Forest will be the hardest game Woodgate has had as AFCB manager

Bournemouth will have to look out for one or more former players trying to stop Jonathan Woodgate record his third win in a row when Nottingham Forest host the Cherries, just after mid-day on Saturday. Also equipped with a fairly new manager, in Chris Houghton, Nottingham Forest have been climbing the table with only one home defeat in their last five home games.

AFCB's players have to keep the pressure up on those above them in the table.

The Cherries' main problem could well be coming from Glenn Murray. He scored in Forest's last win against Wycombe Wanderers, while Lewis Grabban scored in their previous win against Coventry City. But if that wasn't enough former Cherries for you, then Forest's top goalscorer is Lye Taylor on five goals. Anthony Knockaert is also going to be a goal threat on the wing if he is fit and Sammy Ameobi is another string attacking player that could be used. Harry Arter has been out with a calf injury and there was strong interest for him from Bristol City during the transfer window, but he is still at Forest.

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The consistency with which Woodgate has seen Bournemouth play should make this a good battle. We have seen the Cherries grow more of a spine in recent games and they'll need to be up for it to get anything out of this game. Forest are 13 points behind Bournemouth and they are down in 18th place, but a win could take them up to 15th.

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I expect Wilshere to be selected in the starting line-up for this game as Bournemouth need to be at their creative best. Solanke could get the jump on the other strikers if he is fit, and Stanislas will surely be one of the first names on the team sheet. My only worry at the back of late has been Asmir Begovic. He has been in great form in the first half of the season, but has looked a bit fragile of late with only Will Dennis pushing for his place. Now we see that Mark Travers has been recalled from Swindon and I think it is a good move, with a bit of pressure now applied to Begovic to perform well.

Bournemouth's players also have to step up their game because they have a massive quarter-final game in the FA Cup at home to Southampton. The players will want to be in that game and it should push them on to be at their best if they want to be starting that game.

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AFCB Away Form
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Nottingham Forest Home Form
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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Momentum is more important than records for AFCB

In other news, it will be the last post on Chery Chimes tomorrow.

Rival Lines: 'It all goes back to Hughton's change of formation,' says We Are Brighton

Rival Lines

Match Preview: Brighton v AFCB

Blogger Interview: We are Brighton

Twitter: @wearebrighton

This week I've been chatting with Scott at We are Brighton. Fresh from a trip to Wembley where Brighton came close to shocking one of the best sides in Europe, Brighton have more pressing concerns of only being five points above the relegation zone with their seven games to go. Those games in hand could be Brighton's safety net, but they probably need to get points against teams like Bournemouth when they have other fixtures against the likes of Spurs, Arsenal, Wolves and Man City.

CC: Were you surprised at how close Brighton pushed Man City in the Fa Cup Semi-Final?

WAB: Very! City obviously didn't play anywhere near as well as they can do, but the fact it was a one-off game certainly seemed to help us. Chris Hughton is a very conservative manager by nature and that means that when we face one of the top six in the Premier League, we tend to defend at all costs to protect our goal difference. On Saturday, it obviously didn't matter how many we conceded which seemed to result in the players having a little more freedom to go on the attack. Hopefully, Hughton will look at how that made us more of a threat and stick with it in the future.

CC: Did the cup run and day at Wembley make up for the struggles in the league?

WAB: There is a surprisingly high proportion of Albion fans who would happily be relegated if it meant winning the FA Cup. I was very much in that camp; a day out at Wembley and Lewis Dunk lifting one of the most famous trophies in the world would mean much more than watching Brighton finish between 10th and 17th in the Premier League every season. Whilst the media and the bigger clubs will tell you that the competition is dying, it seems to be the opposite in Sussex. We sold out the Amex for both our home ties against West Bromwich Albion and Derby and our away allocations against yourselves and Millwall. It's certainly proven to be a welcome distraction and I hope that we have a real good go at winning it again next season as well.

CC: What have been the reasons for the drop in league form in 2019?

WAB: It all seems to go back to Hughton's decision to change formation. Around the start of December, he moved away from the 4-4-1-1 that had been so successful in our first 18 months in the Premier League in favour of a 4-3-3. The idea behind the change was to try and make us more of an attacking threat, but all it seems to have done is remove the defensive solidity that underpinned our survival last year. It also doesn't play to Glenn Murray's strengths at all as he no longer has two out-and-out wingers feeding him crosses, so we've blunted out best striker as well. Given that we've only won two league games since the end of December, I'm astounded that Hughton is still sticking with it.

CC: Should Glenn Murray be starting more games than he does?

WAB: Not in this formation. He is still our main man - and there is a completely separate argument to be had about why we are still relying on a 35-year-old striker we initially signed 12 years ago from Rochdale to get the majority of our goals in the Premier League - but he just doesn't seem to be able to play in a 4-3-3. Florin Andone is much better suited to leading the line in this formation, but he seems to be made out of glass and will get a run of up to five games and then be out for another five.

CC: Is Chris Hughton still moving Brighton forward or has he started to plateau?

WAB: Some fans seem to think he has hit what Gus Poyet loved to call "the glass ceiling" and that if we want to move onto the next level, we need a new man in charge. But you only have to look at the likes of Stoke post-Pulis, Southampton post-Puel, Charlton post-Curbishley, West Ham post-Allardyce to see what happens when a club gets ideas above their station and moves on a successful manager. We should have enough to survive this season because of the excellent first half of the campaign we had but it could be a big summer for Hughton and the recruitment team as if we start 2019-20 as we are ending 2018-19, then we could be in big relegation bother in a years time.

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CC: Where do Brighton need to strengthen to get a higher finish in the league next season?

WAB: If Hughton is going to persist with 4-3-3, then he needs to get a holding midfielder in. Dale Stephens is currently playing in that pivot role but he looks ill-equipped to handle the unique demands playing at the base of the midfield requires. We also need a striker who can play in it - essentially, a fitter version of Andone. The only trouble with that is every other Premier League side will be looking for that striker and we aren't likely to outbid many clubs as Tony Bloom runs a very prudent ship.

CC: Do you feel Brighton are established in the Premier league now?

WAB: No. I don't think any club outside of the big six can feel established really with the possible exception of Everton. The division from 7th down to 20th is normally so tight that all it can take is a poor run of results and you can get sucked from one end to the other. We're finding that out the hard way - we were 12 points clear of the relegation zone around Christmas time but could be in it by 10pm on Tuesday night.

CC: How should Brighton line up against AFCB for this game?

WAB: If Hughton is going to play 4-3-3, he needs to start Andone. I'd also drop Alireza Jahanbakhsh who has done absolutely nothing so far since signing for £16m from AZ Alkmaar in the summer and replace him with either Solly March or Jose Izquierdo. In our last home game against Southampton we were so slow, and Andone, March and Izquierdo would add some much needed pace.

CC: If Brighton don't win the game will you be more worried about the threat of relegation or are you confident Brighton will be safe?

WAB: Saturday is important, but Tuesday night at home to Cardiff is even bigger. If we lose against Bournemouth and Cardiff beat Burnley on Saturday and Cardiff then win at the Amex in midweek, we'll be in the relegation zone. With our final three games of the season against Spurs, Arsenal and Manchester City, that is going to be a very dangerous position to get out of.

CC:What is your score prediction?
WAB:  I'm banking on the fact that Bournemouth have nothing to play for will count in our favour and we take a bit of confidence from Saturday's game against Manchester City and end up winning 2-1. Having said that, it would be typical for Brighton to push one of the best teams in Europe all the way and then get turned over 4-0 at home a week later. So who knows!

CC: It was intriguing to hear Scott's opinions on Brighton's tough season and how they enjoyed the cup run even if it wasn't ultimately successful and has left Brighton wondering of they are going to get enough points to get safe quickly. While I wouldn't want to swap AFCB's league position for Brighton I can't help but feel their fans have had a more exciting season than Bournemouth. Hopefully, AFCB can try and recapture some sparkle on the pitch and give us some fast improving memories of 2018-19. But we go into this game knowing that it is basically the decider between the two teams having had one win each in the league and FA Cup so far this season.

You can also read some of my answers from Scott's questions on We Are Brighton this weekend.

Score Predictions
Send in your score predictions for Brighton v AFCB to @CherryChimes on Twitter. We will select a winner form the correct scores to win a T-shirt.

Slow starters Bournemouth rescue a point at Brighton

Match Report

1 January 2018

Brighton & Hove Albion 2 v 2 AFCB

Attendance: 30,152

Brighton and AFCB walk out at the Amex. 

 Bournemouth had to dig deep for a draw at the Amex stadium after Anthony Knockaert and Glenn Murray had helped Brighton to a 2-1 lead. Steve Cook had grabbed one goal back from a corner, and Callum Wilson mounted a rescue act from a goal mouth scramble just 11 minutes from the end. Bournemouth paid the price for slow starts at the beginning of each half and while they battled the wet conditions and fast attacks of Izquierdo, they had Asmir Begovic to thank more than once for keeping them in the game.

AFCB in their pre-match huddle.

Bournemouth rested a few players after the win against Everton. Ryan Fraser had a hamstring injury and was out of the squad, while Nathan Aké and Dan Gosling were put on the bench. Benik Afobe, Charlie Daniels and Harry Arter all made starts.

Brighton make a fast start.

Brighton made a lightening start with an attack down the left and Suttner flicked a ball in to Gross, who cleverly fed in Izquierdo, who squared the ball to his right for Knockaert to have an easy knock in on five minutes.

If Bournemouth were thinking they would have time on the ball they would be mistaken. Brighton were half a yard quicker and had made it count. Jordan Ibe tried to to reply quickly but shot wide on eight minutes. Marc Pugh also had a shot from the left which whizzed past the post on 11 minutes.

A Bournemouth corner was cleared and Brighton won a corner themselves on 21 minutes. Begovic then had to make a finger tip save from a Glenn Murray shot, but it was probably going wide anyway.

Ibe was Bournemouth's most promising player moving inside to get a shot away that Ryan had to get down fast to. The corner saw a Steve Cook header kept out from the six yard box, but on a subsequent corner Steve Cook rose well again to head in the equaliser on 32 minutes. 

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Arter then fed Wilson in space and the striker had his shot saved as the momentum swung to Bournemouth. Begovic was needed for a punched clearance  before a move involving Ibe and Pugh ended with Wilson sliding a shot off that Mathew Ryan just got to.

Brighton almost got back ahead when Murray and Izquierdo combined and Begovic made a reaction save for the ball to bounce back off Izquierdo before the striker could react. Afobe then passed to Pugh for a shot that was saved as half time came.

1-1 at half time.

Second half

Brighton came out fast again and a Brighton corner had AFCB on the back foot. Francis had the chance to come away with the ball, but only gave it away on half way and Gross and Izquierdo worked the ball back up the left before crossing for Murray to slide the Seagulls into a 2-1 lead on 47 minutes.

Bournemouth needed to find some rhythm and having their shots blocked was a common theme, while corners were not having much success. Brighton were also having little impact from corners with Murray seeing his shot blocked.

Pugh was replaced by Nathan Aké on 60 minutes, and Francis made a strong run and crossed well for Wilson only for the forward to get a push in the back that the referee did not see.

Afobe was subbed for Lys Mousset on 66 minutes. Mousset's first contribution was to lose the ball that led to a Brighton break. But Izquierdo found he could not beat Begovic in a one-on-one.

Arter was next subbed for Dan Gosling on 70 minutes. Bournemouth came forward again with Ibe making a great run and shot that came back off the post and against Ryan's back for a corner.

Brighton subbed Scheletto on 76 minutes and Steve Cook helped him off before Bruno came on. Another Bournemouth corner saw Wilson in the thick of it and the ball bounced kindly to him eventually for him to see the ball trickle over the line for 2-2.

Propper received a yellow card on 81 minutes. Both teams looked for a winner and Arter enabled Wilson to get another shot off that was saved. Francis picked up a yellow card before Gross was replaced by Brown on 88 minutes.

There was time for Glenn Murray to get a yellow card for a foul on Adam Smith. Three minutes of added time did not bring any winner.

Francis leads the applause.

Summary

Bournemouth did not cope as well as Brighton with the conditions at the start of either half and they gave themselves lots to do. Had Begovic not have been in great form they could have lost this game while I don't know what Ibe has to do to score. It was probably the best Bournemouth could do having so little time from their previous match and it is at last a time when they can rest a few more players as the FA Cup beckons next weekend.

AFCB Ratings

Begovic 8, Francis 6, S Cook 7, Daniels 6, Ibe 8, Arter 5, L Cook 5, A Smith 7, Pugh 5, Afobe 5, Wilson 7

AFCB have to settle for a point.

Cherry Chimes' MoM: Jordan Ibe

AFCB line up

AFCB subs: Boruc, Simpson, Surman, Butcher, Gosling, Aké, Mousset

Brighton
Ryan, Schelotto (Bruno), Duffy, Dunk, Suttner, Knockaert, Stephens, Pröpper, Izquierdo, Gross (Brown), Murray

Brighton Subs
Krul, Bruno, Kayal, Hemed, Goldson, March, Brown

To overtake Brighton is Bournemouth's big carrot

Happy New Year!

Brighton & Hove Albion now sit just two points above the Cherries and Bournemouth now have the opportunity to potentially enter 2018 as the highest place southern club if they can get a win against Brighton today. Brighton have been picking up points though at home and they have managed to hold some good teams at the Amex like Burnley, Everton and Southampton. They are quite the draw specialists, but Bournemouth will be aiming for more from this game.

Brighton at Bournemouth earlier in the season 

Brighton's weakness has probably been upfront. While Glenn Murray gives them good height and presence in the forward line they have not seen Tomer Hemed have as big an impact on games as he might have. Jose Izquierdo has probably played more games than he might have if Sam Baldock had been fit, while Isah Brown has yet to find the net. Chris Hughton might not have that many options, but Pascal Gross has been a bright light, scoring against Watford in their last home win.

Anthony Knockaert and Solly March were match winners in the Championship and they have had to step up this season. Dale Stephens and Davy Pröpper have also been involved in most games but have not been hot in front of goal. What Brighton do well though is compete and they are good at grinding out results. Apart from the 1-5 Liverpool match they have not been embarrassed so Bournemouth know they will be tested.

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Brighton come into this game after a long trip to Newcastle which won't be ideal for them. But they did get an away point so they will be thinking they can build on that. Whether it feels like a derby or not these are three points that both teams will feel they can take so I'm hoping for an open game.

It will be a return to Brighton for Steve Cook of course and he may feel slightly under more pressure than others to have a good game. He has been trying to get forward for more goals and it wouldn't surprise me if he is one to watch in this fixture.

Brighton Home Form
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AFCB Away Form
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Possible AFCB line up

AFCB Subs: Boruc, A Smith, Simpson, Surman, L Cook, Pugh, Mousset

The Guardian Half time report- see Cherry Chimes' entry

Cherry Chimes' January newsletter is out today. It includes the special newsletter article - Avoiding defeat will get you safety - and it reports on what has been a record month for Cherry Chimes. 

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Palace can ill-afford a battering from the Cherries

Crystal Palace come to AFCB on the back of a crunching 0-3 home defeat to Man City in the FA Cup. It was not ideal preparation for Sam Allardyce's side, especially as he played a good number of his first team side in the fourth round of the cup. The league is what matters though for Allardyce and Palace this season and they may find this game comes too quickly for them.

Palace are likely to have a few different players from last time the two teams met.

I was looking through the Palace line-up against Man City and was a bit surprised to see Crhsitain Benteke, Andros Townsend, Joe Ledley and Jeffry Schlupp on the filed from the start. That seemed to back fire as Schlupp was taken off with a hamdtring pull after 76 minutes. They did make some other subs too, as the game moved away from them. Consistency is something that Palace have been struggling with just like the Cherries and on the road the Eagles have just had two win this season at Middlesbrough and Sunderland, plus a couple of draws.

The Watford away game they had on Boxing Day s the last time they scored away from home and they are still waiting for their first Premier League point of 2017. So is this a good time to play Palace? Absolutely, the Cherries must take advantage of this opportunity. There have been some close games with Palace, but this is a side that will play only one way against AFCB - it will be a long ball, height and set-plays for AFCB to defend. Howe knows what is coming and he needs to get a plan in place to nullify the physical side of Palace's game. Cabaye is there best play-maker, but if he is kept deep, then AFCB can get the upper hand in this game.

Benteke is the striker that will need the most looking after. He has eight goals now and is starting to look like the only man who is going to get them out of trouble with his ability to score goals on a regular basis. But it is the supply routes that AFCB must cut off. Wilfred Zaha is back from the Ivory Cup of Nations, the Ivory Coast having been knocked out and he didn't play in the FA Cup match fourth round which indicates that he will be available for this game. Spurs are said to be lining up a bid for the young winger and that could also be a reason for his absence from the team last weekend.

An under-performing Zaha though or one who is not quite on it may also be something that AFCB can exploit. Palace are reinforcing their side though having bought defender Patrick van Aanholt from Sunderland for a fee that could rise to £14m. Allardyce is still chasing two more signings as well, according to BBC reports.

Palace know it is now or never for them this season now. So AFCB can't be at all fragile in their defence which is going to have to improve for this match.

Crystal Palace Away Form
LLDDL

AFCB Home Form
WWLDD

Possible AFCB line up
Boruc (GK), A Smith (RB), Francis (CD), S Cook (CD), Daniels (LB),
Stanislas (RM), L Cook (CD), Surman (CD), Fraser (LD), Wilshere (FW), C Wilson (FW)

AFCB Subs
Federici, B Smith, Mings, Gosling, King, Ibe, Afobe ( Arter, I just feel might be rested)

Premier Talk - Why oh why is it transfer deadline day with matches going on?

Transfer News
Marc Wilson is linked with WBA and Hull City are still trying to get Max Gradel to sign. Glenn Murray is also ready to sign to Brighton & Hove Albion for £3m, according to Sky Sports.

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Murray will find some form at Brighton

While Glenn Murray scored some important goals for AFCB he found it difficult to adapt to the playing style of the team and could not run in behind as well as Eddie Howe had hoped. I don't think Glenn Murray did anything but try his best, yet AFCB did not get this striker pick right in terms of buying a front man that was going to fit well in the team over a couple of seasons. Glenn was an instant impact buy that had the finishing power to score a few goals, but arguably looked at odds with what AFCB were all about.

Glenn Murray will be playing for Brighton & Hove Albion in 2016-17.

There have been strikers that Eddie has worked with that have been big front men - Steve Fletcher, Jayden Stockley and Frank Demouge to name a few, but he has moved more towards the quicker sprinters and even though Murray is a sharp shooter in the box, I don't think he was quite what AFCB needed.  Premier League experience and confidence was always something that Glenn could bring to the team though and his goals against Man City and Chelsea will never be forgotten. Was Murray still Premier League level? I guess he was finding it more difficult to have a leading influence on games and that is why Crystal Palace were pleased to take the £4m from AFCB for him. Murray's goal against Chelsea was probably worth the money AFCB paid for him though as it helped keep them up, even if Charlie Daniels was in a position to probably have got the goal anyway.

Brighton is Murray's spiritual home and he will score for them - in what numbers though I am not sure. Albion have done well in taking him on loan rather than paying out a huge transfer fee but AFCB will want Glenn to do well there and to make the deal a permanent signing. 

It will be interesting to see how AFCB's subs in the forward line try and change games in future. There is unlikely to be a big man plan B anymore unless you bracket Benik Afobe in that category, but Afobe is powerful and quick as well as being very strong with the potential to get much better in the Premier League. There was simply no room for Murray at Dean Court.

Euro 2016 - A French masterclass

New Wilson deal was imperative for AFCB

The new four-year contract comes precisely a year after Callum had signed his second AFCB contract last January but this one will have better terms for him and no doubt a higher valuation put on his head with several Premier League teams circling over him. Now Callum can concentrate on his football and it gives other players at AFCB confidence that they will go into next season with their talisman striker ready to give his all.

Callum has committed his future to AFCB.

Having seen Matt Ritchie's head turned by Newcastle United it was important for AFCB to nip any thoughts of Callum also going elsewhere as soon as they could. As a goalscorer with pace and power, Callum is ideally suited to lead the attack of many clubs and with Josh King, Lys Mousset and Benik Afobe the strike force that has been assembled at the Cherries looks formidable. It is still unknown if Glenn Murray is stopping longer on the south coast (see below) and Tokelo Rantie would also be a candidate for finding a new challenge, but Wilson was not a player that the Cherries could afford to lose.

The best years are surely ahead of Callum. He has shown that he can score a hat-trick in a Premier League game and he ignites the crowd whenever he gets on the ball. AFCB need to keep their best chance of a 20-goal a season man at the club and he has much to prove himself having missed so much of last season. 

AFCB might have list a Scottish international but it may not belong before we see Mr Wilson in the senior England squad and that will be fabulous to see as an AFCB fan.

Euros - Germany spot on and Iceland v France preview.

Transfer News
Brighton Albion are reported to be closing in on Glenn Murray loan deal, according to Sky Sports.

AFCB should hold out for a high price on Murray

While there is plenty of cash incoming at Dean Court it does not hurt for the club to be a little wiser with any of its assets that it chooses to off load. Glenn Murray only joined the club last September for some £4m and he has shown that he can still score goals against top teams like Man City and Chelsea in the Premier League.

Glenn Murray may see the Championship as his future.

So why sell him cheap? Glenn has a three-year contract and while he has found it difficult to fit into a style that works with the team and has found himself down the pecking order I wonder if any one has considered that Glenn might still be with AFCB come next August? It is most likely that if AFCB hold out and the offers they receive are not enough that Glenn could go out on loan but perhaps Brighton can't afford to take that risk when Fulham are also said to be interested in taking the striker even if Sheffield Wednesday may have cooled their interest.

For once AFCB are not in a bad position. While Murray's wages will be the main concern, he is not a bad player to have on the bench and he is the only striker of his type at the club. AFCB seem more interested in attracting more pacy forwards at present with Millwall's Mikael Ndjoli said to be prime target number one for AFCB's U21 squad, according to the Daily Express.

AFCB fans of course will be hoping to see some big names come into the side this summer but that may depend very much on what happens to players like Glenn Murray, who may have to leave if AFCB want to fund more signings without throwing money away.

He's King of the road

Josh adds match-winner tag to his name.

I was scanning social media at the weekend after the Villa match when I came across one tweet that said Josh King - give this man a song. I could only agree and wondered why he had not yet picked up a song of his own especially when he has such a cool surname - perhaps something to the theme of King of the road? 

He is certainly starting to rule the world with his finishing. The goal against Villa that won the game was all of his own making. While the team as a whole pressed fairly high it was Josh that caused Ciaran Clark so much trouble in closing him down fast and stealing in ahead of him to grab the ball. I still felt that he was not quite favourite to score as he had a lot to do with being hassled from behind while Josh's first touch pushed the ball rather closer to Brad Guzan than he might have hoped.

I think it actually helped Josh that he did see the ball run away from him as he ha no choice than to be brave and race to try and get to the ball first as Guzan came flying out. I kind of braced as I thought that Josh would be clattered and just getting a toe to the ball first was going to be tight. He not only did that though but was brave enough to flick the ball up and past Guzan with enough pace on it to reach the net safely. It was a very individual goal and the kind of chance that perhaps not every striker would find as easy to score from. But Josh is quick and persistent in his chasing down and he got the reward for his work which is not always the case.

Reading the notes from the last MatchDay programme and King's personal feature you get the feeling that Josh only ever wants to keep getting better. It is quite something that he has filled in for Callum and kept Glenn Murrray waiting for more games and even Lewis Grabban has found the competition to win a starting spot very difficult. I wonder what is next for the King of Dean Court?


All Departments' podcast reviewing the important win at Aston Villa is now out with Gary Hawkins. Listen by visiting the All Departments' website.

PremierTalk: Is the table so unusual?

Collective goal scoring has been key for the Cherries

While there is a possibility that Eddie Howe would have liked to have played a first choice recognised front two for most of the way through the season he has not had that option. Unlike Watford where the front two have been scoring the goals, it has been a team effort for the Cherries to get the goals for up to a magnificent total of 38. That is the equal ninth highest total for a team in the Premier League and evidence that most of AFCB's players have a goal or two in them.

There is plenty of fire power in the Cherries even with
Wilson and Stanislas waiting to come back.

So Eddie Howe may well be thinking with a fit Callum Wilson and a quick learning Benik Afobe that the goals for would be even bigger. Of course he has other options with Josh King and Glenn Murray as well and there could yet be some changes to the front line as we go into the late March and early April games.

It is healthy that AFCB have not been too reliant though on a front two always getting the goals and by playing one up front for much of the season it has meant that midfield players have had to get forward in support. The leading goal scorers are Wilson, Murray, King and Stanislas - all on five. But Gosling, Pugh and Afobe are just one goal behind, the midfielders have been getting on the score sheet and only Francis, Elphick, Iturbe and Surman of the main outfield players are still awaiting their first goal.

This underlines to me that the Cherries' goals are usually pretty varied and any player is dangerous and could get a goal. A high number of AFCB's goals also seem to have come from distance which I think is great as we all like to see a screamer or two. Whether your favourite is Matt Ritchie's thunderbolt against Sunderland, Adam Smith's rocket against Everton or Harry Arter's long range effort against West Ham, the goals have been going in from every angle.

Who is going to get the goals?

We have seen the Cherries squander chances in many games this season but I felt that Eddie Howe was more than a little surprised that the team had not scored against Everton. The saved penalty is one thing, but the attacking players that were picked to try and test Joel Rubles in goal were not anymore exact in their shots on target than the Cherries had been against Stoke City in the previous league match.

Is Gosling's missed headed opportunity against Everton going to cost him his place?

It is quality as well as fighting spirit that will get the Cherries safe this season. Not enough quality in front of goal has been seen of late. I can't say that AFCB have been that unlucky in their current run, they just have not hit top gear. AFCB need all their players to be on song. It is amazing that Callum Wilson still sits equal top of the team's scoring chart and while the goals have been spread around the team, everyone has to start delivering more in front of goal. At the moment most hopes are pinned on Benik Afobe, but he will not score in every game and it will be of great interest to see who else will chip in.

Matt Ritchie has started to shoot more often again and while Junior Stanislas and Dan Gosling are getting in positions to score they could do with a goal just to clear their minds. I find it harder to speak about Glenn Murray as he surely is one of the players that Eddie Howe knows can and probably score vital goals for the team if he is given an opportunity. His time though looks set to be limited to last 20 minute appearances, just like Kenwyne Jones was used last season. It may be enough to get the goals AFCB need. For all Murray's ragged style, I kind of think if the ball drops to him near goal he's going to score or at least make the keeper work and that is harder to say about Josh King or Junior Stanislas at the moment. Come on lads prove me wrong.

At least Eddie Howe has some options now and with Marc Pugh always likely to spring a goal and the fast improving Juan Iturbe pushing for more game time, AFCB fans should not be too downhearted even if it may yet be some time before we see Max Gradel and Callum Wilson.

So Eddie has to make players feel that they are going to score in games more than ever now. The dream of a second season in the Premier League depends on it to a very large extent. I still believe that the team has some big performances in it, but the wins will only come if they start working the opposition keepers harder.

Transfer news
I am pleased to see that more AFCB U21 players are getting a chance to play on loan. The latest opportunity has come for Josh Wakefield who will play for Walsall in League One until teh end of teh season.