gosling.

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Riquelme is on for Lewis Cook. Riquelme draws a save with his first contribution.

Kane is subbed for Palmer on 82 minutes. Mowatt goes or a low shot but it's off target. Sollbauer is carded for a block on Surridge. Frieser gets a free kick from Rico. Gosling gives another foul away. Billing is feeling it.

Ofoborh and Kilkenny replace Adam Smith and Philip Billing on 90 minutes. There are three added minutes. Begovic saves at his feet from a low cross.

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Summary
Bournemouth have put out a marker on what they can do away from home. They rode their luck at times and yet came out comfortable winners. The clean sheet is the bonus being the first away one since the Chelsea win last December. A wide variety of goal scorers again perhaps show that Bournemouth are not missing Danjuma and King as much as they should be. Bournemouth's quality is starting to show through in this league as they top it for the first time this season.

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AFCB 
1 Begovic, 6 Mepham, 3 S Cook, 5 Kelly, 15 A Smith, (Kilkenny 90), 29 Billing (Ofoborh 90),
16 L Cook ( Riquelme 79), 7 Brooks (Gosling 71), 21 Rico,  9 Solanke (Anthony 72), 14 Surridge

AFCB Subs: 23 Travers 24 Ofoborh, 25 Simpson, 26 Kilkenny,  4 Gosling, 19 Stanislas,
20 Riquelme, 32 Anthony, 33 Zemura

AFCB Ratings: Begovic 7, Mepham 5, S Cook 6, Kelly 5, A Smith 6, Billing 7, L Cook 6, Brooks 6, Rico 7, Solanke 6, Surridge 7

Barnsley: 1 Walton, 26 Sollbauer, 30 Helik (Halme 63), 6 Andersen, 7 Brittain, 8 Kane (Palmer 82), 27 Mowatt, 4 Styles (Odour  58), 29 Adeboyejo (Thomas 58), 11 Chaplin (Frieser 58), 9 Woodrow

Barnsley Subs
16 Thomas, 19 Schmidt, 21 Palmer, 22 Oduor, 24 Halme, 25 Miller, 28 Frieser, 32 James, 40 Collins

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - AFCB need to avoid another shock at Barnsley to go top

AFCB need to avoid another shock at Barnsley to go top

AFCB have to be on their game to prevent another shock when they take on Barnsley tonight. The Tykes have been rapidly making progress up the league with three wins in their last five games. This will be the third age in a row where a Bournemouth win would put them top of the league at least for a few hours before the Saturday games, and Jason Tindall and fans are wanting to see a good reaction to their mid-week defeat to Preston North End.

Guess who could be coming back - Arnaut Danjuma.

Barnsley's home form has been particularly impressive with three wins, a draw and a defeat in their last five at Oakwell. Having climbed to 14th in the table, new head coach Valérein Ismaél came into his position in October and has quickly got the team playing some good football. They have beaten Watford at home 1-0 and have held Bristol City to a draw at Oakwell in early October, the latter before they had their new head coach.

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The top striker is Cauley Widrow who already has six goals and scored from the spot in their last game, a 1-2 win against Birmingham City. Their strength in midfield to a large extent comes from Alex Mowatt who was a former Leeds player and he scored the goal to be Watford a few weeks ago. The new head coach has also been quick to start Victor Adeboyejo, a powerful Nigerian striker.

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Bournemouth are likely to turn to Arnaut Danjuma to come back into the side after the team's disappointing result in the week. It will be a tough decision to enable Josh King to come back to the subs bench though, as Jaidon Anthony and Sam Surridge deserve their place in the squad after their recent performances.

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A bigger decision will be who Tindall puts in midfield. If Lewis Cook remains okay after the Preston match when he returned to the team he is likely to start, but Philip Billing and Dan Gosling will be looking to come in for the suspended Jefferson Lerma. Bournemouth won't want to keep missing out on the chance to go top and they need a win to put some pressure on the other top six teams who have closed right up now. Bournemouth have had some up and down performances away from home, with one win in five, and this is an important match setting up the team for December when so many games are to be played. 

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Barnsley are in Tier 3 for COVID-19 restriction, so until they move to Tier 2 they are not going to be allowed to have 2000 supporters in the ground.

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AFCB Away Form
DDLWD

Barnsley Home Form
DWWWL

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - A difficult game for AFCB protégés

Is Mahoney ready for the Premier League?

Although AFCB fans may be eager to see what new signings the club makes over the summer, there is a good chance that there are players who have been on the outside of the squad that could now come into it. One particular example is Connor Mahoney who has completed a testing loan spell at Birmingham City, where he fought his way into the starting line up. But he now has to show he can make the jump from Championship to Premier League.

Connor has completed his apprenticeship, can he now star in the Premier League?

We have not seen an enormous amount of Connor Mahoney since his signing from Blackburn in 2017. The two year spell started with a loan period at Barnsley and having been at Birmingham last season, it is almost like he will be a new signing for Bournemouth if he does get his opportunity next season. Eddie Howe believes the winger has made good progress and when we have seen him in League Cup games he has looked the part going forward, but like David Brooks he will have to become a good defensive midfielder as well if he wants a run n AFCB's first team.

The balance of Bournemouth's team is very much being realigned to be a younger and faster team and Mahoney could play his part in that. The experience that he has picked up in the Championship should make him tougher like it did for Ryan Fraser. It is a shame that it has taken a couple of years to get Mahoney in a position where he might challenge for a place at AFCB, but this is Eddie Howe's judgement and he does his best work I believe with really young players.

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If Connor does not get some games though next season at AFCB he could be another player that doesn't quite come up to the level that AFCB need. The price of not selecting players that can make the grade is high, and while other teams will have benefited from having a player that is well capable of playing in the Championship, AFCB will still be waiting for some kind of return on a player that they paid out for some two years ago.

In other news, it was a bad night for Ryan Fraser and David Brooks and Chris Mepham. Scotland lost 3-0 to Belgium with Fraser coming on as a sub after 32 minutes. Meanwhile Brooks lasted 73 minutes against Hungary and Mepham was an unused sub in Wales 1-0 defeat to Hungary.

What's needed to give AFCB's home crowd a boost?

"Wins! Wins! Wins!" I hear you say. But is it that simple? My good friend Michael Dunne has mentioned on his All Department's podcast that the numbers have been significantly lower than might have been expected at recent home matches. It has been noticeable and yet few reasons have been given for the modest home gates of late. 

Take a seat - anywhere you like.

We would all like the home form to be better, but bigger crowd numbers might help those performances. One usually goes with the other. AFCB now sit 11th in the table and while that is a good position, it has not been the home performances that have been the main source of points to elevate them to that position. AFCB have W2, D1, L2  at home in the Championship, but it's early days and you won't win every game.

You would think that playing in front of an away crowd would be more difficult, but that's not been the case for AFCB so far. It is the quietness of Dean Court that has become a bit more of a hazard for the players who have struggled to reach last season's heights at home. I wonder if already some fans have become a bit over expectant on what the team can do in games and may have forgotten that they need to play a part, as they have done so well in the past to give the team that extra momentum to succeed.

Winning has become a bit of a habit in Eddie Howe's two year second reign as we have all seen. The figures speak for themselves - 52W, 22D and just 29L. But if we want that record to remain as strong or get even better it is important that we all continue to come to home games and gives as much vocal support as we can to the 11 players on the pitch.

The club still has a massive disadvantage compared to the financial clout of the fallen Premier League sides in the Championship and the kind of gates that they can attract. If people have been staying at home because of finances I can understand, but with record shirt and merchandise sales I can't see that being the whole story. Topping the league at the start of the season saw attendances well over 10,000, but since then they have fallen to a low of 8480 for the visit of Rotherham, and even the last match at home against Wigan only pulled in 8754 fans, last season that fixture saw a crowd of 9097. I don't believe that fans are tiered of the Championship, and you can't really blame it on the weather as it's only been of late that winter has started to come in.

Last season, it was the Tuesday night match at home against Huddersfied that saw the lowest gate for one of AFCB's league games at 7258, but only that match and the Barnsley Tuesday night fixture fell below 8000. All Saturday games last season were higher than 9000 with the one exception of the Doncaster game that was 8983. So Saturday fixtures are not as strong as they might be this season, but it is the sound that I notice has been quieter. I am sure some big home wins and a climb up the table would raise the statistics, but if they do not start to rise, then it could bring into question how much the club really does need a permanent and bigger stand at the South End?

At least Charlton fans are coming down in numbers for this next match. They sold their allocation of 1424 tickets several days ago. We can't blame the away fans if the gate is not full on Saturday, but the price of watching football is out stretching the cost of living as the BBC's report revealed this week.

What do you think about the attendances at Dean Court? Are they down because of results or are prices really starting to keep people away? Get involved in the discussion with the MatchChat comment tool below. 

AFCB need to be good under floodlights

One season does not make AFCB any certainties for doing well next time around but there is a confidence to draw upon from last season. Evening games at Dean Court were especially strong for the Cherries and they will have a string of difficult ties to play under floodlights in this coming season. I don't think many of us will for get some of the special home nights in 2013/14. In all AFCB won four home league games lat at night against Barnsley, Huddersfield, Leeds and Reading, plus a win in the Capital One Cup against Portsmouth and against Burton Albion in the FA Cup.

Dean Court is not an easy place for Championship teams to come to at night.

So while I look at Bournemouth's fixture list and pick out the evening night games I have to say that the team should not fear playing the likes of Nottingham Forest, Leeds Utd and Reading all before November. The ground at Dean Court is a difficult place for away teams to come to at the best of times but the evening games with the crowd on top of you are perhaps a little different to some of the other grounds in the Championship and AFCB tend to raise their game. 

The home record was a strong one at the end of last season with 5 home wins out of the last 7 games, but in August, September and October 2013 the Cherries also managed 4 wins out of 6 games. It was the middle period of the season when the Cherries found wins at the Goldsands stadium a little harder to come by consistently.

The away evening performances did not start off so well with defeats at Leeds, QPR and Watford in the Capital One Cup, but in the second half of the season there was that away win at Blackburn Rovers. So taken as a whole, evening games certainly suited our players.

Night games, let's have 'em!

You might be busy on Tuesday evenings for a while! Evening fixtures for the Cherries next season include (subject to change and any additions):

Tues 12 Aug League Cup Exeter - Away 7.45pm

Tues 19 Aug Nottm Forest - Home 7.45pm

Tues 16 Sep Leeds Utd - Home 7.45pm

Tues 30 Sep Derby - Away 7.45pm

Tues 21 Oct Reading - Home 7.45pm
Fri 31 Oct Brighton - Home 7.45pm latest change

Tues 4 Nov Sheff Wed - Away 7.45pm

Tues 10 Feb Derby - Away 7.45pm

Tues 3 Mar Wolves - Away 7.45pm

Tues 17 Mar Cardiff  - Away 7.45pm

Tues 14 Apr Reading - Away 8.00pm.

Eastleigh FC v AFCB match highlights video now on side panel of Cherry Chimes

Season's DVD should be a thriller for Cherries fans

I purchased the promotion winning season DVD in 2012-13 as a reminder of how AFCB managed their incredible run to second in the table. Now there is a new DVD out that highlights the team's first year back in the Championship (2013-14) for over 20 years. It is very hard to decide what the best highlight could be. Would it be the away performance at Reading perhaps, or the home win against promotion winning QPR or the comeback thumping of Millwall at Dean Court? Fans will have other games that they particularly want to see again and in the comfort of your own home with a free night to watch the Cherries the offer should seem tempting to many.

Elphick led the team out against QPR at Dean Court last
season in one of the highlight games for AFCB.

It will be strange to see Lewis Grabban appearing on some of those matches knowing that he won't be appearing in an AFCB shirt next season. I don't tire of seeing his 25 yard turn a shot to score past the Bolton keeper back in February.. The DVD will also show a reminder of the speed and trickery of Tokelo Rantie. I am still not sure how the team did not manage to win when two up against Middlesbrough after only a few minutes, but TK's pace frightened the Middlesbrough back line to death and his goal against Burnley away was simply stunning. I bet you'll enjoy Marc Pugh's celebration of his added time equaliser against Nottingham Forest again as we as Steve Cook's winner away against Barnsley, and his overhead kick against Ipswich should put a smile on your face.

There will also be some low points like Allsop's red card at Elland Road that was followed by Flahavan's fantastic penalty save. The Sheffield Wednesday home defeat is probably the game that will hurt the most as it ended any realistic chances that AFCB had for the play-offs. But I'll also have my eye's shut for the 6-1 spanking that Watford handed out to the Cherries last August, while thoughts of going up to Huddersfield next season for the first league game will hopefully give us all happier memories than what we will be left with on this DVD from last season at the John Smith's stadium.

You'll remember the day though when Liverpool came to Dean Court in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup and all the press around Luis Suarez, Stephen Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge. That day was perhaps eclipsed by the earlier visit of Real Madrid which will also be on the DVD, so we can look forward to seeing Ronaldo and co set about AFCB again. Hoepfully they show some of the warm up as Ronaldo was doing some great showboating.

It is also good to see that the price has been set a bit lower than last time at £12.50. It should give some of you a few hours of happy viewing before the start of next season. The AFCBDirect site also has the DVD available to order online. 


De Vere's Village Urban Resorts in Bournemouth is still enjoying World Cup viewings. If you want to go down for one of the quarter finals check out the complete game planner for the Victory pub and kitchen.

World Cup Chimes reports on Argentina's close scrape with Switzerland and an absolute belter of a game between USA and Belgium - if you missed that one catch up with the highlights because it was a remarkable game.

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Sending out a message - Cook's not for sale

In demand, Steve Cook.

Having lost Lewis Grabban this summer it appears that AFCB are moving fast now to renegotiate the 23-year-old defender's terms of his contract which already will keep him at Dean Court until June 2016 unless someone comes in with an offer that is acceptable. That is the worry if he is currently under valued by the Cherries and there is interest as suggested about.

I also believe Cook's signature on a new deal would be something of a message to other players who might be thinking of a move that Eddie Howe is keen to keep as many of the players as he can from last season's team. There are others that might be targets for other clubs such as Eunan O'Kane or Matt Ritchie, but if new contracts are handed out to lots of players will that reduce the kitty available to bring others in? Will it also unbalance the pay structure and lead to some disharmony? I hope not and that all the players see anyone getting a new contract as a positive thing and that players who do well are rewarded.

The timing of Cook's contract negotiations as yesterday reported by SkySports suggests to me that the Cherries are expecting an approach in the next few days or weeks. Replacing another key player is something that Eddie Howe clearly does not want to have to do this summer and Cook will be the beneficiary of that strategy. Considering that Elliott Ward was brought in to add experience to the centre backs at the club, Steve Cook has done amazingly well to cement his place in the side for so many games last season. There was the odd mistake but he was so often the saviour and he will still probably telling everyone about his last minute goal against Barnsley for years to come. It's those special moments that will help players like Cook to feel that they are key members of the team and that there are more good times to come on the south coast.

Meanwhile, Tony Pulis and others (Wolves for example) can either stump up or look elsewhere. Steve Cook doesn't look like he will be one of those players that Eddie will let go in a hurry. 

Radio Solent also tweeted that Darryl Flahavan signed a one year extension to his contract yesterday as AFCB look to secure the squad for next season. AFCB have also drawn Exeter City away in the first round of the Capital One Cup - tie to be played week beginning 11 August.

World Cup Chimes has reaction to Germany's blasting of Portugal and a preview of Russia v South Korea.

World Cup viewing
De Vere's Urban Village Hotel in Bournemouth are sponsors of Cherry Chimes and are getting ready for England's next game. 

Next Carnival Day Thursday 19th June
England v Uruguay
- Live DJ, Brazilian Carnival Dancers & children’s face painting.
- Entertainment commencing from 17.00, kick off at 20.00

Food service extension
- The Victory will be serving food until 22.00 for the entire duration of the World Cup.
Download the complete game planner for the Victory pub and kitchen.

The Championship remains a thrilling league

While AFCB have had a pretty good run since the beginning of the year it has always been difficult to know where they might pick up points and where they would drop them. That is the Championship for you. It's unpredictable right down to the final games. I find it great that even now there are teams that don't know if they will be in the play-offs and others who don't know if they will be relegated and yet the season is almost done and dusted. 

We can cheer the boys on and say goodbye for the summer at Millwall.

At the top of the league it will be a simple battle of who gets the best result for Brighton and Reading and I have a sneaky feeling that Brighton may do it looking at how Forest were dismantled by the Cherries last weekend. I am more intrigued by what could happen at the bottom of the Championship. Birmingham have hardly been in the bottom three all season but find themselves there with a game to go. It really may depend on whether they can get a point at Bolton, because I can't see Leicester taking it easy in their last home game against Doncaster. Yet the final day often brings unthinkable results and if both Donny and Birmingham find themselves winning with 10 minutes to go I met start feeling a bit nervous in the away end at Millwall. Of course if Doncaster do fall then both them and Yeovil who came up with the Cherries last season will have just lasted the one season which shows you how difficult it is for a club coming up from League One in this division.

I must admit that I like to often be at home on the sofa for the last game of the season as you can watch the TV and that thrill of the cameras going from one ground to another as the scores change. I'll have to rely on the radio and the mobile phone if I can get a signal and I am not even a fan of one of those teams that are in danger or looking to get into the play-offs. We still want to know what is happening though and where the axe is going to fall. If I had to put money on it in the Championship I would sadly say that Birmingham may be the team to lose out, but what gives me hope for them is that they are playing away. So I am going to predict that they cling on to a point with Doncaster losing out on goal difference. Something about having a more southern may have led me to come up with that romantic forecast. Still we will have a party at the Den where both teams I hope can celebrate after the match and look forward to the next season.

For those of you who are brave enough to bet on the outcome of such games you are invited to use Free Bet Negotiator which sponsors Cherry Chimes. Free Bet Negotiator is giving Free Bets to all the fans!

If you have not had a visit to their site you can click on this special Cherry Chimes' Free Bet Negotiator link and the video below shows you how simple it is to place a bet and then get your free bet.  

Cherry Chimes asks Following Millwall FC will you stay up?

Match Preview

Millwall v AFCB
Blogger Interview - Following Millwall FC

I have had many a good chat with OZ (Mark Austin) of the  Following Millwall FC blog in the last few months via emails and it is good to know that he is upbeat ahead of the crucial game in his calendar this weekend - Millwall v AFCB. When we looked at the fixtures at the start of the season we both prayed that both teams would be safe by 3 May, but sadly for OZ and Millwall fans they need at least a good result or for other games to go their way to ensure survival. So how well is OZ keeping his cool this week?

CC: Do you think it has taken Ian Holloway a little while to get his style of play across to the players and do you look more of a team now?

FMB: It can be said that Ian Holloway's style is somewhat different along with his personality. There was questions regarding his state of mind after his stint at Crystal Palace and all sorts of reported reasons why he left. Whatever happened there, Crystal Palace that is, I don't care, it's what he does here and how he helps us stay up and push on next season. It has took us a while to "adjust" Playing five strikers was confusing for us so I can imagine what it was like for the players. I think in the early games he was more on tactics than playing his best team. He didn't know what his best team was but he thought he did and when he got them playing against the B-side and they got done 6-0 the B-side became the A-side and we haven't looked back. Ian Holloway basically started from scratch and his first mission was to find who is best players were and who wanted to play for him. There was a problem with doing this and I think the problem was that his best players wasn't his best team and I think this didn't come to light to the training ground game.His best team is not the fancy Dan's who he has now in the side as he has now let them go he has the grafters who will sweat blood for the team and Millwall FC. The team is enjoying their football once again.

Is it the Holloway factor? I think it is because it's not just the players enjoying their football once again, Ian Holloway is as well. There is no doubt he loves it, managing Millwall that is and he thrives in the fact that he has a blank canvas and he can do what he likes.

CC: Which game do you think was your best game in the last few weeks that gave your players most hope of beating the drop?

FMB: We have had good and very good results in the last undefeated seven games such as, a win at Forest, a win at Wigan, a win at Middlesbrough and draws against QPR, Blackburn, Watford and Doncaster. If I would have to vote I would say that the win at Boro was perhaps the best. This win took us out of the bottom three and the whole club was buzzing that perhaps we can get out of this mess. The recent draw with Doncaster was disappointing but on the day most results went our way and the recent draw at QPR was massive, it felt like a win and it's set us nicely for our last game at home against Bournemouth. Championship for another year? who knows at this moment in time but I think we have "found our self" and right now we have the third best form in the division. The team playing at the moment I would like to see next year in the Championship and Holloway and the team I'm sure would like to see what they can do from scratch.

CC: Stefan Maierhofer is making a name for himself up front as a big forward. Why do you think it has been working for him in recent games and is Martyn Woolford combining well with him?

FMB: Big is correct, 6' 8" and he can play a bit. The "Hof" has got skill and although he compared up against Peter Crouch I think he is a better player and has more control of his body parts. He can play the ball on the floor has decent close control ball skills and I would be happy if we signed him on a permanent contract.

CC: Is your team up to full strength or have you a few key players out at this stage of the season?

FMB: The squad is is not quite up to full strength with Danny Shittu our team captain out to next season with a heel injury and Richard Chaplow just back in training Ian Holloway will have a couple more options for next season. Nicky Bailey who was out for a good few games is now back in the side playing well and he has been a major factor in grinding out results that have hyped us achieve our recent good form.

CC: Our fans will want to know if there is any danger of Millwall going down should they stay away or do you think it is safe now for away fans visiting the Den?

FMB: I'll let you into a little secret; It is perfectly safe for Bournemouth supporters to come and see us and support their team at the Den. You will have your own end completely separate to any other part of the ground and we will even let your smokers go outside for a cigarette at half time. I will admit that you will have to listen to us non-stop roaring on the Lions mixed in with "friendly banter" as we welcome you to the Den in our own special way. You will leave the ground with your ears ringing and it will be a away day that you won't forget. Hopefully you will leaving with your tails between your legs and promising yourself that you will never come back here again. It will be rowdy and that's the Millwall way. Please Bournemouth fans, do come and support your team as we support ours.

If at the very worse the result from this game meant that we are going down the Den this would only be known near the end of the game and gloom would follow but no worries for the Bournemouth fans as we trudged off home feeling miserable and didn't even give you lot a thought. If we go down honestly and are beaten fairly we will take it on the chin, what we don't like is incompetent referee's and cheats.

CC: What do you think the atmosphere will be like for this game?

FMB: I think that my reply regarding Bournemouth supporters and their safety gives a overview of what I know the Den atmosphere can be. Hopefully the Den atmosphere will be rockin and the hairs on your neck will be standing to attention. I can imagine the home section of 16000 will be sold out or thereabouts. There is room for three thousand fans and if you fetch a thousand or more it will add to the atmosphere. We need to be sure of safety and the three points and stake we will be up for this one. Health and Safety would advise ear defenders for those of a delicate nature.

CC: Which three teams do you think will go down with Yeovil and Barnsley?

FMB: Three teams to go down, easy! Barnsley and Yeovil plus Blackpool or Birmingham. It would be nice to add Charlton to that!

CC: Hang on you can't have them all going down and sorry but since I asked the question Charlton are now safe, but Doncaster could still go down to keep Millwall up.

CC: If the unthinkable happened and Millwall did go down is the club in a good enough position to do a Wolves and come straight back up?

FMB: Millwall going down? We are not going down "but if we do" it all depends on the players we retain. Ian Holloway will carry on in League 1 and set abut a mission of getting us out and back in the Championship. We will do alright in League 1 because the back bone of the team have played in league 1 and won promotion from it. These players have been at Millwall for a long time and it will be these that Ian Holloway will need to build around as they as they will be the last the leave if we drop a division and most importantly they know the Millwall way.

CC: Millwall have let in the highest number of goals in the Championship this season so are new defenders a priority over the summer and do you feel that some of your back four are not good enough?

FMB: We have conceded a lot but that all seems a long time ago, We are a lot tighter at the back with a stronger midfield and we can be flexible and fluid in what we do. We don't give up and we will work to the final whistle. One of our big discoveries this year is long serving Alan Dunne moved from a full back position to a centre back and given the captains armband is doing that job really well and for a player who's been with Millwall since he was eight and is now one of senior pro's he has had a new lease of life and is working is "*uts off" He is enjoying the football like a teenager again but with a wise old head. He is Mr Millwall.

CC: The Millwall visit to Dean Court was one of the most memorable games of our season coming back from two down, but do you expect a much tighter game at the Den?

FMB: I don't expect us or you to get hammered so in that respect yes it will be a tighter game, maybe a odd goal. Carry on with our unbeaten run is paramount and I know we can do that, end of.

All the best for next season and I wish you all well down on the south coast and especially those that follow Bournemouth FC. Please enjoy your holidays and please start them now!

My best wishes starting Sunday!!

CC: Well it will be good to hear the Lions roar on Saturday and I am sure the game is going to be a great occasion. It is of course a lot easier for AFCB fans to enjoy with just pride at stake for the Cherries, but I hope that both sets of supporters can have a party at the end of the game. We are all football fans and come in expectation of being entertained. Whatever the result let's hope for plenty of goal mouth action.

Make sure you visit OZ's blog at Following Millwall FC.

You don't really want to play the bottom teams now

I had some worries before the Yeovil game. The Glovers had beaten some very good teams at Huish Park and they were never going to make things too easy. Playing the clubs in the bottom four is not really healthy for any away supporter at this stage of the season. You could see how Yeovil's players were ready to shed blood for the cause and while our players also gave their all, it was the kind of game where you knew it would be more of a battle than a carefully crafted match.

Andrew Surman and Eunan O'Kane greet the fans.

I soon lost count of the amount of free kicks that rattled up and such a bitty kind of game is not going to be easy to watch. I wonder how many of their fans were just as eagerly listening for news on Barnsley, Millwall and Charlton's games? However, painful it might have been for AFCB supporters it will have been a much more difficult day for the Yeovil fans.

The games Bournemouth have left are pleasingly mainly concerned with teams that are not in danger of going down. Only the Millwall game will be in that category and as a final match of the season I expect the atmosphere there to be very different to a normal game anyway, which may release the nerves and make the players have a good game on both sides. If the team gets a point or win against Wednesday it is fair to say a defeat then to Ipswich or Nottingham Forest would likely kill off AFCB's play-off hopes, but I would rather lose out to a team that has done well throughout the season than to see points dropped against those fighting to stay up. 

Don't misunderstand, I want AFCB to beat Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich and Forest but if the team loses on the last day to Millwall and misses out on the play-offs by goal difference it will be very hard to take. A couple of defeats against Ipswich and Forest would mean we have still had a good season but the play-offs are a step to far this season. Either way, I am just pleased that we don't have to play Barnsley or Charlton again as those kind of games like the Yeovil one were very tight affairs. I am also hoping that Millwall have nothing to play for when it comes to that final game.

While everyone plays each other in the course of a season I do feel that it matters very much who you play at what time of the season. AFCB certainly found it easier to raise their game against QPR and Reading and I hope that they can do the same this Easter against Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich Town.

By the way I have my ticket for Millwall and I hope we can have a fantastic last day of the season if you can make it. UTCIAD!

Yeovil deserve a bit of luck, but the Cherries need a win too

Yeovil's last win at Huish Park came against Sheffield Wednesday on 8 March. While the Glovers have been beaten by Ipswich and Barnsley at home, since then they managed a 2-2 draw with Bolton Wanderers and are not goal shy at home, having scored in four of their last five home games. So keeping a clean sheet against them is no easy task and AFCB will know that mistakes at this time could cost them that top six finish in a flash.

Those of you have been eyeing up the table will know that AFCB's goal difference is not the best out of those chasing for a final play-off spot. While the club has managed to get into a positive goal count, AFCB are still well behind Ipswich's +7, Brighton's +7 and Reading's +13 goal difference. That can turnaround quickly for example when we play Ipswich but it is clear that the Cherries are not yet in the box seat. While I don't expect those teams in third, fourth and fifth to miss out on the play-offs it is still possible that Wigan could have a bad string of results. This season though we could well witness one of the closest ever finishes for the play-offs in the Championship and I am not that surprised, seeing how close so many of the games have been. But to see Bournemouth up there is astonishing.

Yeovil will still feel that they have been one of those teams that has been unlucky to be on the wrong side of results when they have done enough to win more games. It is a problem that Bournemouth certainly went through in the second quarter of this season, but our team managed to pick itself up and started to get a few results in December and has carried it on since then. If you look at Yeovil this season they have been in most of the games with a good chance but have not been out of the bottom three since 23 September 2013. That tells its own story.

However, Yeovil haven't the worst goal difference and have scored 41 goals which is more than any of the five clubs above them. It's the defeats that have hurt Yeovil with a Championship busting 22 of them. Having lost Ishmael Miller to Forest again, the Glovers may play with a better team spirit and feel they have nothing to lose now as the odds stack up against them for making the unlikely escape. 

I for one will be sad for them if they only have the one season in the Championship, because I like the club has embraced the Championship and given it a right good go. I hope at least that they have gained some big attendances this season and that their fans have enjoyed the league. For us like them it is strange to be in the Championship and family clubs are good for the game I believe at this high level. However, Bournemouth might just be starting to turn into something bigger now with its wealthy backers and a win against Yeovil Town on Saturday could well be another huge step in that development. 

           Eunan O'Kane's amazing goal against Yeovil on Boxing Day was his first in the Championship.

The Cherries March on - Birmingham next!

The feel good factor just keeps growing at AFC Bournemouth. All the fans are fully behind what Eddie Howe, Jason Tindall, Jeff Mostyn and Maxim Demin are trying to achieve and the club continues on its upsurge pushing aside the so-called big clubs. Is this as good as it gets?

Cherry Bear must have enjoyed this season.
 He has had so many more Junior Cherries to look after.

I am not sure that AFCB want to slow down any time soon. It is a shame the season won't continue past the 3rd May unless AFCB are involved in the play-offs, because I think the players are just beginning to hit their stride in the Championship. The last minute win against Barnsley gave the team another injection of pride and passion and it was unleashed on Leeds United with a fury that the opposition could not live with. The month of March has been fantastic and we still have Birmingham to play today.

It's certainly been good looking on from the stands.

Lewis Grabban said in his post-match interview that AFCB don't want to be known as a little club any more. Indeed he said that they "are a progressive team that is developing." The development has been nothing short of sensational in the last four months. The team has picked itself up from some heavy defeats and has set about embracing the Championship and results have steadily come, supported by the addition of Lee Camp and Yann Kermorgant, making the defence more solid, while giving the forward department another dimension.

If you see a plane circling the ground at St Andrews it is most likely to say "Great job Eddie Howe." We may not be Man Utd, but we know when we have a good manager. 

Bournemouth look a powerful side now and in full flow they are a real handful, which is something they did not have at the start of the season. It's not job done yet, but the omens are good and all the players already know that they are re-writing AFCB's history again this season. So there's plenty to smile about. 

Champagne football Michael Dunne called it on All Departments - I'll have some of that. UTCIAD! Safe trip to everyone! 

Don't forget to get you bet on at Free Bet Negotiator.

The Made in Brum Fanzine fanzine should be out just before the game at the St Andrew's stadium. I hope some of you can pick up a copy.