The Cherries look to add to their away wins at Luton Town

Bournemouth will be looking to keep their winning run going away to Luton Town on Saturday. That Hatters sit in mid-table, in 13th place, after an equal amount of wins and defeats and a goal difference of minus four. They are not a high-scoring side having netted 17 times in their 19 games, but they scored three times in their last home match.

AFCB take on Luton again as they did earlier this
year in the FA Cup. This time it's the league and it's at Kenilworth Road.

Coached by Nathan Jones, Luton Town finished 19th last season and they have an opportunity to improve on that this time around. Their main goal threat comes from James Collins who scored a hat-trick in the last home match against Preston North End. He has nine goals so far this season and if Bournemouth can keep him quiet there aren't many goals coming from other places in this Luton side. Collins was unfortunate in their last away match against Middlesbrough in seeing his penalty kick ruled out for a double kick, which would otherwise have got Luton a draw.

Advertisement

Coastal Garden Buildings

Bournemouth fans will remember Harry Cornick who is in the Luton side. Cornick hasn't scored yet this season but started in their last match before being subbed on 75 minutes. Former West Ham player George Moncur adds a bit of grit in the Hatter's midfield. Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu is another former West Ham player, who is likely to start in midfield, as well as Dean Potts who is the left-back. So it does have a bit of the feel of a West Ham reserves versus AFCB game.

Advertisement

The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth 
- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order

Luton move into Tier 3 from Saturday, so they won't have any supporters at this game. Looking at their home record that won't trouble Luton much having been unbeaten in their last four home games and winning two of them. Those wins were against Norwich City and Preston North End so they are in form at home.

Advertisement

Eddie Had a Dream -now just 9.99!

Luton Home Form
LDDWW

AFCB Away Form
LWDWD

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Winning 1-0 is never a bad thing for AFCB

Is more to be demanded of Max Gradel this season?

Max Gradel has just completed an extended four-year contract with AFCB. He is 28-years old and it will have been a major commitment for him to sign such a long contract. With the departure of Matt Ritchie to Newcastle and what we hope would be a full season of fitness for Max Gradel, is it asking a lot for Max to be AFCB's star player in 2016-17? Without wanting to put any extra pressure on the Cherries Cote d'Ivorie winger, he has the skills and the confidence to take the Premier League by storm and this next season is one that he is bound to be relishing.

Max Gradel has already been in the headlines for his sending off in the friendly against Minnesota United FC, Eddie Howe has come to the players defence over this and has admitted that Gradel was unlucky to see red.

Max Gradel signs an extended four-year deal at the Cherries.

Earliy in the season he had bamboozled defenders in the West Ham away match and had won a penalty. His qualities are fairly unique in that he has a low centre of gravity and is able to drift into positions almost unnoticed, while his quick feet are a pleasure to watch. 

Max was able to keep a fairly low profile last season because of his cruciate ligament injury against Leicester City, which came at the same time as Tyrone Mings injury. It meant that he only made 14 appearances for the Cherries in 2015-16, and yet he was still an impressive player despite only netting once against Swansea on 12 March 2016. Who could forget the hug that he gave Eddie Howe as a special thanks. 

But Max provided much more than his single goal, just seeing him back on the pitch raised the team at an important time, when their safety was not assured. When he did come back in the Watford away match it was like he had never been away. Despite Eddie Howe's intention of only wanting to play him for a few minutes towards the end of the match. The injury to Junior Stanislas as early as the 23rd minute against Watford gave Max his chance and he went on to start eight more times between then and the end of the season with nine appearances in the last 11 games.

Max Gradel
Create your own infographics

While Junior Stanislas and Marc Pugh had their own injuries during parts of the season, they were not as serious as Max's cruciate and they way he bounced back was truly remarkable and a big statement not only of AFCB's physio team, but Max's own self belief as he did much of the rehabilitation work in Africa. I feel we have only seen a glimpse of what Max is capable of and he won't be the only one being keen to demonstrate that they can have a big season wearing the red and black shirt, is going to be exciting to see how he, and some of the others - like Harry Arter, Tyrone Mings and Callum Wilso – who did not get a large run out last season, get on.

Max always comes a cross as a smiley joker and now with Lys Mousset adding some French speaking and Lewis Cook adding a Leeds connection, I'm hoping Gradel is going to have a big season ahead of him.

Transfer News
Harry Cornick has signed with Leyton Orient on loan until January 2017.

Tokelo Rantie is linked with a move to FC Zurich according to the Bournemouth Echo

Is an AFCB double against Chelsea unthinkable?

I guess before the start of the season I have to hold my hand up as an AFCB fan and say that I would not expect the Cherries to take maximum points out of the two games against what was then Jose Mourinho's side. But a lot can happen in eight months as we have seen. Not only has Jose departed and the Cherries delighted in getting an away win at Stamford Bridge, but a Cherries' win this Saturday would put them on the same amount of points as Chelsea after 34 games and that just seems crazy or does it?

It was okay at Stamford Bridge. We'll have some more of that.

The Blues have threatened to get back into form all season but they have never had a sustained period when they have looked like the side that won the Premier League last season. Now there is a definite rebuilding project for Antonio Conte to do at the Bridge and I imagine the side that Guus Hiddink puts out at Dean Court will look very different from that which starts the 2016-17 season for them. 

The form of Chelsea is something that should not hold too much panic for the Cherries. They may have spanked Aston Villa 0-4 on the road, but defeats at Swansea and Everton in the cup suggest that Hiddink is still looking to get the best out of this Chelsea side. Okay, they have had some injuries and the centre back absence of John Terry is perhaps the biggest quandary that Hiddink has had to deal with for most of the season. But this is not a fantastic Chelsea side anymore and it is up to the Cherries to find the weaknesses.

Of late Courtois form has been called into question but his misjudgement in their last home match against Man City saw him dismissed and he will not be in goal for Chelsea. It will be Begovic between the sticks. So there may be something to exploit there.

What was pleasing about the match against Liverpool was the amount of shots AFCB did get away in the second half. It may be that Liverpool were not really playing as forcefully by then, but the shot count on Begovic has to be high if the Cherries are to win the game.

Chelsea Away Form
DWWWL

AFCB Home Form
LWWLL

Meanwhile, Harry Cornick has signed a new deal to keep him at the Cherries into 2018 and Eddie Howe has been spotted at the Madejeski Stadium of late and is believed to be looking at winger Jordan Obita, central midfielder Oliver Norwood, defender Jack Coper and even Chelsea's centre back Michael Hector who is on loan with the Royals.

Choose your away games carefully

It may have escaped the notice of some AFCB fans that Norwich City was voted by away fans as the second worst away day experience last season in the Championship. I found that really surprising considering that Carrow Road is a great stadium and that Norwich have some very entertaining players. Voting also took account of security, food/drink, transport links, atmosphere and views. Sadly, I was away last season when the Cherries got a draw at Norwich and I was hoping to go this season, but I can't say the price filled me with much enthusiasm - £45 for an adult seat.

Like many I have to select games carefully, especially as I have two children as well who like to come to games and the thought of £90 to see the Cherries play away at a recently promoted side seemed a bit steep to me (I look forward to what Man City and Arsenal want to charge visiting fans - the £20 is plenty campaign will hopefully be heard on 3 and 4 October). So when I checked Stoke City's prices and saw that for all three of us I was looking at £55, it was a no brainer really.

By the way AFCB only came 12th in that survey last year, so before berating Norwich too much there are things that the Cherries can also do better at the Vitality stadium for away fans.

So we'd better look at what might be annoying for AFCB fans visiting Carrow Road this weekend? For a start I think Norwich are always going to find it hard being so far away from most grounds and a long trip does not get any fan too excited - public transport links are also not the most modern I've been told. But when you arrive at Norwich I'd suggest that you take a look around the city and see what it has to offer or better still look up if there is anything that is of interest if you are going to get there in good time. Drinking holes are usually high on the list and I can't say that Norwich are short on that requirement. I do find that much of my match day experience is better if you have a good vantage point and space around your seat, especially if other fans stand. Shoved away in a corner of the ground and far away from the action is not much fun.

At the end of the day though, you want to be there for your team. Away fans have to put up with a lot in the course of a season and I praise all those who make every away trip. One regular reader has agreed to send in a write up of his family's away day experience at Norwich City so I hope he can give a further insight into whether there is more to it than the price of ticket that makes or breaks his family's away trip to Carrow Road.

If you went to Carrow Road last season and can give a view on what it was like, add a comment below. I have also written a piece for the Norwich City matchday programme after AFC Bournemouth's first four games in the Premier League so try and get a copy if you are going to the game this weekend.

Congratulations to Yann Kermorgant on his contract extension keeping him at AFCB until mid-2017. Also best of luck to Elliott Ward who goes out on loan to Huddersfield for a month and to Harry Cornick extending his stay at Yeovil by another month.

I should also have another blog article coming out on Shoot today or tomorrow so look out for it.

Elphick and Cook are best equipped to silence Villa

There has been much debate about who might start in AFCB's first team of the season. While fans may expect the new signings to simply walk into the team it is not fans or individual player concerns that will reflect Eddie Howe's decisions on who plays, but his own feelings on who will contribute most to the team in a highly charged and taxing atmosphere of the first day of the season.

Tommy is the man to lead the Cherries
out in the Premier League.

For some this may point towards needing experience in the side. Why not pick Sylvain Distin as a leader and a strong character? Yet, the pairing of Elphick and Cook has been central to Howe's thinking for a long time and given their recent outing against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim when they kept the Bundesliga to a clean sheet it is most likely that the pair will start tomorrow afternoon against Aston Villa.

Tommy Elphick is the captain and will want to lead his side out on such a special occasion. It would not do him or the team any good to pull him out of the fire in this first game and his desire to play well is always evident with his pre-match routine that lifts the home fans when he runs past. The mood will be all important in this first home match and keeping as many things as similar as normal will be a big helping in settling the players down.

Steve Cook is still the best defender at AFCB in my mind.

For that reason as well I can only see Eddie Howe also relying on the abilities of Steve Cook to play alongside Tommy against Villa. They feed off each other and intuitively cover for one another. They are simply the best prospect that AFCB have for getting a clean sheet at this stage and while I'd expect to see Sylvain Distin eager to play his time will come and it will be an important part that he does play in some of the games as the campaign develops.


Transfer Gossip: It has been reported by the Guardian newspaper that AFCB's £3 million bid for Glenn Murray has been rejected, but that an imporved offer is expected over teh weekend. Harry Cornick has also joined League Two side Yeovil Town on a month's loan.

Surman can master midfield in Premier League

So far we have not seen AFCB move to bolster the central midfield position and the importance of Andrew Surman to the Cherries cause next season is likely to be critical. I say that as he has the ability to set the tone for performances and he has the knowledge of what it is like playing the top teams, and the pressure that the Cherries will need to rise above if they are to be successful.

Andrew has played a fairly full season for the Cherries in the past two campaigns and it is no coincidence that his steady control of games has helped other players to really shine. What AFCB will have a problem with is if he has to miss a period of next season through injury. Whether Eddie Howe uses Eunan O'Kane, Dan Gosling or Shaun MacDonald in that position I don't see AFCB playing with as much confidence as when Andrew is just keeping the play ticking over and his ability to keep the ball is going to be an even bigger requirement for AFCB than it has been. He's also built up a great understanding with Harry Arter and while Harry has been injured, Surman still gives the team impetus to carry the attack to teams.

Andrew Surman is likely to play a main part
of any success that AFCB enjoy in 2015-16

As the players' choice for player of the season, you could say us fans are perhaps missing something about Surman's game that the team is well aware of. It was critical that Surman decided to come back to the Cherries at the start of last season and I believe his form is vital to Eddie's plans going forward. There may still be a need for a different kind of central midfield player to be signed, but I don't expect AFCB to change much around the player that they know can boss games and give the team the calm quality of making match play  look just like another training session.

I know that a lot of places will be up for grabs at the start of next season. Yet, keeping Surman at the heart of the team is something I don't expect to change if AFCB want a successful start to the new season.

AFCB U21 Update 
With Elliott Ward and Ryan Allsop joining the Development squad for the friendly match against Salisbury there was plenty of hope for a victory, but the Cherries went down to a 2-1 defeat. Harry Cornick did catch the eye though in the first half with AFCB's goal. Salisbury fought back though striking twice in the second half on 66 minutes and on 80 minutes. Filippo Costa also made his debut for the Cherries.

AFCB TeamAllsop, Muleba, Ward, Zubar, Costa, Matthews, Wakefield, Butcher, Walsh, Green, Cornick

Jordan Green who played for AFCB has also signed a one-year deal for the Cherries.

Exeter will be mindful of Cherries' pedigree

Paul Tisdale has already said that he won't put his first team out against the Cherries today. It is not surprising as he used 24 players in Exeter's last match against Weston-Super-Mare and like AFCB, Tisdale is looking to get as many players fit for the start of the season as he can. That does make these pre-season friendlies more like training sessions and while it is good to see the new signings fans want to see a good game. AFCB are still expected to rotate players, but Exeter are well aware of the quality that Eddie Howe has in his squad.

AFC Bournemouth enjoyed a 0-2 win over Exeter City in the Capital One Cup last season and for 54 minutes the Cherries found it difficult to score against the Grecians. Only an own goal and a well taken debut goal by Dan Gosling got the Cherries through the tie last August. It was an early season game in which Baily Cargill also played along with Ian Harte and Darryl Flahavan in goal. Time flies and the AFCB team today may include Cargill and Gosling, but even picking from a squad of 25 there are not that many weaknesses in AFCB's line up as Philadelphia Union found out.

Exeter themselves though have some new players. Among those said to have started their Grecian careers well are Bobby Olejnik, 28, who is a keeper who was previously at Peterborough and is a former Austrian U21 international player. Equally as easy to pronounce is the name of Manny Oyeleke, who is a midfielder that was released by Brentford in May. Lee Holmes, a former Saint's player, has also been playing well on the wing having been signed from Preston North End.

Having had reasonable outings against East Fife (1-1) and narrow 1-0 defeat against Arbroath as well as a 2-1 win over Weston-Super-Mare on Wednesday, the Grecians have been fairly tight in defence and they will have to work out a way of stopping the Cherries from having too much possession. I'm hoping that Eddie Howe plays as many of the younger squad members as he can in this one - it would be great to see Cornick and Cargill pushing for places.

PremierTalk asks whether AFC Bournemouth's first league opponents are in turmoil as Fabian Delph decides that his home really is in Manchester after all - you couldn't make it up!

Cherries step up the pace

The news from Philadelphia is that training is pretty full on with up to three sessions in one day. It is the hard school right now and I guess the players just have to grimace through the pain a bit. Still the surroundings sound excellent and all thoughts are turning toward that first game against Philadelphia Union.

I was pleased to hear that the club has decided to give the fans something back by streaming not only a pre-match press conference before the game but also the match itself on afcb.co.uk. Now it is up to the players to put on a show and to impress the boss. I think this is a time when the players can forget about some of the pressures at home and concentrate on their football. New friendships are also being formed so it's a really important time.

Eddie Howe looks pretty serious in the photos, It's certainly work time and the expectations on Eddie to deliver in his first Premier League season are huge not so much as fans hope he succeeds but he himself is eager to do his very best. He'll be making sure there is no slacking and that all that can be done is getting done now.

What we all really want though is to see some action. To see some of the new players on the pitch and to observe whether players like Harry Cornick can make a contribution to the first team squad.

Cornick's debut was just what we want to see

Last Saturday was a day to remember for Harry Cornick. At 19 years old there are many years ahead of the young man, but he won't have many prouder days than taking to the pitch at the New York stadium after 71 minutes when he replaced Junior Stanislas. Bought from Christchurch FC in 2013, it is great for fans to see a local lad doing well and breaking into the team. That is what we all want to see as it is just as pleasing if not more so than seeing big fees paid out for players coming into the club.

Harry Cornick at Dean Court in September 2013.

Harry Cornick will have a great understanding of how the club is now run from top to bottom and having had a taste of the big stage it will be up to him to try and push on further just like Baily Cargill. It has already been a great season to see such individuals be able to come in and perform at this higher level. It would have been easier in the past when the club had the FA Trophy games to give the younger guns a run out, but the Third Round of the FA Cup is a really big competition to have on your CV.

I imagine that Eddie Howe gave Harry every indication that he would be needed in the second half if the score went well, but it still must have been a heart stopping moment for the lad to get stripped down ready to come on. I was delighted to hear him have a good shot at goal as well which also brought a save out of the Rotherham keeper. 

I need you to vote in the poll if you have not already done so - should Eddie Howe play his full strength side against Aston Villa? The 'yes' votes are ahead at the moment, perhaps as there is no mid-week tie booked that week and there would be time for players to recover for the league matches. AFCB fans would also like to get another victory against a Premier League side under their belt I am sure.

A five star Cherries' performance knocks Millers out of the cup

Match Description

FA Cup Third Round

Rotherham Utd 1 v 5 AFCB

3 January 2015

Attendance 5875 (including  556 AFCB fans)

Going away to Yorkshire to play another Championship side was never supposed to be an easy game and up until half time it seemed that way. Rotherham took and early lead and the Cherries looked out of sorts with Junior Stanislas making a mess of a golden chance. Still a late first half goal from Shaun MacDonald put the Cherries back on track and with Stanislas, Fraser and Yann Kermorgant banging in second half goals, AFCB showed again that their squad is full of goals and proving very hard to stop at the moment.

AFCB made nine changes with just Steve Cook and Adam Smith surviving from the last game at Millwall. There were some surprises like Ian Harte recovering well enough to start and Harry Cornick on the bench. I was also hoping that Macca would have a strong game. Steve Cook captained the side.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed that Joe Partington has been loaned out to Eastleigh.

Jason Tindall outlines the Cherries team to play Rotherham Utd.

Rotherham made three changes from their last game against Blackpool.In came Brindley, Pringle, and Green.

Match Description: listening to Kris Temple and Willo on BBC Radio Solent.

AFCB began with Kermrogant the single striker. Brindley plays in Clarke-Harris but AFCB clear. Arnason and Frecklington plays the ball back to Collin. Morgan now to Bowery and Frecklington to Pringle and Cook clears.

Steve Cook is on the right side of the two centre halves and he is right footed. Cargill is playing on the left side of Cook with Ian Harte at left back. Fraser finds Ian Harte. Gosling fouls Paul Green in the centre circle. AFCB playing with five in midfield.

Rotherham have a throw. Cargill puts the ball out. Arnason with the throw only finds Stanislas. AFCB have a throw. Brindley wins possession. Collin clears. Cargill wins the ball in the air. Cargill fires in a ball to Fraser. Stanislas now to the box and MacDonald crosses but Morgan heads clear. Adam Smith at right back plays the ball to Fraser who is fouled 25 yards out. Ian Harte will take the free kick. It hits the underside of the cross bar and post!! The AFCB players claim a goal but the flags stay down.

Bowery to Brindley and takes a deflection and it goes in - 1-0 to the Millers! 10 minutes gone, bottom left corner. Camp was beaten by the deflection. AFCB were done on the counter attack. The Cherries are behind to Richard Brindley's strike. Fraser now to smith who beats Pringle but it goes through to Collins.

Lee Camp drops the ball but Bowery fouled him. "Rotherham have not won at home since 17 October," says Kris Temple. Camp with the ball. MacDonald and Smith goes forward and loses his balance on the edge of the box. Bowery is tackled by Fraser on the break. Harte has possession.

Brindley with a throw. Kermorgant has the ball and Green goes over. Adam Smith loses the ball to Smallwood. Collin clears in front of Gosling. Green to James and Brindley to Bowrey but smith snuffs it out. Rotherham are passing through the Cherries. Morgan over hots the ball to Green.

Smith now to MacDonald but James wins the ball. Stanislas is in pursuit of Arnason and wins a throw. O'Kane gives away a free kick on Clarke-Harris. Pringle takes and Morgan gets a free header. Stanislas sees the ball spin out to the Rotheram keeper.

Kermorgant is fagged offside. Morgan with a header to Gosling and Harte forward to Kermorgant but Green gets there. Pringle loses out to Stanislas. Smith wins a free kick off of Pringle, 20 minutes gone. Harte to take the kick. It's over hit 0 goal kick.

Cargill to Gosling and O'Kane loses to Clarke-Harris who shoots side. "AFCB are not stringing passes together or finding and spaces," says Willo. "Kermorgant wins the ball and a terrible finish from Stanislas. On a plate, left footed he scuffed it terribly!" says Temple. "He should have scored," says Willo. Pringle is given a yellow card for a foul on Adam Smith.

MacDonald crosses too high. Ian Harte and Frecklington is offside. O'Kane, Fraser and Gosling to Cook. Smith to Fraser who shoots but is blocked.

Fraser again infield to Stanislas and James shadows him. Kemrogant to Smith and it's a tame shot that goes wide. Camp up to Stanislas and Gosling. Harte is caught in possession. Cargill tackles Clarke-Harris, but it's a corner. Pringle takes and Camp catches. Stanislas is offside.

Morgan at the back. 10 minutes to half time. Collin shanks it. Brindley and green with MacDonlad in on Frecklington. James to Clark-Harris but Green is offside. Fraser over to MacDonald. Gosling to Fraser and O'Kane. Bowery wins the ball but shoots wide under pressure from Cargill.

Kermorgant gives the ball away, but Brindley puts it out. Arnason and Cook clears. MacDonald makes a clearance, and cook also clears. Smith back to Cook. Cargill  over to Cook. Smith now and Stanislas on a run into the box and James gets there first.

Ian Harte square to O'Kane and Smith goes to Stanislas and Gosling before Morgan clears. Fraser 25 yards out. Smith into the area and Green wins the ball. Smith runs at Pringle. gosling to MacDonald and Ian Harte. Gosling into O'Kane and back to Harte and Pringle prevents a corner.

Kermorganta to Stanislas but Morgan clears. Kermorgant on his left MacDonald is in 1-1. "Patient approach play and Kermorgant with a slide rule pass and Shaun MacDonald finds the bottom of the net," says Temple. Not a bad time to score with 44 minutes gone. There is one minute of time to add.

Gosling clips the heels of Smallwood. It's half time. Not a great 20 minutes at the start but AFCB have got stronger as the game has gone on. AFCB have had 48 per cent possession and managed four shots and just one on target. Rotherham had five shots and two on target.

Second Half
Fraser wins a free kick. Stanislas runs away from James and Kermorgant's shot is blocked by Frecklington. Harte to Golsing and Fraser out to Smith and James and Pringle come away with the ball. Free Kick to Rotherham. A long throw from Arnason and Green has the ball and Frecklington shoots and it's a great save by Camp even though the offside flag has gone up.

Rotherham have a free kick. Pringle and Stanislas and Smith to O'Kane loses the ball. Clarke -Harris and Cook clears. Smallwood at the back. Cook slides in. Pringle again and Brindley on Rotherham's right. Pringle puts in a cross to Bowrey and Frecklington, but AFCB clear. Stanislas to MacDonald and Arnason clears. Cook loses out and Clarke-Harris has a chance but is kept out.

Pringle on the left back t James and Frecklington but Gosling wins the ball. Fraser wins a throw. Kermorgant to Ian Harte and Cook. Stanislas puts in a poor cross into the stand! Stanislas to O'Kane and Fraser on the left against Brindley back to Harte and MacDonald back to Fraser but Smallwood is in the way. Smith now in the box and a brilliant save by Collin for a corner!

Fraser and Gosling to Harte, back to Fraser and Rotherham have a throw. Stanislas is through and no mistake this time 2-1. Composure with his left foot and 1-2 to the Cherries. "Gosling's ball through was beautifully weighted," says Kris Temple.

Some 58 minutes gone now. Gosling has the ball. Good turn and he's clipped. Fraser down the left and he's over hot the cross. Fraser is on side but Brindley and Arnason close him out. Clarke-Harris goes over but it's a free kick to AFCB. Derbyshire and Skarz come on after 62 minutes with Harris-Clarke and Pringle coming off.

Kermorgant to Fraser and it's 1-3 to AFCB on 63 minutes. Clinical finishing from Fraser. "Rothetham were too square at the back," says Willo.

O'Kane gets a free kick and Smallwood is yellow carded.Kermorgant's through the centre and shoots wide! It could have been 1-4. Stanislas in space and Kermorgant is in- now it's four!! Rotherham switches off. "They have fallen like a house of cards," says Kermrogant.

A heavy challenge by Frecklington on Fraser. Frecklington is booked and Harry Cornick makes his debut for Junior Stanislas.

Free kick to the far post and Yann Kermorgant has made it five! The keeper half saved it but Yann was on the spot to finish. MacDonald slides the ball out. Still 17 minutes to go.

Gosling to Smith. James stops Smith and gets a booking. Cornick to MacDonald who tries to go around his man. O'Kane to Harte. Lee Camp clears. Smith brings the ball out and Cornck in the box. He's stopped by Smallwood.

Kermorgant goes through.left to Harte and Fraser who goes between two but Brindley makes the tackle. Rotherham now with James and MacDonald and Kermorgant chasing. James on the ball ad Frecklington sees his ball in cleared by Harte. James has a shot but puts it miles over!

Arnason and Collins clear. Derbyshire to Brindley and Cook and Cargill are in there. Bowery put in a ball to James but AFCB block. Pitman comes on for MacDonald. Rotherham are still trying to play the ball out from the back.

Smith and O'Kane. Smith dinks the ball into Pitman and Brindley puts the ball out for a corner. Smith and Pitman. Smith with a back heel but Derbyshire has the ball and Smith goes in on Green.

Kermorgant gives the ball back but Rotherham mess it up and the ball goes back to Camp. Cargill to Gosling and James has the ball. Skarz low cross is cleared by Cook. Pitman up to Fraser and Smallwood chases. Ian Harte and Cornick. Smith outside the box back to O'Kane. Pitman's ball is cut out by Skarz. Smith works hard to win it back.

Matt Ritchie comes on for Fraser. Ritchie with his first touch goes for a curler but the keeper saves it. Pitman to Smith but Rotherham clear to Pitman. Bowery is fouled by Adam Smith who gets a yellow card. Three minutes of extra time.

Brindley with a cross and Matt Derbyshire misses an open goal from four yards out! Over the top. Harry Cornick has a go but the ball goes out for a corner. Pitman hist the first man with the corner. Derbyshire is in again and he puts it wide.

Summary
Another competent performance by the Cherries with nine changes from the first team. That is quite a statement that Eddie Howe's teams are making with the goals flowing away from home again. The next round draw should be keenly anticipated by AFCB fans.

AFCB
Camp, Smith, Cargill, Cook, Harte, Fraser (Ritchie 88), MacDonald (Pitman 80), Gosling, O'Kane, Stanislas (Cornick 71), Kermorgant

AFCB Subs
Flahavan, Francis, Surman, Cornick, Ritchie, Wilson, Pitman

Rotherham Utd
Collin, Brindley, Arnason, Morgan, James; Green, Frecklington, Smallwood, Pringle (Skarz 63), Bowery, Clarke-Harris (Derbyshire 62)

Rotherham Subs

Loach, Skarz, Wood, Richardson, Newton, Derbyshire, Yates.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick

The Cherries must keep spirits high

AFCB have not been the hardest hit club in the Championship with injuries before this week with Elliott Ward being the only long term injury among the frequent starters. Now that a double blow has hit the same position, and the striker role, there is a worry that it could have an effect on the squad's confidence. Having seen pictures though of Tokelo beaming with a smile on his face I am keeping my fingers crossed that the players just take this in their stride and look to play even better to give those who are on the sidelines more encouragement to hurry back.

TK went for a big tumble but we want him back on his feet soon.

No injury is ever welcome but managers have to know that they can occur and usually do at the most inappropriate moment. Last season most of the injuries seemed to come in pre-season with Matt Ritchie and Tommy Elphick having to play catch up, but the Championship was bound to test the depth of AFCB's squad at some point.

While the team is strong in wide positions, the central spine of the team is not where you want to have big problems. If the team spirit has been high in recent weeks, the players know that they really have to pull together now to keep things going well without the help of  TK and potentially Callum Wilson for the Milllwall and sevreal more. I expect we will hear more about Callum's pull or strain in the week and if it is just that he needs a bit of rest after a hectic start to the season he may just make the miraculous recovery in time for the Millwall match. The fact that Eddie so quickly came out with thoughts of going into the emergency loan market takes a bit of pressure off of Callum I suppose to come back that soon. While he was clearly injured on Saturday we know that Callum won't want to miss a minute of the season if he can help it.

TK is hopefully still in good spirits.

Positives vibes are important though and if  Eddie has to bring some one in I am sure he will but tomorrow is the deadline. The mood in the camp needs to be good going into the Millwall game and a good result in that game will focus minds on what looks to be a big month for the Cherries.  UTCIAD! 

Finally, well done to the Development Squad and their 8-3 win against Cambridge! Both Jayden Stockley and Harry Cornick bagged hat-tricks. Stephen Purches' thoughts on the game are on the side panel of the blog.

Josh O'Hanlon looks a good prospect for AFCB (video)

I had a sneaky look at the video on Josh this afternoon to see what had excited Eddie Howe about this youngster from Longford Town. He has good close control and is not afraid to take on difficult shots from what I have seen. As an 18-year old I would think that he would be trying to make his mark in the Development squad first under the teaching skills of Stephen Purches, while I am sure Joe Roach will take a look at him having done so well with AFCB strikers' development.

While it is good news to see the first squad doing well it is important that the Development squad gets some games so I would not be surprised if Josh goes out on loan at some point if there are not enough matches arranged. I heard that Harry Cornick went out to Dorchester on loan earlier this week and that the Development squad had a good 5-0 win against Portsmouth with Coulibaly scoring a brace as he looks to get some game time.

You can see the Josh O'Hanlon video here.

Cornick steps up

Perhaps it escaped the attention of some of you that Harry Cornick was close to playing a featuring role in Saturday's game against Blackpool. A spate of injuries during the week had propelled Harry into the thoughts of Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall and had given the ex-Christchurch player a chance to be involved in the build up to the game, going through the match day preparation, sampling the crowd during the warm up and having a nervous wait on the bench in case he was called upon.

I can't imagine how exciting it must be to be told you are being pulled up to the first team squad for an immanent game. It must be quite thrilling and yet also scary that you are now expected to play your part in the team if called upon during the 90 minutes of the match for the first time of your career, in front of the biggest crowd you would have ever played in front of. Just such a moment will have happened to Harry Cornick last weekend as he got the nod from Eddie Howe.

Cherry Chimes took the time to click a few pictures of who I am sure will be one of our future stars at the Goldsands stadium. Since Harry was brought to the club in the summer he has featured regularly in the Development squad, but Saturday will have been a new experience for him.

Confident last that he is though, wearing the number 34,  he did not look out of place on the field and within a few minutes he was practising his tricks and knocking the ball around. While there is a few players who are ahead of him in the pecking order for a starting place, such experience is invaluable. One day Harry will make a start or come on as a substitute and if it feels natural for him when that day comes, he is all the more likely to put in a strong performance. I hope one or two of the other talents in the Development squad get the opportunity to sample what it is like as a Championship player on the morning of a game, but less injuries to key players has to be the club's first aim.   

AFCB need to do more when against 10-men

While AFCB has taken most of its opportunities at home, this weekend's defeat was a bit sour because once again the team had a major amount of time to take on the opposition when they were down to 10 men. Playing against a team that has had a man sent off should be an advantage. With Bournemouth;s fast passing style and wide players it was a chance to get something out of a game which had seen two poor goals conceded by AFCB. But it was not to be.

The running power of Ryan Fraser is certainly creating the opportunities for Bournemouth. His quick scampering style is something that the Tangerines could not handle and ultimately resulted in Jack Robinson's dismissal. The way in which Ryan goes down is a bit of concern as he takes a real clouting for 90 minutes. So far he has bounced back okay, but it must shake him up when he continually gets mowed down. I hope someone is telling him just to go down naturally and doing his best to stay on his feet, because that way Bournemouth will get the free kicks and, if he does ride the odd challenge, he might find himself in one-on-one or able to off load a killer pass to a team mate.

Some creativity was missing on Saturday when Harry Arter was unavailable but the players that were on the pitch were good enough to do better at making doors open in that last half hour. I don't think that Matt Gilks hardly had to make a save. Some of that I would put down to great Blackpool defending but AFCB have to get something out of games like that and I would say we could have got a point our of the game.

What was clear though was that Eddie Howe had a weaker bench than I have seen for a while. While it is good to see Harry Cornick get some experience and see him feel involved, out were Andrew Surman, Harry Arter, Mohamed Coulibaly Matt Ritchie and Donal McDermott. I don't quite know what is going on in training last week, but the injuries don't seem to be getting any fewer.

Harry Cornick prepares with the first team for the first time.

Last night's victory is good for confidence building

Having been on the end of a big defeat against Real Madrid, albeit one of the best teams in the world, it is really a timely boost for AFCB to record a victory on home soil. Yes, it was only a friendly against Pompey and they maybe a team in transition, but it was still a derby. Pompey are a very good team and I am sure they will push for promotion next season with the talented players Guy Whittingham is bringing together.

AFCB need to keep and maintain the winning habit. We have some tough fixtures to come and we have a chance to build on that confidence with games against Dorchester and Bristol City before taking on Charlton Athletic, which will be a severe test of our Championship credentials in AFCB's first league match. I also have no reason to believe that Porstmouth will give us an easier game in the Capitol One Cup.

There were signs that things are perhaps moving in the right direction. While I was concerned that Fraser came off early, Mohamed Coulibaly looks like he set the place alight with his thunderbolt opening goal. It will do him the world of good to get off the mark and will help him feel more comfortable fitting in with his new team mates. Harry Cornick also got on the scoreboard which will be a big moment for him. It is exciting to see so many young players doing well in the friendlies. Our pre-season goal table is not looking anything like what I had expected, but it also tells a story that Eddie Howe has not perhaps been able to play some of the players that he would have liked to in some of the games.

Marc Pugh was back in action though and Miles Addison seems to be doing well on his return. We need as many experienced players as we can muster to compete in the Championship and I am hoping that more players come into Eddie's selection plans come 3rd August.

Lots of youngsters at AFCB is just the tonic

It was great to see that AFCB has signed another youngster on a full-time professional contract this week. Midfielder Sam Matthews is only 16 but will have his scholarship turned into a two year contract when it ends. There was a lot of worry among supporters when the Premier League flexed its muscles to extend its possible catchment zones for taking young players from other areas that were not local to them several months ago, but it seems at the moment that AFCB are not hanging about in sourcing the best young local talent available.

Harry Cornick is another young player that AFCB took on in January and what with Jordan Holmes just taken on in June and the extension to Benjamin Buchel's contract, it looks like the Development squad will be swelling its ranks. So Chris Hargreaves and Stephen Purches will have a few recruits to get to know.

As the club has risen a league it is good to know that they are looking at the long-term prospects and not just the short term. If AFCB is to thrive at Championship level it will need to gradually integrate more young players into the full squad and it will be far cheaper and more prosperous for the club if this can be done with home grown players.

Let's hope that the youth system continues to grow and the rewards for the players and the club are forthcoming from the system.

Conducting transfer business in private

It won't have escaped your notice that AFCB has suddenly made two summer signings and I don't remember any agents directing Cherry fans to either player before the announcements. In a way, I was not too concerned about the lack of activity, because the management seems to have faith in the players it already has at the club and are only looking to add one or two more experienced Championship players to the mix.

What I don't quite understand is how certain agents seem to link the club with just about any player that have previously played for the Cherries or who has a price-tag that is far in advance of anything the club could possibly afford. This period is certainly the silly period. I would rather AFCB wait and hold its cards close to its chest as the transfer window progresses. That way, with our business being done in secret rather than through the public airwaves we might actually get players at reasonable prices, like Elliot Ward on a free transfer.

Eddie Howe seems to make pretty good signings. In the January Window he certainly went for youth in signing Harry Cornick, Ryan Allsop and Ryan Fraser. This time around, if the club does go for more experience it will mean higher wage earners. While most of the players at AFCB have only been here a few years you would suspect that their salaries are fairly closely contained and not a wide spread, considering we were only playing League One football when they would have signed.

Now the dimensions will change. Players coming to Championship clubs expect good wages and it will be important that the club does not bust its pay structure or contribute to an unhappy dressing room with regards to pay. The fact that young players have come into the team and have done well like, Eunan O'Kane, Steve Cook and Ryan Allsop bodes well for the future. 

Youth and breaking into the first team at AFC Bournemouth

There is no doubt that AFCB is keen to harness and develop local talent. You can see this in its Academy, Youth and Development teams, and its efforts to sign local players like Harry Cornick from Christchurch.

Josh Carmichael, 18, and Jayden Stockley, 19, are two of the young players who have broken into the first team in the past. Another is Dan Strugnell, 20, who this week we have learnt has chosen to moved on to Havant & Waterlooville on a permanent deal. Dan's first team experience was to come on as sub to replace Stephen Purches at Rochdale, in February 2012, when Stephen had his double leg break, but Dan has not had another chance to play for the first team. Loan spells at Bashley and Havant & Waterlooville followed before his decision to now leave AFCB.

Getting such young players to the first team or on the edge of it has proved to be quite a challenge. Now that the club is in the Championship it is likely that the young talent is going to have to be even more exceptional to get an opportunity of the big time.

Joe Partington, who was a Pompey youth player, is probably highest in the pecking order of those who have been developed locally, but he is now 23. It will be of great interest to see if he can become more of a regular face in and around the first team in the next couple of seasons or if he will find loan moves the best way to continue his development. Having been a Welsh U-21 international you would have to say that Joe has the talent to make an impact in the future and hopefully it will be for AFCB as a central defender.

Other 23 year olds at the club include, Matt Ritchie, Donal McDermott, Harry Arter, Josh McQuoid and Eunan O'Kane, while Steve Cook is a year younger. So AFCB does have a youthful squad and youth is not a barrier when you look at 19 year old Ryan Fraser, who was signed in January 2013 from Aberdeen. I think the whole club is excited to see what this young man can do and the stage is really set for him to grab some headlines in the Championship when he gets his opportunity.

At the moment we have a good balance of youth and experience at the club. We will have to wait to see what the squad lacks or doesn't lack next season, but all the time the club will be scouting locally, as well as further afield, to see if better players are available. It should be an exciting summer.