Ritchie gets 45 minutes for Scotland

It was a bit of a mixed reaction by Scottish fans on Matt Ritchie's performance in the first 45 minutes against Gibraltar. While he made a great through ball for Shaun Maloney to get on to which led to the initial penalty and gave Scotland the lead, Ritchie did not get on the ball as much as he does for the Cherries and while Scotland were looking shaking at the back at times, he was replaced at half time for another defender - Gordon Greer.

Matt is just getting used to the international scene.

Of course, this was only Matt's second cap and Gordon Strachan is probably aware of what potential Matt has and that AFCB are involved in a massive race for the Championship. For all we know Eddie Howe may have asked that Matt be not asked to play 90 minutes in both matches while he was away with the Scotland squad. Scotland were also 4-1 up at half time and so the points were really in the bag for this game by half time considering Gibraltar had not scored this campaign in any of their other fixtures. 

It was still noticeable that Ritchie was chosen to start ahead of Derby's Johnny Russell both against Northern Ireland and Gibraltar. Strachan clearly was not worried about putting Matt right into the heat of battle with a European Qualifier and while Gibraltar are not the most dangerous of sides, the fact that they scored against Scotland and gave them plenty of problems in the first 20 minutes illustrated that they are not the push over some might have thought.

Matt is hopefully going to return fresh for AFCB.

I did feel Matt did not get on the ball as much as he would have liked and when he did get it he did find the big number nine - Steven Fletcher - quite well with his crosses and if Strachan is looking for a quality crosser of the ball, then Matt should be in his plans going forward. It is not only Matt Ritchie who needs to get to know how Gordon Strachan's team play, Scotland also need to try and give Matt what he needs to get the best out of him. 

We did see Matt have one shot in the first half against Gibraltar but it was tame and right at the keeper. It is may be going to take Matt a bit more time to contribute in a Scotland shirt as well as he does in an AFCB shirt but I was just thankful that he did not pick up an injury and that he can use the experience to add to what he has already learnt in the Championship.

Scotland ran out 6-1 winners against Gibraltar.

Dominant Derby are up next

You have to admit that Steve McClaren has put together a great side at Derby. I was impressed with them when they came down to the Goldsands last autumn and passed the ball with so much confidence. I also think McClaren has done well to keep hold of the likes of will Young and Craig Bryson, while Jamie Ward and Chris Martin are still putting away the goals. Trying to find a weak squad in their team is pretty hard and even Eddie Howe had eyes for striker Johnny Russell over the summer.

Adam Smith with Derby players last season.

Will Hughes is a midfielder who likes to dictate games.

How are Derby playing away from home? Not too badly with a bruising draws against Nottingham Forest and a tidy away win against Blackburn Rovers recently. They certainly have goals in the team and are steadily climbing up the table. They also powered their way through to the fourth round of the Capital One Cup last week with a 2-0 win against Reading and beat Bolton 0-2 away at the weekend. At home though they have been dropping some points with a few draws on the record.

One player who they have picked up on loan, who is earmarked for a big career, is Jordan Ibe. Jordan is on Liverpool's books and if you remember he played on loan for Birmingham against the Cherries last year when we beat them 2-4 away. He's a neat little winger on his day and he scored last time out against Cardiff City. Another summer signing was the acquisition of Leon Best from Blackburn Rovers. He has not seen that much playing time which underlines the strength of squad that McClaren has.

This will be a much more difficult proposition than Wigan last Saturday. AFCB have to bring their A game and for away matches they have been doing that this season so I am hopeful that the Cherries can get something from the game. With both teams often the draw specialists it may not be the worst prediction to think that AFCB might get a point from this game.

Derby County Home Form:
WWDD

AFCB Away Form:
WLDD

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Ritchie, Russell, Gradel transfer triangle

The task of picking up a new striker to bolster AFCB's squad has taken a new dimension after Derby County have registered an interest in Matt Ritchie. Whether Eddie Howe is so keen on Johnny Russell to allow Matt Ritchie to leave the club the other way is clearly something that AFCB would not have suggested, but the Cherries' pursuit of additional forwards has only seen Callum Wilson come to the club over the summer. Meanwhile, Junior Stanislas has rivalled Matt Ritchie for a starting place and no doubt Steve McClaren has noted this and wants to see if he can prise one of the Cherries star players away.

Matt Ritchie - a deadline day target for Derby County.

The ball is now in AFCB's court and I expect them to turn down Derby's request politely. While Johnny Russell may be a player that would add power to the forward line I don't see Eddie Howe wanting to reduce the number of wingers he has any further. The mixture of Ritchie, Stanislas, Pugh and Fraser has marked Bournemouth out as a team that is very expressive on the wings and with wing backs that cause plenty of problems in attack. 

With Carlton Cole having been Howe's first target, it may be that Johnny Russell is one of several other strikers that AFCB have been looking at. Two bids have failed though for Russell and McClaren has really tested the water to see how keen AFCB really are to secure his services. Eddie Howe has stated the he is keen to keep the squad together, but if there is another winger he knows he can bring in to replace Ritchie (like Max-Alain Gradel of St Etienne - who has been linked with AFCB over the summer), the switch could just be on. It is not a player swap that I think many AFCB fans would be pleased about though, as Ritchie has been a great signing since his move from Swindon Town. 

The transfer deadline ends at 11pm tonight so start biting those nails! UTCIAD!

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