Last season seems a long time ago - want the DVD?

I am expecting news about the 2014-15 season DVD to be announced pretty soon now. There will be some great clips on that of course and hopefully the players will enjoy reliving the many memorable moments of the greatest season in AFCB's history when they look back over events. Yes, there'll be the 0-8 game against Birmingham, the 1-6 spanking of Blackpool and the 1-5 away win at Fulham among many other fabulous results, but the Cherries have left those days behind them and I am pleased that as fans we can now move on to what we hope will be an even more exciting period of AFCB history.

Everyone knows where Bournemouth is now.

While every fan will have their own special memories from last season I am one who will be glad that the final tension of the run-in is well behind us all. It was a marvellous time and the heart was pumping at every game like Brighton and Reading away and the home games against Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday and Bolton Wanderers, but the team got there. No one can take that away from AFCB's players and fans now and no matter how pleasing that was to witness there is a bigger job on now.

It's a bit serious preparing for the Premier League. For some exiles like myself, who probably won't have been back at Dean Court since all the developments over the summer, it will be quite a big thing when visiting the ground again for the start of the new season. Things will have changed from the sponsors on the stadium to the new building work and the taste of the Premier League being in the air. It's been all change and has all happened very quickly. Overnight the club has grown up if you like from rebellious teenager to a full adult that has even more ambition to make its name known worldwide. It's always going to be important to remember the past, but AFCB should also now look forward with confidence and optimism as the club we have been building is now ready to take its place at the highest level and it's time for us to be ready for that.

Are Brighton this season's under achievers?

Every time I look at the table I wonder what an earth are Brighton doing down there. They should be in a much higher position in the table and yet at this time of the season surely the table does not lie. While many of their fans will blame Sami Hyypia's reign for the plight of the team I believe Brighton's players are capable of greater things than they have achieved to date.

When Gus Poyet left the club it was the end of a huge era for them. Gus was their link with the past and the Withdean stadium as well as their hope for a brighter future at the Amex. They perhaps lost a bit of that drive and vision at some point and the disappointment of not winning through in the play-offs is a warning to AFCB fans that what looks good today may not look so good tomorrow.

It could have gone better for Brighton this season.

In Chris Hughton I see a manager who is stable and has good values that has brought Brighton much closer to safety than they were at the start of the year. Now they have a clear goal and even with a few set backs they are on course to secure Championship football next season. But is that good enough for such a club? I expect many of their supporters would say that they should be nearer to where the Cherries are in the table and perhaps they will be up there again in 10 months time. But a defeat to AFCB on Friday night will have the Seagulls looking over their shoulder just a bit.

Under achievers they may have been this season, but I would say that Fulham are even bigger under achievers. They must be just glad that Millwall, Wigan and Blackpool are in even more trouble.  

The Cherries didn't get a win last time at the Amex so Simon Francis, Charlie Daniels,
Tommy Elphick and Steve Cook will be hoping to at least keep a clean sheet. 

The Seagulls Love Review Rival Lines has not materialised, but if it does come in I'll put it up later. Safe journey to those going to the match tonight. I'll be there and on All Departments' podcast review of the game over the weekend if all goes well. UTCIAD!

Finally, well done to Eddie Howe on winning SkyBet's March Manager of the Month in the Championship - I hope AFCB can buck the usual trend and keep winning despite the award!

Strikers need goals and Wilson is heading towards 20

Callum Wilson has carried a pretty heavyweight this season in leading the line for the Cherries in his first Championship season. As he looks back on his goal count of 19 for the season so far he can't be too upset with that and while the goals have been hard to come by of late, Eddie Howe has never doubted the contribution of Bournemouth's goal machine.

Callum always wants to score.

Come the end of the season there won't be many fans who would suggest that AFCB could have had such a powerful season without Callum Wilson. He is undoubtedly the best bit of business that the club has made in recent seasons and has fitted in so well to this team when it could have been difficult to have left Coventry City and have made such an impact at his new club. The Cherries do try very hard to make players fit in though and to ensure they are happy in every side of their lives so that they can have every chance to play at their best on the field. While Callum is still young and has more experienced strikers around him at AFCB he is happy to take on the mantle of being the top scorer and that was demonstrated against Blackpool.

The most fearsome name on AFCB's team sheet at the moment - Brett Pitman.

Brett Pitman had every right to want to take the penalty that Marc Pugh won and no one would have said anything if he had taken it as the designated penalty taker, but Brett could see that Callum really needed a goal. That was big of Brett, but if Callum had missed it would have been hard for Callum knowing that Brett could have scored, so I was delighted that the ball went in. There does seem to be a rush for the ball these days when AFCB win a penalty and it is just great to know that the team has plenty of confident players that are willing to score from the spot. Now that Callum is on 19 goals, it will be interesting to see if AFCB win a penalty at Cardiff who will take it, because I bet Callum wants that 20th goal as soon as possible.

All Departments has released its 100th  podcast a review the win against Blackpool at the weekend. Either visit the All Departments' website or scroll down the right side panel on Cherry Chimes to the All Departments' logo and click on the sound bar to listen.

"Once we had four we wanted more!"

The Cherries put away bottom of the table side Blackpool with consummate ease on Saturday and the only slight disappointment Eddie Howe said was that they did not score more. "Once we had four, we wanted more," he said.  I don't think that was because of a lack of killer instinct or because of poor finishing it was just that Blackpool dug in and AFCB did not create such good openings as they had don in the first 50 minutes.

Tommy was taken off in the second half which led to a change of playing system.

The incentive to score lots of goals was there of course as everyone is talking about how tight the Championship is and how goal difference could be an important factor in the final placings. While AFCB are scoring four and above a game though and are starting to get back to getting clean sheets you can't ask for much more as the back-to-back wins start stacking up.

The change in formation in the second half against Blackpool was perhaps showing that AFCB can try new things when they feel the need. Tommy Elphick's yellow card prompted the decision I suppose but Eddie Howe could easily have stayed 4-4-1-1 and brought on Elliott Ward. That he didn't and experimented with Simon Francis making up a back three, with Adam Smith coming into midfield and Junior Stanislas supporting Brett Pitman and Callum Wilson, the side had even more license to go forward and it will give other teams something else to think about if this system also starts to click as well.

Brett with his match ball after his hat-trick and going past 100 goals for the Cherries.

Junior Stanislas still hopes to add some goals this season.

The chances did come in the second half, mainly through Adam Smith and Junior Stanislas but the final ball was never quite good enough and Tokelo Rantie also added some zip to the Cherries attack. I thought Tom Aldred had kept up with Wilson pretty well for most of the match but when Rantie came on he was all at sixes and sevens. With so much attacking strength I am sure Eddie Howe is not too worried that the score did not go to five, six or seven, but he can use that to the team's advantage in telling them to be yet more clinical and that could happen against Cardiff City on Tuesday.

There are more pictures from Saturday's game on Match Day Gallery.

Pitman's hat-trick against Blackpool helps Cherries stay top 4-0

Match Report

AFCB 4 v 0 Blackpool

14 March 2015

Attendance: 10,013

Brett Pitman with the match ball.

It was a few years ago when know one knew much about the little footballing side on the south coast that played its football at Dean Court and who had a striker called Brett Pitman who would regularly keep the club from slipping further down the slippery football pyramid. Today, the same player is still scoring and now has 101 goals for the Cherries to his name, but both he and his team are lighting up the Championship and Brett's stunning hat-trick against Blackpool not only gave Cherries fans lots of reason to remember what the Jersey-born striker has done for this club over the years, but it also reminded them that he still has a lot to give having scored five times in his last two games. 

Lee Clark in the opposition dugout.

Eddie Howe pre-match.

Blackpool players greet AFCB players.

The two teams on the pitch.

More pictures are on the Match Day Gallery tab.

The fixture was perhaps a foregone conclusion for those who were waiting to tick another game off in the Championship run with top playing bottom. AFCB were without the suspended Harry Arter, while Yann Kermorgant had picked up a bug overnight that meant he would not be playing either. Shaun MacDonald stepped in again to resume a midfield role and Eunan O'Kane was back on the bench. But Blackpool were not going to make it too easy and they had to make changes with their AFCB loan signing Miles Addison not allowed to play against the Cherries, while O'Hara was injured. Telford and Ferguson were also moved to the bench, allowing Orlandi, Madine, Jacobs and Dunne to come into the Tangerines' starting line up.

Pitman gets his laces just right for a hat-trick.

The captains in the middle.

AFCB prepare to put in a professional winning performance.

Blackpool players marvel at seeing grass on a pitch.

While the crowd numbered over 10,000 it was a fairly expectant and yet quiet home crowd while Blackpool brought no more than about three of hundred fans, which was understandable in their club's position. While Blackpool looked to get forward from the start in their white shirts with diagonal tangerine stripe and matching shorts, AFCB were free to play the ball along the back line without too much pressing from Blackpool. Charlie Daniels was soon making his characteristic runs up the left and Aldred was having to do his best to stop him. 

Meanwhile, Ritchie was battling with Perkins and the two of them looked stuck together like glue for the opening few minutes. AFCB's first opening involved Surman and then MacDonald with Surman making the final pass to Pitman who went for a glory shot and smashed high and wide after seven minutes.

Gary Madine was making his presence felt up front with Delfouneso playing just behind. While Madine was caught offside, Blackpool were starting to show endeavour. That was given a big set back on 10 minutes though when Francis played a ball to Pitman who turned and set off in search of I am not sure, but by the time I checked to see how much progress he had made he was running with ever greater pace and turning Blackpool defenders until he was on the edge of the Tangerines' box and by coming to his left side he let go a shot that nestled right in the corner of the goal. He'd done it again! Just like the Fulham match, but this time he had started just inside the opposition's half. How is that possible? The Blackpool defenders had backed off and Brett had nailed another stunning shot on the back of a run that must have been at least 45-50 yards - sensational. The Cherries were 1-0 up!

After the first goal there was an attempt to get Ritchie away up the right wing, but Charles Dunne came across shoulder barged Ritchie right off his feet and was allowed to play on, much to the annoyance of Matt. Callum Wilson was chasing down anything that was left to run to Ell Parish in the Blackpool goal, but it was Charlie Daniels that was causing havoc with his one-twos with Marc Pugh on the left. Tom Barkhuizen was going to have a busy afternoon.

Jacobs was doing much of the covering work for Blackpool in midfield, while Delfouneso, Hall and Dunne were starting to get on the ball more. Indeed, Jacob had a shot that flew off Shaun MacDonald for a Blackpool corner after 22 minutes. Blackpool were giving away silly little fouls though and Madine fouled Pitman just as Blackpool looked like they had a chance to keep the ball in Bournemouth's half. 

AFCB came back with a strong move that saw Wilson and Ritchie combine high up the field and win a corner with MacDonald forcing Charles Dunne to clear. AFCB's corner's were not being rushed and Francis tried to make something of this one from deep, but when the ball came in, Pitman went down and was not give a penalty. When Ritchie was later fouled and AFCB had another chance to get the ball in the box, the ball seemed to come off a Blackpool player for a corner, but referee Chris Sarginson saw it as a goal kick much to the consternation of the AFCB players who had their arms in the air calling for a corner.

Blackpool were not looking to cleaver around the box even if their build up play was okay. Perkins and Delfouneso managed to get some space for Andrea Orlando to have a shot on the half hour but it was well over. AFCB replied with another corner just two minutes later when Cook headed over. The game was getting bitty with free kicks and the occasional scared pigeon flying for cover in front of the Family stand, which was almost as entertaining as the ball being in play.

David Perkins was clearly the most fired up player on Blackpool's side and he was constantly either fouling or being fouled by Ritchie and Wilson. When Wilson could break free he was given offside, but when Ritchie shaped to take a shot from the right side of the box  that looped up off a defender and seemed to be going wide, when we suddenly saw Brett Pitman come into view, just ahead of Callum Wilson,  on the far side and bury his header past the on rushing Parish to make it 2-0!

After the restart Wilson was held by Tom Aldred when bursting through and Aldred received the first yellow card on 39 minutes. With Marc Pugh and Brett Pitman standing over the ball I was urging Pitman to get himself in the box. Instead Pugh took it short to Pitman who glided past the first Blackpool man and pulled the trigger whipping his shot in from the edge of the box and Parish was beaten yet again - it was 3-0! From Blackpool's point of view, Parish's handling of the shot at the near post was not the best.

By this stage even the Blackpool fans were clapping when AFCB scored. Towards the end of the half Charles Dunne had a shot blocked and Blackpool had more of the possession. With the yellow balloons and a minutes applause for Watford fan Nick Cruwys on 44 minutes, the Cherries were soon in at half time three goals to the good.

Cherry Chimes' FanCam: Mic and Tom Curtis give their views on the Blackpool team.

A great first half for the Cherries.

The players leave the pitch at half time.

Got to be pleased with that at half time

Second Half
There were no changes at half time, but the break did not look like it had slowed the Cherries down any. Charlie Daniels soon fed Callum Wilson in and Parish had to make a good save as early as the 47th minute. AFCB's goal machine did not have to wait much longer to get another chance though as Marc Pugh was tripped inside the box when taking on Orlandi and the ref pointed to the spot. Now Brett Pitman was the designated penalty taker and he signalled to the bench is it mine to take? But Callum Wilson already had the ball and was placing it down, ready to take it. Brett went over to Callum and spoke to him, but allowed him to take the kick and thankfully Callum spanked the ball down the middle and into the net to make it 4-0, while Brett Pitman was the first to congratulate Wilson.

The game was well and truly over but there was still 41 minutes to go. Big respect to the Blackpool fans who were singing: "Blackpool are going down in reply to the Reds are going up!" It was a case of how many were the Cherries going to get which every one had been telling me before the game kicked off. But credit to the Blackpool players they fought on bravely.

A corner or a series of passes was always well cheered by the Blackpool fans as they looked to enjoy something from the game. One incident they were pleased about was when Tommy Elphick went into the book for a misjudged challenge on Nathan Delfouneso that saw the Blackpool player go over Elphick's out stretched leg and up into the air.

Blackpool brought on Jose Miguel Cubero for Connor Oliver after 54 minutes, but still AFCB dictated the game with Pugh almost getting Pitman in before Aldred got a clearance in. The yellow cards were evened up on 58 minutes when Tom Barkhuizen fouled Pugh. Ritchie put in a good cross to Pitman who turned well but shot over.

Blackpool then brought on Tommy McMahon and subbed Barkhuizen on 61 minutes. A moment or two later AFCB made a double sub with Adam Smith replacing Pugh and Junior Stanislas coming on for Tommy Elphick, which meant a change of shape as AFCB went three at the back and three up front and Steve Cook took the captain's armband. Junior Stanislas was very lively when he came on and was soon forcing events in the Blackpool half, while Smith had his usual energy and started to test Blackpool's left side with his pacey dribbling.

Stanislas had a shot go wide just three minutes after coming on and Perkins had to foul him on 67 minutes just to slow him down. Adam Smith linked up well with Daniels and Surman and might have stolen in but for an alert Parish in the Blackpool goal. Tony McMahon managed to get his first shot away but Blackpool were looking a beaten side with 20 minutes to go. 

Lee Clark probably felt that as well and brought on David Ferguson for Jacobs on 71 minutes. Meanwhile MacDonald was still threading balls through for Callum Wilson to chase after but he was adjudged to have fouled Grant Hall when through on goal. Adam Smith then won a corner after a deflected shot and Stanislas played the ball out to Andrew Surman who curled a shot wide of the far post. That was followed by a headed chance for Callum Wilson at the near post from a Ritchie cross on the left, but that flew over! 

Ritchie then made a heavy challenge on McMahon and was yellow carded. While Blackpool themselves won a corner after a Boruc fisted-clearance it did not feel like Blackpool would score and indeed they did not have a shot on target all game. Tokelo Rantie then replaced Callum Wilson as AFCB went in search of a fifth goal. Adam Smith was doing his best to change the scoreline and he went close again on 81 minutes when he beat Orlandi and Parish was forced to save. Stanislas then whipped in a low cross across the six yard box that Rantie could not quite get on to. 

A big shout for a penalty then came as Adam Smith went down on the right side of the box from a Charles Dunne challenge but AFCB weren't going to be given a second spot kick. Grant Hill blazed over in the last few minutes to go for Blackpool before McMahon picked up a yellow for a foul on Pitman with 90 minutes gone. There was just time for Rantie to make a late dash for the by line, but pulled his cross back just to high and out of the reach of Pitman.

Blackpool players congratulate AFCB players.

Another good score for the Cherries.

Handshakes all round.

Artur Boruc heads off the field.

Eddie's salute to the fans.

Summary
It was a cold and breezy day, but AFCB stayed on course to record a third straight win. The Cherries did what they had to to get the points and again put in a strong first half performance. While fans would have hoped and perhaps expected more goals in the second half I felt that Blackpool always kept trying and did not make it easy for the AFCB players. Artur Boruc did not have very much to do and Shaun MacDonald did a good job filling in for harry Arter. But it was Pitman's day and I think he rather likes getting the acclaim and winning games at this point of a season - let's see if he can d it again at Cardiff.

Not a bad day.

AFCB
Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie MacDonald, Surman, Pugh, Pitman, Wilson 

AFCB Subs
Camp, Stanislas, Smith, Rantie, O'Kane, Ward, Fraser

AFCB Ratings
Boruc 6, Francis 7, Elphick 7, Cook 7, Daniels 8, Ritchie 7, MacDonald 7, Surman 7, Pugh 6, Pitman 9, Wilson 7 

Blackpool
Parish, Barkhuizen, (McMahon 61), Aldred, Hall, Dunne, Orlandi, Oliver (Cubero Loria 54), Perkins, Jacobs (Ferguson 71), Delfouneso, Madine

Blackpool Subs Clarke, Cubero Loria, Ferguson, McMahon, Telford, Boney, Osavi-Samuel

Are Bournemouth unstoppable now?

Before the Fulham match you had to go back to the FA Cup Third Round game against Rotherham to find an AFCB match when Bournemouth put as many as five past a team on 3rd January. It was a period when the Cherries had also come off a 1-6 away win against this weekend's opponents only a month earlier and scoring goals was no problem at that time. With the goals slowing in February it's easy to see why pundits would wonder if their Cherries would regain their high goal scoring record which have mainly come in away matches. So can we expect more high goal thrillers in these remaining matches?

It's all about looking forward now and enjoying the games that matter - all 10 of them.

I think we can and there is probably a special desire to do that at home. There may be a reason why Dean Court has not been such a goal feast and I don't believe it is just that opposition teams come and flood the midfield. The match against Blackpool will be a good test to see whether the Cherries are in the middle of a purple patch or not. Having put so many goals past them at Bloomfield road, Eddie Howe will be eager to see that AFCB are not complacent and establish themselves in the game well. 

How Blackpool might set about stopping AFCB is much more difficult to guess at. If you are looking for damage limitation from the start of a match it is hardly an encouraging way to get the best out of a team, and in Blackpool's current state they might as well have a go. So I don't think AFCB are unstoppable, but it is going to need a good side to stand in their way and I don't think Blackpool are that team.

With the Cardiff coming so soon on the back of this game don't be surprised if Eddie does do a bit of rotation whether from the start or after half time. AFCB have three games in eight days culminating in a big head to head against Middlesbrough before the last international break. It is asking a lot to play the strongest team all the time as the team has come off a heavy spell in the last few weeks and managing the players now will help them. Still AFCB have a chance to cement the team's position at the top of the league today with another big win, but even a 1-0 I'd be happy to take at this stage. UTCIAD!

AFCB fans plan to start applauding after 44 minutes of the game today to show their support for Watford fan Nick Cruwys who was attacked after his team's last match with Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend. Supporters can donate at the fund rating site which was approaching £30,000 and fans are also are using #prayfornick on twitter to show their support too

Lee Clark: what options does he have?

Lee Clark's first match at Blackpool as manager was back in November when they lost 0-2 to Ipswich Town, since then Clark has added 17 points to the Tangerines' total, that Blackpool total was on five at the time when Jose Riga was sacked. Clark has not made the kind of impact that he would have hoped for having had 22 games in charge and if you are collecting less than a point a game there is only one place you are going to end up - the relegation zone. The first thing he probably needs to do is to get a good pitch at Bloomfield Road next season, but even Blackpool can't use that as an excuse for when they play away.

Lee has turned towards youth now in his attempt to get as many points as he can for the Tangerines while building for next season. There was a debut for Osayi-Samuel against Sheffield Wednesday in their last match and while playing 17-year-olds might be termed adventurous in a league as tough as the Championship, there is little doubt that Clark is brave to give youth its chance. Giving such players a run in the team now though would make it a bit easier for them next season when they will need to have some confidence behind them. It has to be long-term planning for Blackpool now, because this season they have paid a high price for lack of planning in my opinion. 

Another player that Blackpool have brought in this week is 23-year-old winger Michael Jacobs on loan from Wolves. Clark also has Charles Dunne coming back from suspension and striker Gary Madine is available again. Jamie O'Hara though is a doubt with an ankle injury, while Niall Mahill is definitely out with a groin strain. Miles Addison is also unavailable as a Bournemouth player on loan. Nathan Delfouneso will probably lead the line, but the Aston Villa man has only scored three times on loan at Blackpool in 30 games.

It all went wrong very early for Blackpool when they did not get the players in over the summer and just did not have any hope of building a team spirit before the defeats started to mount up. Lee Clark has not really stemmed the bleeding but at least he is telling the fans exactly how it is and has not hidden behind any of the poor performances.

Now they meet a Cherries side that is looking to not only get three points but build as high a goal difference as it can in what is probably the tightest Championship title race that anyone could expect. Lee Clark will probably sleep okay on Friday night as he has to see the game as a great challenge for his players and can use the knowledge that no one gives them a chance of getting anything. That could be dangerous for the Cherries, but finding the answers are proving difficult for Lee and I don't expect him to come up with the perfect solution by 3pm on Saturday afternoon. Still if Blackpool do get a result, Lee Clark and his team will deserve great praise for taking points off the Cherries at this stage of the season.

Blackpool's team last time out against Sheffield Wednesday
21 Parish, 27 Barkhuizen booked (Clarke 71 booked ), 02 Aldred, 32 Hall, 25 Ferguson, 17 Addison,  20 Oliver (Osavi-Samuel 60 ), 04 Perkins, 31 O'Hara, 14 Delfouneso, 34 Telford 
booked.

Substitutes

06 Clarke, 22 Cubero Loria, 30 Sene, 37 Nosworthy, 42 Boney, 43 Osavi-Samuel, 48 O'Dea

Blackpool's task: a lost cause?

It is saying something when even your manager says that a team needs "a miracle" to stay up. But that is precisely the situation that Lee Clark finds himself in having slumped even further with four defeats in their last five and an unwanted goal against column of 70 which is likely to added to at Dean Court if the earlier meetings of the two teams is anything to go by. So what does Lee Clark do with his side with games running out and 17 points off safety with just 10 games remaining?

Blackpool supporters I am sure want to see their team play with pride and to do everything they can to hold out against the Championship's leading side. Top versus bottom matches can sometimes through up surprises, but I don't think the bookies will have anything but very long odds on a Blackpool win on Saturday. You might expect Blackpool's player to play almost without pressure now as everyone expects them to be playing in League One next season, so they have a chance to see if they can improve confidence by competing and attempting to keep a clean sheet at Dean Court.  I expect corner kicks and free kicks will be what Lee Clark feels will be the best chance of his side posing a threat, but AFCB will surely be told to try and deny those kinds of opportunities as much as possible.

Blackpool players at Dean Court last season.

It's going to be tough for them, but they showed against Nottingham Forest a few weeks ago that they can score and scrap for points. They just have not done that often enough this season and the away record is very sorry reading with no wins and just six points from draws earned all season. The really shocking result they had was when visiting Watford on the road when they were 0-2 up at half time and conceded seven goals in the second half. Blackpool have only lost their last two games to Birmingham and Sheffield Wednesday by a single goal so there are signs of improvement. Lee Clark is looking to the future though as you'll see in this video pre-Sheffield Wednesday match.

Where are their goals going to come from? I am struggling to see to be honest. Nathan Delfouneso is their leading scorer on three goals and he last scored against guess who? Yep, Bournemouth back on 20th December. One player who has scored a couple of goals for the Tangerines since the start of the year is Gary Madine who is probably Blackpool's most inform player although he was unavailable against Sheffield Wednesday last time out, but Andrea Orlandi, who had plenty of championship experience at Brighton, has also shown that he can get forward and pose a problem for defences at times along with ex-Pompey player Jamie O'Hara who has always been one for a spectacular goal, but has an ankle problem that might keep him out. I'll look at what other options Lee Clark has in this afternoon's article.

Blackpool Away Form
LLDLL

AFCB Home Form
WDDDW

Tweet in your score predictions to @peterbell19 to get your name on Cherry Chimes.

Well done to Artur Boruc who has been called up for Poland's Euro 2016 qualifier and should get his 60th cap to put him into their Hall of Fame.

Is shipping the odd goal a worry for AFCB?

Not much has been said about Matt Smith's goal for Fulham against AFCB. It's hardly surprising as the positives of the game far outweighed any negatives and yet the Cherries have been opened up by a couple of passes alongside their centre backs in the last two games and Eddie Howe may just start to question why that is.

AFCB defenders go through their warm up routine.

I felt that Fulham's goal was very well taken. It was a sharp move with Ross McCormack as usual at the centre of anything good that Fulham had to offer. The fact that he is such a goal threat probably caused our centre halves to concentrate on him for  just a bit too long from what I could see, before he slipped the ball through for Matt Smith and with his hard hit finish there was little Artur Boruc could do, even though he got pretty close to getting something on the shot.

While the defence will probably feel that the goal took a bit of the shine off the fabulous overall performance on the night, there are sometimes when players have to hold their hand up and say we were undone there. It is not something that should happen regularly though and Steve Cook and Tommy Elphick will no doubt be checking the tapes to see if they could have done anything different to stop Matt Smith getting his shot away.

Of course AFCB have been great going forward and have not had to worry too much about shipping the odd goal, but it could have generated something of a Fulham comeback. Being ruthless at both ends is what the teams wants to be and so a clean sheet against Blackpool would be a pleasing sign that the Cherries are starting to close up the few chances that they have been giving sides as a glimmer of hope.

So who should play in the No10 position against Blackpool?

A couple of weeks ago I would probably have been shouted out of town for even wondering who is best to partner Callum Wilson for AFCB, but as I am already out of town I guess I can ask the question. You could even say with the form of Brett Pitman and Yann Kermorgant that it is not unthinkable that Callum Wilson could even be rested for the game to give him more energy for the key games against Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town.

Yann was unlucky mot to score against Blackburn and hit two against Wolves.

Callum's contribution to the team has been great as usual over the last few weeks and while he has not got on the score sheet  of late it was evident in Eddie Howe's match report on the Fulham game that he had noted that Wilson missed a good chance to get a goal from a one-on-one situation. It may be a moment of the game that I missed early in the second half, but with Callum not scoring for a few games do you really rest him or give him more confidence by letting him play against the team at the bottom of the division?

Brett scored two and could had more against Fulham. Is he about to
 hit top form just at the right time.

The No10 role is the real place that is understandably of great interest for the Blackpool game. Yann Kermorgant was brilliant against Blackburn and wolves but Brett Pitman was unbelievable against Fulham and you also have Rantie trying to get a few minutes when he can. What a change around in terms of striker availability from only a few weeks ago. I'd like to think that Brett will get the nod as he may just be in that electric finishing mode at the moment that we know he is capable of, and.a run of goals now for Brett would surely put AFCB in with a great chance of lifting the title, and he often gets his goals in bucket loads when he is hitting the back of the net.

That would be hard on Yann Kermorgant who missed out on the Fulham win with a dead leg but the rest may just give him more incentive to come back wanting to up his game yet further and the matches against Cardiff, Middlesbrough and Ipswich will be massive. If AFCB only scrape past Blackpool then things could be changed in time for these next games. Having a different variety of strikers just may give AFCB another edge in the battle for promotion if they can all stay fit.

10 cup finals for the Cherries to go

It's that time in the season when Willo usually has his first look at the fixtures to come and what might just be achieved this season. I guess he will have a happy smile on his face when he does look at the table and those remaining cup final fixtures that AFCB have ahead of them. In some ways it is the best and worst part of the season, as if you play badly everything can fall away in just a few games, but if you get it right to peak at this time when you're already in a great spot then the rewards are almost unimaginable for a club like AFCB.

The Fulham win was massive for AFCB and now they have momentum.

Planning out the next 10 games though is rather a lot to take in one go and I expect that Eddie will be looking at the games in small clusters of two and three matches and trying not to look too far ahead. The next two matches are perhaps not as likely to be as testing as the upcoming Middlesbrough and Ipswich matches, but they are no less important and Blackpool and Cardiff need to be beaten on the pitch and not in peoples' minds so there is lots of work to do and AFCB can't sit back and think things are just going to happen for them after the Wolves and Fulham wins.

I'm interested to see if some of those who have not played as much can play their part not just in training. The likes of Eunan O'Kane, Dan Gosling, Shaun MacDonald, Baily Cargill, Junior Stanislas, Ryan Fraser, Ian Harte, Elliott Ward and others may just be the ones that seal a promotion and there is every chance that one of them could do something very memorable in the next few weeks. We don't know what is to come but as long as everyone is prepared to excel if given their chance AFCB should be in a very good place. 

UTCIAD!
It is good to see that the AFCB youth team are also doing well under Carl Fletcher and Joe Roach.

Operation Watford

I was sitting on the sofa on Saturday with one eye on the FA cup matches and another on the progress of Blackpool against Watford. I was astonished that the Seasiders had gone one-nil up and even more aghast to see them double their lead before half time. Coupled with the Brighton result against Ipswich the other day, I though the teams down the bottom are really turning their form around now.

Yes it's them again. Let's try not to get stung again this time.

The sudden realisation that Watford were far from destroyed or deflated by that first half hit me soon enough, as the Hornets were no longer behind but 3-2 up and scoring goals for fun. A beating of 7-2 was the last thing I saw coming for Blackpool, but it reminded me that this is a Watford team that are perennial Championship contenders and even with their managerial changes they are one of the teams that are always going  to be in and around the top of this table. 

Watford will also be buoyed by the arrival of Ben Watson from Wigan Athletic as if they were not strong enough in midfield already. Vujadin Savic is a player I know less about but the Serb defender could also be available to face the Cherries having signed for the Hornets. Another defender coming in is the Mexican international, Miguel Layun who was at Granada, another Pozzo family club.

Having lost to Huddersfield, Watford have scored 13 goals in their last two games and Troy Deeney has only scored two of those. Odion Ighalo is the new golden boy, a Nigerian who has now scored 11 times this season. Udinese's loss is certainly Watford's gain with the help of the Pozzo family.

It will be AFCB fans first sight of Slavisa Jokanovic as Watford manager and yet I imagine that he will set up his team with the same emphasis on attack as his predecessors. This is a very difficult game and AFCB certainly have to be at their very best to come out unscathed. What I will say is we owe this Watford team a beating having bossed the game at Vicarage Road. It's time to start taking apart these teams that have a habit of getting the better of AFCB.

I can see the doom-mongers already gathering and saying that the Cherries' bubble has burst if this game is lost and the fact that it is on TV will give the media plenty of opportunity to say AFCB surely can't stay at the top of the table. Well, why not? The players have been good enough so far, but they will know that they need to beat Watford and Derby in a few weeks time now. It is pressure but we would surely rather have this kind of pressure than being in Wigan or Millwall's position. Be positive is what I would say to the players. Let's get a result and show the TV watchers how good AFCB really are.

Watford Away Form
LWWWL

AFCB Home Form
DDWWL

Transfer Watch
I have not really commented on another failed bid for Demarai Gray as it has been well covered, but I do wonder at what point the Cherries decide he is either an asset they can afford or just too expensive at Birmingham City's valuation. I know a lot of work goes into scouting players and AFCB are clearly keen on the player. It is hard to see where Gray would fit into the team straight away though and if the transfer would cost more than £3.5m you would expect that player to be much better than most of those already at the club.

Finally well done to the AFCB team that beat Hordean 1-3 to reach the semi-final of the Hampshire Senior Cup.

Keep competing and the Cherries will be fine

I think the last week has demonstrated just how tough the Championship is to win. Eddie Howe said earlier last week that having the Leeds fixture where it was moved to was not ideal but the best of the options available. I don't think he was getting any excuses in early, but geography does not give AFCB a helping hand at times when they are on the road to other Championship sides.

Sticking together.

A trip to Elland Raod is not that hospitable on a bright, sunny Saturday in March let a lone a snowy and cold winter's night in January. But that is what the Championship throws up at you now and again and for once the test was just that bit too strong for our lads. There is a mental side to the game that Jason Tindall drew attention to as well last week before the Rotherham match, saying that AFCB were enjoying the pressure of being top. Of course you would say that, but there really is pressure at the top and there is also pressure on those behind knowing that they must keep winning to hold on to those that are ahead of them.

AFCB players will be out to bounce back quickly
 with some fast starts in games now.

You can't choose when you lose and so it always comes as a bit of a shock when a string side comes out on the wrong side of a result, but it hasn't happened often this season and I don't expect it will happen that often in the remaining games. Leeds have the double against the Cherries but it will be hard for many other teams to achieve that. AFCB have to prove they are winners and they can only do that on the pitch.

At the end of the season there can be no hard luck stories. The best teams go up and the worst ones go down. AFCB will come back with plenty of fire I hope for their next league fixture and the challenge of beating a Watford side that has eluded them in the past should be a good test for a competitive AFCB side. Watford play Blackpool on Saturday first though and could be just four points behind the Cherries when they visit Dean Court.

Wilson can fire cherries to the Championship title

It the last few league matches Callum Wilson has not managed to find the net, but he will look to add hos 13 goals this season of which 11 have been in the league. His last goal came in the Blackpool rout where he scored in the first half on 20 December, and while he has been pulling defences apart to create space for other to exploit we know how annoyed Callum gets when he is not keeping up his high goal scoring prowess.

Callum will be looking to get on the goal scoring trail at Rotherham.

As far as the team is concerned it has not really been too much of a problem when Callum has a few blanks in front of goal when the other team members are in such a rich vein of form, but if he can start putting away a few chances his goals are likely to fire the Cherries towards their highest ever league finish. There are some 24 games to go and if Callum can repeat what he has done in his first half of the season he will have made quite an impact in his first Championship season.

Ipswich's Daryl Murphy leads the way on 17 goals so far followed by Derby's Chris Martin on 15. If Callum can keep anywhere near those two strikers then he will more than have repaid his signing on fee last summer.

Whether Eddie Howe is able to find another striker to come in this transfer window is the big question. Yann Kermorgant and Brett Pitman have shared the responsibility as a strike partner for Callum, but if AFCB are in any doubt whether they can get another 15 goals this season, we just may see a new face at the club this January. Personally, I think AFCB will go with what they have in the second half of the season and rely on a hard work rate, and the players we have at the club to try and achieve the best league position that they can.

Transfer Watch
TalkSport reported on the Radio this morning that AFCB had had a new £3m bid for Demarai Gray at Birmingham City turned down. We are still waiting for confirmation on this from a second source, but it seems that the Cherries are very keen on this winger and that they are going to keep asking the question.

Burnley may be in need of some good defenders after shipping four against Spurs last night, but Steve Cook has reaffirmed his commitment to the Cherries. 

The Cherries are purring at the top

There was a part of me that has seen in recent weeks that this Cherries side has the quality to run away with this league but also has a mental hurdle to cross that the players really believe that they can achieve whatever they want this season. You can look for weaknesses in this side and you'll probably find a few, but you'll also come across superb technique and a desire that is truly unmatched by many of the other Championship clubs. Whether that is enough to give Eddie Howe and his team what they so deserve we will have to wait and see but any AFCB supporter cannot fail to see that this is the best Bournemouth squad that has been assembled and that 2015 is a year that all fans of the Cherries can look forward to.

A few weeks a go we saw the visit if Ipswich and Millwall to Dean Court and felt rather sickened that the Cherries had not managed to secure more points from these games. On the back of the Blackpool game there is a new reinvigorated energy about this squad that tells me that this is going to be a special season. The competition is still close and all around and we all know that one defeat or draw will see others overtake AFCB, but the players started to live with being at the top of the table when they went to Bloomfield Road. Others have been at the top but have failed to stay there. Yet, all the time that unbeaten league record keeps on being extended by the Cherries. There is not a week that goes by when they are not putting pressure now on other teams who might just see AFCB as the team that are the most prolific and powerful in the Championship.

AFCB players will aim extend their time at the top of the table on Boxing Day.

This is something that Leicester City managed to do last season and having that aura of being at the top and taking that to other grounds is a new feeling for our players. Eddie Howe has also not been in this position in this league before, but the smiles are what pleases me because I can see that they are enjoying the challenge now instead of being burdened by it. The pleasure of playing well is now evident in all the players and it should hold the team in good stead with the tough tests that it will have to take on in the new Year. 

Fulham will be one of those teams that will ask serious questions of this Cherries team, but I am confident that the AFCB players will want to win this game more than most because it will be the message that they want to lay down on the rest of the division. Beating Blackpool and Birmingham well away gets attention, and thumping Cardiff at home also sent out warning signals. What message does a good win against Fulham at home send out? That AFCB are worthy leaders of the Championship as the second half of the season approaches. 


I was recently interviewed by Andrew Beck of Cottagers Confidential who wanted Cherry Chimes' opinions before the game on Boxing Day. I'm questioned about the Cherries run of form and whether it really is a team that is taking the Championship by storm or whether AFCB have just had a couple of big wins, and perhaps we are just getting carried away - see Cottagers Confidential. 

Brett Pitman keeps his nerve

There was an important moment in the Blackpool and AFCB game where Blackpool scored and for a moment had brought the scores back to 1-3. In such an instant it could have been the catalyst for a Blackpool resurgence but the foul on Callum Wilson, only a minute later, when racing into Blackpool's box gave Bournemouth the chance to effectively kill the game.

Brett Pitman is upping his game.

Up stepped Brett Pitman as Yann Kermorgant, the designated penalty taker, was still off the pitch at the time. AFCB have missed their fair share of penalty kicks and even when Bournemouth were winning a game like this it must have been at the back of Brett's mind that a miss would not help his hopes to get a continued run in the team. The fact that he struck the penalty so well in the top corner was down to his confidence and technique, but to have to take a second kick because of encroachment must have rattled him more than a little, even though he put away his second attempt with no less confidence.

Brett has been one of the players that AFCB fans have not been so sure about to start games, but Eddie has stuck with him and that confidence in Brett is giving the player an added boost. It would be easy to shy away and not volunteer to take the penalty especially when Matt Ritchie was on a hat-trick, but Brett wants to do his bit for the team and his successful convention from the spot was important for him as well as the team.

The only thing that was disappointing about Brett's performance was his yellow card for punching the ball as he tried to score a goal earlier on. It's not the way AFCB players want to be known for and I am sure Brett will cut that out of his game. I bet his heart sank for a moment when he handled the ball in the second half and gave away a free kick again - luckily he did not get another yellow and a sending off.

All Departments has a special Christmas podcast with Steve Fletcher. Listen by visiting the All Departments' website or by scrolling down the side panel on Cherry Chimes until you reach all departments and click on the sound bar.