AFCB keep getting punished

It's the same old story. AFCB play well, get the early goal and then concede late on and don't get the three points we had hoped for at home. It is annoying when it happens and it doesn't get any better when it keeps happening, but having done so well this season it is becoming harder to accept when AFCB are in such a great position, and may only find that a couple of points either way mean the difference between an automatic promotion place and maybe even missing out altogether from the play-offs.

At the moment the goals are continuing to go in against the back four and the clean sheets seem a distant thing, although it was only when the team played Watford that the team did manage to prevent an opponent from scoring against them, albeit that Watford played with 10 men. The crazy thing is that as Steve Cook has said, the goals that are being scored against them are not even good goals. Most have been scrappy affairs, such as James Vaughan's toe poked, redirected shot, off a wayward effort from Jack Robinson. 

There was more finesse about Darren Bent's equaliser for Derby a few days earlier, but in that game the Ram's first goal from Tom Ince saw a goal develop from a routine, hopeful punt up the wing that should have been dealt with.

Artur Boruc has struggled to keep clean sheets of late.

Artur Boruc must be wondering what has been happening to his proud record of keeping clean sheets as it was all to easy when he first came to AFCB. The Polish shot stopper has not been that busy in games, but when he has been called upon the ball has usually passed him of late which is something that he'll be working on in training as he'll not want to lose his place in the side. We did see some much better distribution in the Huddersfield match from him and that did give the team a better platform than of late to build confidently from the back.

With the games coming thick and fast, Eddie Howe has to look very carefully now at what is happening at the back and if Elliot Ward needs to get some minutes and I think it is clearly essential that Simon Francis plays in every remaining game now. The team does not have the same power going forward without him.

I advise you all to visit the official AFCB site if you have not already read through the article on the General Supporter Focus Group as there is some great information on there from news on tickets for away matches, ground expansion plans and Matchday programmes and plenty more besides! 

Huddersfield's roadblock frustrates Cherries 1-1

Match Report

AFCB 1 v1 Huddersfield Town

14 February 2015

Attendance: 10,007

The two captains in the middle.

A home game against a mid-table side would be just the perfect way to go back to the top of the table if you could pick games out of a hat. But Huddersfield proved a stern test that AFCB's players struggled to breakdown and while the opposition offered little in the way of an attacking menace, Yann Kermorgant's 16th minute goal was not going to be enough to earn three points on the day and the Cherries once again let a lead slip and had to settle for a draw.

Walking out on to the pitch.

The two teams.

AFCB players do their stretches.

More photos of the day are up on the Match Day Gallery.

Top be back at the top of the table is of course good, but the display that the crowd of just over 10,000 saw on this Valentine's day was not a bed of roses. Some petals were clearly missing from the performances that home crowds have enjoyed from Eddie Howe's teams. Simon Francis had fallen ill over night and it was felt to risky to let him play so he was put on the bench, while Tokelo Rantie had injured a shoulder (not the previously dislocated one) and  was not fit to play either. Adam Smith would be a good deputy for the unwell Francis, but the snap and drive of AFCB's usual game struggled to find the passion to thrill the hearts of the home crowd on Valentine's day.

As we know there is often another interest hanging around to upset the relationship between AFCB and their fans and the Huddersfield team was out to try and spoil AFCB's dining at the top table. There was a clear objective in Huddersfield 4-5-1 set up - block and frustrate. It worked a treat and even if they did not get many chances they put the important one away. 

AFCB started better than against Derby with Steve Cook trying to make an early header that went just wide. Pugh was heavily involved in these first few minutes turning over possession while Adam Smith was soon showing how strong he was against Harry Bunn, who went sprawling on all fours after Smith saw a ball out for a goal kick.

Marc Pugh was making inroads on the left and his cross was headed wide by Callum Wilson on eight minutes as AFCB ramped up the passing. Huddersfield were getting the ball now and again, but when they did Tommy Smith crossed to no one and then Jack Robinson hit his crosses too strong. 

Things got more interesting when Matt Ritchie decided to have a swerving shot from distance after 10 minutes which saw Alex Smithies have to adjust fast to claw the ball out from the top right corner. AFCB got an even better grip on the game when Harry Bunn conceded a corner on 16 minutes and from it Yann Kermorgant lay in wait at the far end of the box. A step over from arter saw the ball come straight to Yann who pulled trigger from just inside the 18 yard area and he found the bottom left corner of Huddersfield's goal. It was a dream start. The Cherries were 1-0 up!

I thought that would settle any nerves after the start the team had made in their previous match and Ritchie was intent on making Smithies work had in goal by forcing a diving punched clearance that had the crowd gasping again. Callum Wilson was also showing his power by chasing down balls into the corner and holding up play, but AFCB's passing was not going anywhere at times and minor fouls kept slowing the play. 

Huddersfield just tried to shoot from anywhere when they were in AFCB's half and Tommy Smith had a good shot deflected wide after 23 minutes. AFCB's response was a strong run from Harry Arter who charged up the field but hit his shot into the side netting from some distance out. Four minutes later AFCB went closer with Ritchie's shot getting spilled and Callum Wilson putting the follow up wide when under pressure from only six yards out.

That was as good as it got for the Cherries. Watching from the stands the next 15 minutes up to half time saw lots of Bournemouth possession but no end product. It looked like Huddersfield were happy to settle for a 1-0 defeat and with just the masked James Vaughan up front it was hard to see them causing many problems. Huddersfield were not putting much pressure on the ball when they did not have it and one fan near me said it was like a training session or  pre-season game. 

There were a couple of instances that caught the eye though. Pugh had a shot blocked after good work from Daniels and a little later he did a beautiful drag back  to beat Jacob Butterfield in the centre of the pitch, but at half time, 1-0 was all the lead was.

The players come off after the first half.

Eyes down for the second half. At least the scoreboard
sorted itself out with the right score eventually having
been a bit slow to recognise Yann Kermorgant's strike.

Second Half
AFCB applied some good pressure early on in the second half with a series of corners, four of them in just a couple of minutes. Huddersfield were well organised though and apart from seeing Smithies punch well there was no major alarm bells going off in the Terriers' box. Referee Gavin Ward was clearly trying to play advantage when he could, but some of the fouls committed could well have seen a yellow card in my book from both sides and yet no cards had been given out until Harry Arter simply lost his head and went in on Harry Bunn around the half way line, when there was no real need for him to go bombing in. Still, his suspension has to be served now and he'll be out for the next two games.

With an hour gone and AFCB not showing any forward momentum, I kept looking over to see if  a sub would be made but there was no sign of it. Mark Hudson was having a terrific game at the back for Huddersfield and was keeping Wilson incredibly quiet. There was a moment when I thought Yann Kermorgant was going to sneak through as he was strong in the tackle on the edge of the box and forced his way through some challenges but he was denied by Hudson at the last minute.

The signs were that AFCB were losing their way. Even Ritchie, who tried to tee up a cross on the right wing by keeping the ball up on his left foot before trying a cross, whacked the ball into the crowd and over the bar. The fatal moment for AFCB fans came on 65 minutes when Huddersfield retained some possession through Tommy Smith on the right and his low cross was only half cleared by Tommy Elphick's out stretched boot with the ball running on to Jack Robinson. Robinson then hit a long range shot from the left of Bournemouth's box that was deflected in by the hard working Vaughan to level the scores. Artur Boruc looked completely wrong footed and the net bulged as the ball sped in - 1-1.

The goal had been coming and it was now a test of how could the Cherries break down a team that would be happy with a point. Yann Kermorgant was unlucky to see his shot come off Smithies' legs and shouts for a handball received short thrift from referee Ward who started to give Huddersfield ample help with lots of free kicks and virtually nothing when AFCB players were fouled. AFCB were keeping possession but it was just not quick or slick enough to do any damage and Ryan Fraser was brought on after 74 minutes to see if he could unpick the lock. Brett Pitman joined him a minute later as AFCB looked for new energy or at least a chance that would fall to a striker in the box. Ritchie was still trying his best and hit a shot that was deflected for a corner, but the best chance went to Harry Arter who latched on to  back heel from Brett Pitman and smashed his shot at the Huddersfield goal only to see Alex Smithies make a superb one handed save to his left on 80 minutes.

The final 10 minutes didn't bring the drama that AFCB fans wanted. Even with Tommy Elphick asking the North stand to raise the volume. While Pitman hit a shot wide, Smithies remained untroubled. Huddersfield brought on Ishmael Miller with five minutes to go and he imposed himself on the game straight away with his physical presence. Jonathan Hogg also came on to replace Jacob Butterfield with two minutes of normal time to go and even with four minutes of extra time the Cherries could see time ticking away on the game all too quickly.

Huddersfield and AFCB players at the end of the game.

Not a bad day for the travelling fans.

Eddie Howe walks past referee Gavin Ward.

Matt Ritchie leads team mates off the pitch.

Chris Powell after the final whistle.

Summary
A bad day at the office? A game too many? Just a couple of per cent off the energy levels required to get a win? Take your pick. The Cherries gave everything as ever and almost fell into a false sense of security such was their dominance. But if the keeper is worked had and the other team keeps you out they deserve some credit. Huddersfield players were certainly celebrating after the whistle. Two home games and a two point return will harm AFCB's promotion push, but it will be the inability to breakdown teams at home that will give Eddie Howe some serious problems to think about now. It's one win in four at home and that is something that has taken the shine off of sitting back at the top of the table at least until mid-week. Still, no one will be falling out of love with this AFCB side.

AFCB
Boruc, Smith, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie, Surman, Arter, Pugh (Fraser 74), Kermorgant (Pitman 75), Wilson

AFCB Subs
Camp, Francis, Pitman, MacDonald, Stanislas, Fraser, Ward

AFCB Ratings

Boruc 6, Smith 6, Elphick 6, Cook 6, Daniels 7, Ritchie 7, Surman 6, Arter 7, Pugh 7, Kermorgant 7, Wilson 7

Referee watch

Gavin Ward: too many mistakes 3/10 gave AFCB very little

Huddersfield Town
Smithies, Smith, Hudson, Wallace, Robinson, Edgar, Scannell, Butterfield (Hogg 88), Coady, Bunn, Vaughan (Miller 84)

Huddersfield Subs
Hogg, Miller, Murphy, Lolley, Wells, Gobern, Wright

Huddersfield just can't stop the goals going in

While AFCB were taking on Derby County on Tuesday night, Huddersfield Town were trying to dent Wolves' play-off ambitions, but suffered a heavy setback themselves. Getting back to back wins has been a bit too difficult for Huddersfield to achieve all but once this season, back in October with wins over Millwall and Wolves. To get a double win over Wolves would have been a big thing for the Yorkshire club and a sign that they are progressing well under Chris Powell, but they slumped to a 1-4 defeat at home.

Huddersfield players on the first day of this season.

Since the turn of the year Huddersfield have had some strong results with wins over Watford, Wigan and Millwall. They are edging towards safety and starting to ease any relegation worries, but before their recent win against Wigan it was back on 22 November against Sheffield Wednesday when they last recorded a clean sheet. Two clean sheets since mid-November is not a great record to take into a game against the division's highest scorers.

Still, Huddersfield are scoring goals themselves and Nahki Wells is already up to 11 this season, although he is still suspended for this game having been sent off against Millwall earlier in February. Before the Wolves match, James Vaughan's last goal came from the penalty spot and he only has four goals all season, so he might be struggling to score from open play as frequently as he should. They also signed Ishmael Miller though in the January window and he is as unpredicatble as they come for strikers. Harry Bunn and Jacob Butterfield are the midfield pair that have been supporting the strikers with quite a few goals - 12 altogether.

Losing Lee Peltier to Cardiff City can't have been something that Chris Powell would have wanted. However, the return of Tommy Smith at the back last match, after a head injury in the Leeds game, will have been a boost for them. Murray Wallace was back in the defence against Millwall and Wolves. Wallace is their top fouling player with two reds and five yellows - makes Arter look like a saint! Powell is also giving the youngsters a chance so be prepared for the odd surprise among the subs.

So what have we got here? I think Huddersfield are doing okay despite some really bad luck with some injuries. Their new manager has made them more competitive in games. Keeping AFCB out though is going to be one of the toughest tasks they have had in 2015 and it would not surprise me if they play just one up front for this game.

Huddersfield Away Form
LDLWW

AFCB Home Form
WWWLW

Cherry Chimes interviews Huddersfield blog Thrice Champions

Match Preview
AFC V Huddersfield
Blogger Interview - Thrice Champions

Cherry Chimes speaks to Greg Marah, editor of Thrice Champions - a Huddersfield Town blog, who has been keeping tabs on all the new players arriving at the Terriers while also being adamant that the Terriers can hold off Premiership interest in to their inform striker James Vaughan.

CC: You ran Burnley and QPR close in recent away games so how do you feel about how Mark Robins has set the team up away from home?

TC: Robins' has set up not to nullify the opposition like some do away from home, rather play our own fluid game. Whilst we didn't play that well away at Burnley we were unlucky not to get a point. In the QPR fixture most fans felt happy in the overall performance, its just we didn't take our chances unlike QPR. Had we taken those we would have come away from Loftus Road with 3 points.

CC: Are you pleased that Huddersfield are signing young players like Harry Bunn from Man City, Joe Lolley from Kidderminster Harriers and Sondre Trondstad, a former IK Start player from Norway?

TC: Personally I'm delighted we are focusing our transfer policy on young hungry players rather than signing has beens who are looking for one last payout.

Lolley will be involved in the first team squad primarily, while Tronstad and Bunn will be involved in the development squad with the aim of pushing for the first team. Hopefully as we continue to sign young players we find a couple of gems who either take us towards a play-off charge in the future or go for a large sum of money like Jordan Rhodes did.

CC: Huddersfield may have something against newly promoted sides having thumped AFCB and Yeovil 5:1 - were they similar games?

TC: The only way they were similar was the scorelines. Against Bournemouth we clicked and took our chances while AFCB did ask a few questions of us. The Yeovil game was a walk in the park for Town and we won at a canter without getting out of second gear. Realistically had we taken all of our better chances and played better than we did, it could have been 10-1.

CC: Do you think the Terriers can still mount a play-off challenge or is mid-table okay for you this season?

TC: The heart says we could scrape the play-offs but in this division everyone has to be realistic. From surviving by the skin of our teeth on the final day of last season, mid-table would be good progress. A top half finish would be a brilliant season for us and isn't unrealistic but anything better than 10th and we have really overachieved, but that is testament to Mark Robins' terrific management and a shout to the work of Ross Wilson and Dean Hoyle behind the scenes.

CC: Do you think a bid is likely for James Vaughan in the summer if it does not come in this January?

TC: He won't be leaving in this transfer window, our chairman has said that and he doesn't lie! However, just like Jordan Rhodes, if a ludicrous bid comes in for him then we can't say no and there are plenty of teams sniffing about including Celtic. Vaughan was a shrewd signing and only cost us 600k, so to potentially get millions for him, especially with his injury record we would be mad not to say no. However, without that injury record he wouldn't be at Huddersfield Town as he is Premier League quality.

CC: Is there a player that has done better than you expected this season for Huddersfield, not counting Vaughan?

TC: Everyone has improved from last season but the one stand out is Tom Smith, our young defender. We signed him on a free transfer from Man City and he was a stalwart for our development squad for 18 months until he got an opportunity with Peter Clarke being injured. He's come into the side and hasn't looked out of place, in fact was our best player away at QPR and is one of the first names on the team sheet.

CC: Which game do you think was the best performance for Huddersfield this season and why?

TC: Burnley at home where we won 2-1. Again we could and should have been 4 or 5 up at halftime but didn't take our chances, but for 65 minutes totally dominated the then top side in the division playing fantastic football. We just need to do that for 90 minutes and ensure we score when on top.

CC: Which three teams do you expect to go down?

TC: Yeovil - nice story that they got promoted but that squad just isn't good enough. Barnsley - one season too far of relegation scraps. Charlton - Just a sneaky feeling as they lack an out and out goalscorer.

Although I've put a quid on Blackpool at 33/1 as they are in free fall. Sacking Ince may have saved Blackpool's season.

CC: What do you think Mark Robins has got right this season?

TC: Playing passing fluid football, it's good to watch. Also having interchangeable formations within games, we primarily start with a 3-5-2 formation but depending on the opposition and the state of the game can play 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, 4-4-1-1 or 4-5-1 with the same starting line up... he's a clever one is Mark Robins.

CC: How do you think new signing Nakhi Wells might do for you - he has already scored I hear?

TC: Two goals, two games. A natural goalscorer with pace and a snip at £1.3million plus add ons. He can help us towards a top 6 finish... next season.

CC: Thanks for your input Greg. Huddersfield Town is certainly a team that is building its squad up and Mark Robins seems to be making a successful go at manager's job. As a former striker it looks like he has an eye for young forwards and with the strike force that he is assembling it is likely that some clubs will be watching the progress of Huddersfield's front line. I only hope that they draw a blank at Dean Court and help AFCB start to move up the table a bit.

As for those you suggest are going down the Charlton comment worries me a little if we are to pick up Yann Kemorgrant, not someone you rate I suspect, perhaps we will hear more on that topic today from AFCB. I heard that Huddersfield were all over Charlton in the FA Cup tie but it was the Addicks that got through. No backlash please! 

To read more about Greg's thoughts, visit the Thrice Champions blog.

Grabban is keeping up with the top strikers

At the start of the season not may AFCB fans would have said that Lewis Grabban would be leading the way with the goals for the Cherries after the first 11 games. That is probably understandable when you consider the form of Brett Pitman towards the end of the season when he was scoring in every game. But it's the former Rotherham and Millwall striker that has been getting the headlines, not only for his goals but for some very pleasing all round performances.

This season more than last we are seeing the true value of Lewis. Yes, he has always run the channels and would often find himself in goal scoring positions but he is doing more than that now. He is really getting involved in holding up the ball and making it available to team mates as well as getting in on the end of moves. Both his goals against Blackburn and Leeds were indicative of a striker on form. He did not hesitate with either strike but hit the ball as soon as it fell near to him.

When you also add in the fact that he is having to get used to a new strike partner in Tokelo Rantie, as well while keeping his place in front of Pitman, Thomas and McQuoid he is more than holding his own. Considering he was only playing in League Two a couple of seasons ago it shows you just how a player can go through the leagues and score at each level. Last season it was the early part of the year when Lewis scored most of his goals, but I am hoping that he can go even further this time and keep the goals coming throughout the season. He is battling away with some highly admired strikers at the top of goal scoring table with Jordan Rhodes, James Vaughan, Sam Vokes and Danny Ings in close attendance. 

Lewis is getting used to playing with Tokelo.

The one factor that AFCB fans may not yet have considered is that as the season progresses with Lewis doing so well he could well look like an attractive player to buy for either teams at the top of the division looking to get automatic promotion, or some of the clubs with more buying power than AFCB who could be at the bottom of the Championship. It's happened before to players and it will happen again. If you are playing well you are in the shop window and AFCB may have to decide at some point if they need to keep a man who is proving to be valuable to them in a Championship or if they can let him go for a good price and buy in more success. Suddenly I am not sure if I am looking forward to the January transfer window.

The Terriers have bought well

The fixture against Huddersfield Town could be billed as the showdown between two top strikers, Bournemouth's Lewis Grabban and Huddersfield's James Vaughan. Both players have started well with four goals each this season and neither team has seen anyone else get on the score sheet yet. Perhaps that is about to change.

Vaughan came to Terriers on a three-year deal after signing from Norwich this summer. He played on loan at the Yorkshire club last season. He is part of a new striker partnership as Martin Paterson also moved to Huddersfield this summer having left Burnley where he had a good goal scoring record in the Championship, eight last season.

Among the other summer signings was midfielder Jonathan Hogg who played for Watford prior to the move. Hogg will have the experience to bolster Huddersfield's midfield and has already played in a Championship play-off final. Hogg is probably one of the best additions Robinson could have made to his squad and will be a real threat to teams. A little less is probably known about Spanish striker Christian Lopez who signed from Atletico Balaers, but Spanish players seem to do pretty well over in England.

Having already played QPR and Nottingham Forest, Huddersfield have been competitive against two of the favourites for promotion so this will be no easy game for the Cherries. If AFCB can manage to get something at the Galpharm stadium it would take a lot of pressure off of the Doncaster game a week later, but even to come away with a point will need a big effort on the part of our lads. Eddie Howe will be aware though that it is important that we pick up points when we can on the road and I am sure he will be expecting a much closer encounter than the we had in the Watford game. UTCIAD!