Expect more grumbles from Mick McCarthy

It's probably fair to say that Mick McCarthy has been keen to stress that AFCB's good fortune is more to do with their bank account than any other factor from the comments he has made in previous encounters with the Cherries. Attracting good capital these days though is half the problem for many teams that are finding it difficult to manage their finances. AFCB should not be looked down upon though because they are now doing things right. Perhaps other clubs can learn from how AFCB have secured better funding and have been able to come through the league and to compete against clubs with much bigger fan bases.

AFCB v Ipswich last November.

Ipswich are of course one of those clubs that AFCB fans would consider a big club and they have also been bringing in some loan players ahead of the run-in with Johnny Williams and Zeki Fryers joining from Crystal Palace. The Suffolk side have also kept hold of Luke Varney and Richard Chaplow until the end of the season. Mick McCarthy also brought in Freddie Sears from Colchester who has done well since joining Ipswich. Elliott Hewitt has also been recalled from Colchester as possible cover for Tyrone Mings who will miss the clash with the Cherries. Striker David McGoldrich might also be back for the big match against the Cherries, along with Darren Ambrose perhaps.

Ipswich will know that a win against Bournemouth would draw them just three points behind the Cherries and could give them vital distance points over some of the teams vying for a play-off place. But Mick McCarthy will also know that a defeat would make it very hard for Ipswich to finish in the top two being nine points behind the Cherries. Ipswich need to make up ground and whether that means they come at the Cherries and leave holes in behind we will have to wait and see. Previous encounters in the Championship between the two sides have ended in draws but I don't think either side would be overly pleased with a draw this time around.

Ipswich's home form is pretty strong and with the TV cameras at the game it should be a very lively game, because AFCB never go to any ground and hold back these days. I'll be looking forward to Mick's post-match comments though. It will probably go something like - how can they afford someone like Kenwyne Jones? Only kidding Mick, you were the first to stop calling us "little Bournemouth" - just don't tell him AFCB's players have been training in Dubai. UTCIAD!

Ipswich Town Home Form
WLWDW

AFCB Away Form
WLLWD


Make sure you check out Cherry Chimes tomorrow as we have a Rival Lines interview with Independent Ipswich fan site TWTD.

Cherry Chimes talks to Rover Stan

Rival Lines
Blogger Interview: Rover Stan
Batch Preview Blackburn Rovers v AFCB

I managed to catch up with Rover Stan who we talked to last season to get his opinion on the current Blackburn Rovers team and to see how well he thinks they are playing at the moment. here are his thoughts ahead of the match against AFCB. Make sure you drop in on his site at RoverStan.

CC: What is the best thing to have happened to Blackburn Rovers over the summer - Jordan Rhodes' new contract?

RS: A new contract for Rhodes was a real bonus for the club. Whilst there's no guarantee he'll stay, if anyone wants him they will have to stump up big money to get him. The best thing to happen over the Summer has to be the sound of silence, with Rovers for once out of the headlines.

CC: You had a good run towards the play-offs last season what reasons have Blackburn fans to be more optimistic of a top six finish this season?

RS: The squad is settled and morale seems to be good. They certainly gave it their best shot towards the end of last season before finally finishing in 8th position. The high wage earners have had to go to comply with the new Financial Fair Play rules but Gary Bowyer has assembled a new squad that is keen to play for him, whilst being considerably cheaper.

CC: Are you pleased that Leon Best has gone on loan to Derby County, a possible promotion rival?

RS: I think most Rovers fans are delighted to see the back of Leon Best. He looked good in pre-season games when he first arrived but after he came back from injury he has never produced a good performance. He did quite well at Sheffield Wednesday at the end of last season but his high wages make him an unattractive buy.

CC: What do you expect to see from new signings Luke Varney and Chis Brown this season?

RS: Chris Brown and Luke Varney have been signed as cover up front. Varney didn't impress last season on loan and hasn't improved so far this season. We haven't seen Brown play yet as he's injured but reports suggest he could be a useful addition to the squad.

CC: Is Paul Robinson still up the task in goal?

RS: Yes, is the simple answer to that question. His experience will be invaluable this season. It's like having a second captain on the field. His job has not been helped by injuries to Tommy Spurr and Matt Kilgallon, which leaves us short of quality in defence, although we have signed Alex Baptiste on loan for the season from Bolton Wanderers. Expect Robinson to want to be part of the promotion party.

CC: Grant Hanley has to be one of the best centre backs in the division so are you surprised to have kept hold of him?

RS: It's hard to believe that Grant has come so far in such a short space in time. He's now played 102 1st team games for Rovers and currently wears the Captain's armband at just 22 years of age. He certainly wants to show who's boss against any opposition but has been prone to the odd rash challenge, leading to a red card. Another good season with Rovers will surely put him firmly on the radar of other clubs.

CC: What does Rudy Gestede give you that other strikers at the club don't?

RS: Gestede is the perfect partner for Jordan Rhodes up front. He's a target man, good with his feet and excellent in the air. He's taken some of the pressure off Rhodes who has inevitably found himself tightly marked last season. Confidence grows when you score goals and that's just what he's done.

CC: Was there anything you saw that was encouraging in your first game against Cardiff City?

RS: All the signs were there of a team that are playing for each other and keen to carry on from where they left off last season. Tom Cairney scored a goal worthy of inclusion in the Goal of the Season competition. Expect more from him in the coming months. Rovers have been guilty of not delivering the ball to the front men but Craig Conway was desperate to impress against his old club. Conway regularly claimed the Man of the Match award last season and looked like he wants to continue this time around.

CC: Did you feel the team played a lot better against Blackpool and Norwich?

RS: 3 League games. A draw, a win and a defeat. I think the performances have been OK so far. Rhodes is carrying a bit of an injury and having two key defenders out of action doesn't help. By all accounts we should have had a penalty against Norwich and we played well despite losing 3-1. I expect them to come out all guns blazing against Bournemouth. Watch out!

CC: What should AFCB fans make sure they see when they come to Blackburn? (It's a long trip after all)

RS: If you've never been to Blackburn Rovers before then you should take a few minutes to walk round to the Blackburn end where you will find the RoverStore. All the usual stuff, shirts, scarves etc plus the gnomes which are probably just like Bournemouth gnomes but ours are Blue & White. You might find on a rack in the centre of the store last seasons home programmes where there may be a copy of the Bournemouth game. Outside you should look at the statue of Jack Walker our beloved benefactor who was responsible for rebuilding this club and achieving all our dreams in winning the Premier League trophy in 1995. As you go back round to the Darwen End you will see the blue sliding doors where the players enter as they come off the coach. Look carefully and you may catch a glimpse of the trophy in a glass case on the wall. Another nice touch to look out for is the photographs on the overhead walkways linking the Jack Walker stand to the Darwen End and Blackburn End. Our club history for all to see.

CC: How is Ewood Park looking these days?

RS: The pitch is looking superb at the moment. You should also find good facilities in the Darwen End. The pies aren't bad either!

CC: What is your score prediction for Blackburn v AFCB?

RS: I'm afraid after our defeat in midweek against Norwich the boys in Blue & White will want to get back to winning ways. Its going to be a Rovers win 4-1 with Gestede getting a hat trick! But then I would say that wouldn't I.Regards to The Cherries Supporters!

CC: Thank you RoverStan for such a wealth of information about your team and the aspirations of many Blackburn Rover fans I am  sure. While I am sad that I can't come and visit your ground for this game it may be good if the game goes as you predict. Still I aim to come and see the jack Walker statue at some point and maybe if Blackburn and AFCB get promoted I'll be able to do it in the Premier League nest season! All you AFCB fans should go and have a good read of RoverStans' blog as you will not find a better source of information on the Blue & Whites.

Blackburn are still finding their feet

The heavyweights are starting to make their move in the Championship table. Among them are Blackburn Rovers who have steadily seen performances come together under Gary Bowyer, despite losing their last two games. While it is hard to read anything from the fiery derby match against Burnley, Rovers will be aiming to win at home no matter who they play in this division.

Blackburn players warm up at Dean Court.

Despite their upward graph since Bowyer's appointment, Blackburn are a team that you still feel could be doing even better. A thoroughbred that is shaking off the burden its recent past and still not quite sure how it should refine itself in a Championship that is unforgiving for big spenders that don't then perform week in and week out. If Rovers results had been more consistent since the New Year rather than being a bit up and down they could have been sitting much closer to the play-offs. Still, four wins and three draws in the last 10 matches is not a bad stat. What has slowed for them are the goals from Jordan Rhodes, just one goal in his last 10 games.

Rhodes still currently stands on 17 goals and we know he is the archetypal predator that marks out the top teams from the also-rans in the Championship. Once a player has his instinct and knowledge of where to be at the right time it is not usually much of barren spell before you start sticking the ball away again. He even managed it with a bad hand against AFCB earlier in the season and he alone makes this game against AFCB at Ewood Park a match that is so much harder than the average away fixture. There will be no hiding place for AFCB's back four and not a moments peace. The bad news is that he scored against Burnley in Blackburn's last game and we don't need him finding top form again now.

Rhodes is still the main man to watch.

Luke Varney similarly seems to know where the goal is and AFCB will do well to try and get on the front foot with such a potent attack force lining up against them.  We know that they have also added Liam Feeney to their squad and at the back they have Michael Keane, who is an England U21 player, to add some strength who is also on loan until the end of the season.

A point at Ewood Park would be huge for the Cherries having had good success in the last two matches, but this one won't be at all easy. Blackburn won 1-3 at Dean Court last September, but the Cherries are a better team now and I want that unbeaten run to continue so 1-1 would do nicely tonight.

Blackburn Home Form:
DLWDW

AFCB Away Form:
DLDLW

Did you miss the blogger interview? You can still catch up by visiting Rival Lines to hear what RoverStan has to say.

Leeds can't score and AFCB need a plumber to plug the leaking goals (plus The Scratching Shed interview)

I suspect that Leeds Utd will be an extremely difficult game for the Cherries but one that they should look forward to. Leeds have been losing out by just the single goal in many matches this season but they have been getting points against lower half teams and their recent defeats have been to top sides like Burnley, QPR and Reading.

At the weekend they were well beaten by a rejuvenated Millwall side who AFCB will be playing next weekend. While the score was 2:0 to the home side both teams could have scored quite a few more on the day. That gets me a bit worried if it could be a goal fest when the Cherries turn up to play. We are like needing a plumber at the moment as AFCB are leaking goals and all we need is a Leeds side who are frustrated by their lack of success so far this season.

Jason Pearce has been having a good run in the team and he will be as dogged as any one to stop his former club from getting any breaks when the sides clash at Elland Road. Up front they has some enviable talent in Luke Varney and Matt Smith, while Ross McCormack is the leading scorer and has been the attention of several Premiership clubs.

Leeds also have the perennial bad boy in El Hadji Diouf who used to be at Liverpool, Blackburn and Bolton. He seems to be out of the team at the moment or out of favour with McDermott and I am pretty pleased about that. The Senegalese player has been in the press for all the wrong reasons over the years. but I am one that know that he can play a bit and he is an excellent attacking midfielder to call upon.

Put all this together with the tactical and managerial skills of Brian McDermott and you can see why Leeds Utd are many people's tip to be among the mix for promotion this season. It many not be quite the glory days for Leeds Utd but they are far from being one of the has-beens in the Championship. All they need is a spark to rekindle their Premiership ambitions and AFCB will have to call upon all their abilities to get a result on Tuesday night.

Safe trip for all those travelling up for the game - it should be a cracker! 

Leeds Utd last time out:
Kenny, Peltier, Pearce, Warnock, Wotton, Murphy, Austin, Tonge, Mowatt, Varney and McCormack. 

We have also been in contact with the Leeds Blog called The Scratching Shed and David Wilkinson kindly spent a few long hours into the night on answering Cherry Chimes questions. The answers are all there for you to read now on Rival Lines.

Just to whet your appetite, he tells us that one team have already been made to look as good as Barcelona by his team this season - now who might that be?