Could Bournemouth go for Burnley swap deal?

The noise in the transfer window is growing for Burnley's interest in Josh King as cited by Lancashire Live. But while Sean Dyche might not have the budget to lure King away to the Lancashire club in a money-only deal, he might be able to do a cash and player swap deal with Matej Vydra who is looking for a move from Burnley.

Burnley are keen n attracting Josh King.

The deal may seem odd at first with Bournemouth perhaps ousting King to a club that can't afford the price-tag, but replacing him with a striker who is perhaps more of a hard-nosed number nine could be something to consider. Bournemouth haven't had a really strong centre forward for a while. In the Championship back in 2015 it was Yan Kermorgant that did most of the spadework for Callum Wilson to flourish and perhaps Vydra would be a good foil for Dominic Solanke. Vydra is hardly prolific in scoring three times in 14 games for Burnley this season, but a change of scenery for him could be just what he needs and at 28, he still has a few good years left in him.

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It doesn't look like Bournemouth are that keen on holding on to Joh King any longer if they can get a good fee for him, but if a player swap and some cash is acceptable, this move could be on in the next few days. It should at least force out any other clubs who are thinking of attracting King's services and the earlier a decision is made, the better for AFCB.

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If Bournemouth win their next FA Cup tie against Crawley, they could also be playing Burnley in the fifth round. The clubs seem linked at every turn, and while Bournemouth have been finding it hard to score goals of late, a change in striker may be an added boost just at the right time. Watford are also said to be interested in getting Vydra, according to the Watford Observer. We can expect something to give in the next few days on this either way.

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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Wilshere still feels he owes something to Bournemouth

Will Eddie drop his captain?

Burnley targeted a weakness in AFCB's line up I believe last Saturday. They tried to get Vydra up against Simon Francis whenever they could in a one-one one and Bournemouth looked stretched whenever Francis had to try and go out wide to keep Matej Vydra in sight. Franics had had some reasonable games at home in the last few games, but even Eddie Howe must see that he can't keep playing Francis and expect him to keep pace with top strikers in the Premier League.

Francis gets caught out at Burnley but will Eddie Howe stay loyal to him?

The next match will be against Chelsea and their striker, Olivier Giroud having just scored last weekend, will be relishing the chance to play against Bournemouth's captain. He'll have seen how much trouble Vydra gave him. So will Eddie Howe be brave enough to drop his captain?

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I think he has to as long as Nathan Aké is back and fit enough to play. Bournemouth's best central pairing is Steve Cook and Aké and must play his best team against a top four side if it is available. Simon Francis doesn't now command that automatic selection in my book and Bournemouth need to work out a way their defence can get a clean sheet.

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I don't think Eddie Howe got it right with dropping Diego Rico either unless Rico was struggling with something. It looked like just a way to shoe-horn Jack Stacey into the team and keep Adam Smith in the first 11. But it would have been simpler to choose between Smith and Stacey for the right back spot and let Rico resume at left back. Moving Adam Smith to left back didn't exactly go well, and I wonder if a left-footed Rico would have positioned himself slightly differently for that high ball that caught Adam Smith out for the  handball.

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Selection is really important now. It's time to drop the egos and personal favourites. Bournemouth need points and it needs to be round players in round holes. The best player for the best job. Some players just haven't been producing and it's more than time to let some of those players know who isn't up to the job at the moment.

Come on Eddie stop the rot

The one thing Bournemouth fans have been clinging on to in this poor season is the fact that we have stuck with Eddie Howe. We know he is the best chance Bournemouth have at surviving a relegation battle, but Eddie is himself starting to look perplexed at the inability of his team to get the wins they need to get out of trouble. We need Eddie to stop the rot.

Winning seems so hard at the moment.

In his post-match interview, Eddie Howe was not as flat as he has been in some other chats after a Bournemouth defeat. The game against Burnley was end to end and did have its moments for Bournemouth fans to get excited, but ultimately it was a bit of a tragedy the way the game was taken away from the players in the second half. There is a tendency for Bournemouth fans and players to feel sorry for themselves, but we can't escape the fact that the Cherries made mistakes and that contributed to Burnley's win.

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Eddie needs to get to the root of these problems. He has had most of the season to work out solutions, but because he has had so many injuries to players he never seems to get a break. But he has to get results from what he has now and we can't keep expecting something better if the players are going to give the ball away and switch off. Burnley scored their first goal with one long ball and Matej Vydra running at Simon Francis. It didn't take much to bypass nine of Bournemouth's players. We can argue about VAR forever, but the two early second half goals for Bournemouth completely sunk Bournemouth. There was no way back, and to lose a third goal was just a mark of how Burnley were enjoying the moment and were able to compound the misery of our players.

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We have had too many games that have ended quickly once Bournemouth have gone behind. There needs to be a change of fortune and if all of Bournemouth's remaining bad luck came in this game, then we can look forward to something better in the next few weeks. Let's hope that Eddie really can stop the rot, because Bournemouth aren't looking capable of picking up points away from home.

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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Another weekend a another defeat, what now for the Cherries?

VAR sickener form the Cherries at Burnley as two goals disallowed

Match Report

Burnley v AFCB

22 February 2020

Attendance: 18,227

Another big day for VAR.

VAR had the biggest say in Bournemouth's match against Burnley. Chances fell to Callum Wilson and Matej Vydra in the first few minutes, but the shock of the first half was to see a Bournemouth Josh King goal ruled out by VAR for the ball previously coming off Billing's shoulder. Vydra had other chances to score as Francis struggled to keep him at bay, but so did Harry Wilson and Jack Stacey who couldn't beat Nick Pope, so it was 0-0 at half-time. That was nothing to the second half with Vydra putting the Clarets in front before Harry Wilson thought he had equalised, only to find that Adam Smith had made a handball in the build up and a penalty was awarded to Burnley with Jay Rodriguez making it 2-0. The game had gone and Burnley made sure with a late third goal from McNeil which was the pick of the goals. Even VAR hates Bournemouth now.

More bad news on the injury front saw Jefferson Lerma out with a back injury and Nathan Aké missing out having been concussed in mid-week training. Bournemouth really weren't helping themselves, but Steve Cook was back, while Rico was dropped to the bench to enable Jack Stacey to come in with Adam Smith moving to left back. Josh King also replaced Ryan Fraser on the left wing.

Burnley had their own problems with Chris Woods and Ashley Branes missing out but they brought in Jay Rodrigues and Matej Vydra.

It was a really gusty day at Turf Moor and Bournemouth could expect to be tested under the high ball with plenty of crosses aimed at Rodriguez. A former Burnley player' Brian Pilkington's life was celebrated with a minutes applause.

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Match Description
Bournemouth started well enough with plenty of touches at the back. Gosling played a good ball into Callum Wilson and he crossed for King, but was just kept off the ball. A snap shot from Calum Wilson is just saved by Pope's outstretched foot. Great start from the Cherries.

King is getting plenty of the ball on the left but is held up by two Burnley defenders. Adam Smith is bringing the ball out well. Bournemouth are looking to pinch the ball whenever they can. McNeil to Rodriguez and Francis blocks for a corner.

Stacey does well to stop Burnley's McNeil on the left wing. Stacey puts a cross in but Billing doesn't connect well.

A mess between Bournemouth defenders, Billing and Stacey looked at each other and Cork has a shot from 20 yards saved by Ramsdale. Sloppy from Bournemouth.

Francis gets it all wrong against Vydra who is in behind and beats Steve Cook but Ramsdale makes an amazing save on 11 minutes, down to his left. Bournemouth were far too open and we know Vydra has the pace to trouble Francis.

Harry Wilson does well to win possession. Simon Francis and Steve Cook look nervous at the back though and concede another corner. Surman puts it out for another corner. Bardsley goes through the back of Callum Wilson and is lucky to get away without a card.

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Stacey has a head injury. Harry Wilson as a drop shot but it's well wide on 18 minutes. Billing flows forward and has a shot deflected off Tarkowski for a corner on 21 minutes. It's in the cross from Surman went right across the six yard box and as it got flicked on by Billing and King could stab the ball home 0-1.

No, it's disallowed by VAR. Looks like Billing's shoulder but a very harsh decision on Bournemouth. It looked ball to shoulder and not shoulder to ball.

Cross from King and Harry Wilson heads it straight at Nick Pope! Bournemouth have had three great chances to be ahead, but haven't taken any of them. Bournemouth have at least been making chances.

Stacey wins a corner. Surman has a shot blocked. Callum Wilson can't get a shot away. Surman makes a mistake with Stacey on half way but McNeil can't make the most of it.

Gosling just gets back in time to take the ball off of Vydra as he cut in past Steve Cook. Bournemouth are starting to lose the ball in areas where they are under little pressure, it's careless. King wins a free kick against Bardesley.

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Billing tackles back but has given a free kick away. Steve Cook struggles to get the ball away with the ball flicking off the defender's right hand. Vydra is offside with a ball over the top.

King in the left to Stacey and the shot is saved by Pope at his left post. At the other end Ramsadale has to come out to stop Vydra, Francis headed it backwards straight to Vydra.

Ramsdale makes a punch. Burnley getting some possession as the first half come towards a close. Francis is booked, taking down Vydra, two minutes to half -time. The ball is deflected for a corner. Ramsdale catches cleanly.

A long shot from McNeil is held by Ramsdale. More blocks by Bournemouth defenders. It's a free kick to Bournemouth. Just one minute of added time.

AFCB possession 60%, Shots 8, Shots on target 3, Fouls 2
Burnley possession 40%, Shots 7, Shots on target 4, Fouls 4

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Second half
Francis skies a clearance. The wind is against Bournemouth this half. Gosling wins the ball well. Adam Smith gets a cross in which is knocked behind by McNeil for a corner to Bournemouth.

Taylor wins a Burnley corner. Surman heads it out on the near post. Bournemouth clear again. Callum Willson wins a soft foul. Bournemouth needed some possession. Pope punches clear.

Vydra on the break has cut inside Francis and shoots past Ramsdale it's 1-0 to Burnley on 52 minutes. VAR is reviewing the goal for a possible offside. The goal has been given. Francis just out played and over committed.

Bournemouth have to come out now. A shot from Gosling is held by Poe low to his left. Tarkowski now plays for time to slow the game down.

Callum Wilson breaks free and Harry Wilson has scored through the legs to make it 1-1 on 57 minutes, it's another VAR check. Did Adam Smith handball it? The goal has been disallowed and it's a penalty to Burnley. Ramsdale is beaten by Jay Rodrigues from the spot 2-0 on the hour.

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Bardsley is booked for a foul on Josh King. Bournemouth prepare a double sub. Fraser and Stanislas are coming on. A shot from Westwood is held by Ramsdale.

Burnley win a corner off Steve Cook. Surnam and Josh King are replaced on 70 minutes. Billing concedes a free kick and Ramsdale saves from Rodriguez, down to his right.

Ramsdale against Rodriguez one-on-one but Ramsdlae wins the battle and stands big.  Steve Cook was beaten by the pass and Rodriguez should have scored.

Harry Wilson is subbed fir Solanke on 74 minutes. Solanke makes a block from Jack Cork. Another chance for Burnley and Vydra has missed at the far post. Hendrick made the play from teh right and it came across the box and it was a tap in for Vydra really.

It's becoming end to end now.  Just 10 minutes to go. A strike from McNeil and he's hit the post from 25 yards. Burnley sub Vydra from Lennon on 82 minutes. Lennon is carded for fouling Surman.

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Lennon gets a cross in, but Bournemouth get it clear. Billing loses the ball. Bournemouth keep losing possession and this time they are punished as McNeil breaks and fires in a third on 87 minutes 3-0 to Burnley.

Another yellow card is handed out to Hendrick on Fraser. It's all kicking off with Adam Smith going in on Tarkowski. A yellow card to Adam Smith.

Burnley sub Cork and McNeil and on come Brownhill and Bradey on 90+1 minutes. Four minutes of added time are being played. Stacey is in and crosses and Callum Wilson has fired wide from six yards!

Solanke is taken down by Ben Mee on the edge of the box. Mee is yellow carded. Stanislas will take the free kick. It goes wide and that's it.

Summary
Bournemouth won't have many more painful games than this one. The score line was unjust, but Bournemouth didn't take their chances and VAR came in to sweep the game away from the Cherries. At the end of the day the Cherries had no luck and while as fans we can be encouraged by the first half performance. Football is cruel sometimes and Bournemouth simply have to recover better than they did in this game.

AFCB Starting line up

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Rico, Simpson, L Cook, Stanislas, Fraser, Solanke

AFCB Ratings:
Ramsdale 8, Stacey 6, Francis 3, S Cook 5, A Smith 6, H Wilson 5, Gosling 4, Surman 5, Billing 4, King 7, C Wilson 5

Burnley

1 Pope, 26 Bardsley, 5 Tarkowski, 6 Mee, 3 Taylor, 13 Hendrick, 18 Westwood,
4 Cork (Brownhll 90+1), 11 McNeil (Bradey 90+1), 19 Rodriguez, 27 Vydra (Lennon 82)

Burnley Subs: 
20 Hart, 7 Gudmundsson, 8 Brownhill, 12 Brady, 23 Pieters, 25 Lennon, 28 Long

Cherry Chimes MoM: Aaron Ramsdale


Ref Watch: Mike Dean 5/10 A hard game to referee but the decisions were largely taken out of his hands. A few more yellow cards may perhaps escaped him though.

Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Can Bournemouth get their first away win of 2020?

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AFC Wimbledon are trying to get back to Plough Lane. They have launched the PloughLaneBond scheme to try and raise funds.

What's wrong with Burnley?

In the early part of the season, it was easy for Sean Dyche to say the Europa league had been difficult to get used to and the Thursday/Sunday routine. Before the international break the Claret's manager said the players looked 'fatigued'. But playing against Wolves last weekend, he couldn't really find a palatable excuse in a game where they hardly threatened to score.

Will Bournemouth walk off happy against Burnley?

Dyche has pointed to the amount of turnovers in their games and 'a fog' descending on his team. The team is not balanced and while they have a couple of players to come back from injuries, Burnley look there for the taking at the moment.

Joe Hart has looked their best player and he hasn't done too much wrong. But Burnley are leaking goals with 10 against, so far this season. The fixtures they have had in the Premier League would suggest that they have been really struggling, losing to two newly-promoted clubs – Fulham and Wolves away from home. They have gained a point away at Southampton, but Watford and Man United were too strong for them at home. The goal difference of -7 is only better than Huddersfield and only three other teams have a higher total than 10 goals conceded, which is what Burnley have. Their problems though are not just at one end. Burnley have scored just three goals in their five matches. Only Huddersfield have scored fewer goals and Cardiff are the only other team scoring as few as three goals.

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Putting those kind of problems right quickly is a challenge. Sean Dyche will be looking for a reaction, and if they can't get points at home it is looking like a long season for Burnley. The pressure is on Burnley just for propping up the league.

They have players coming back from injury such as midfielder Steven Defour, but Dyche needs his strikers to start scoring and, so far, he has only given two games to Matej Vydra, who was signed in the summer from Derby. Chris Woods has had four starts, Sam Vokes has just had one start, as has Ashley Barnes, but they have featured in the five games. He needs one of the strikes to hit form. Two of Burnley's three goals have come from James Tarkowski with Jeff Hendrick scoring the other goal. So it's a blank for the forwards.

Bournemouth will be hoping that record doesn't improve.

Burnley Home form
LL

AFCB Away form
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Rival Lines with Up the Clarets

Have the Cherries spent big enough this summer?

There is a fine balance to get right between overspending and spending big enough to compliment a squad and reach the target set for a new season. In AFC Bournemouth's case it is a massive job to work out how the squad can be improved while not paying silly money to keep up with many of the other Premier League clubs that have similar ambitions to the Cherries in that league. 

It was a bit of a shock to see the Cherries pay £8 million for a defender over the summer. It was perhaps more of a surprise as the other signings were free transfers or in Josh King's case would be finalised through a tribunal. Obviously we do not know what wages are being paid out now that the club is trying to attract players to Dean Court for the most important season in the club's history. Yet, I am one who is pleased that AFC Bournemouth have not lavished big fees left, right and centre as the grim days without any money are all too recent in the memory banks. In a way the club is lucky that it has experienced such hard times and come through them, but it's not an experience I would want any club to attempt to repeat. It could have been a very different outcome.

Looking at the spending of other newly promoted clubs over the summer it is Norwich that seem to have been the least active. Having brought in Youssouf Mulumbu from WBA and signed Graham Dorrons on a permanent contract the Canaries have since gone quiet. Of course, they only spent one season in the Championship and may feel that their squad is already at that level.

AFCB are getting ready to go again.

Meanwhile, Watford have been more like AFCB in trying to bolster numbers and quality. Etienne Capoue's signing  from Spurs is thought to be in the region of £3.25 million and they have signed Sebastian Prodl from Wereder Bremen, Allan Nyman from Udinese as well as Valon Behrami from Hamburg who will have all dented funds at Vicarage Road. But hanging on to Troy Deeney and signing Matej Vydra on loan from Udinese are also big statements. Giedrius Arlauskis from Steaua Bucharest was a free transfer so they are also seeing if they can get some bargains. Even this week though they have added further to their squad with Jose Jurado from Spartak Moscow in midfield for an undisclosed fee and Miguel Britos from Napoli on a free transfer.

So are AFCB the best placed of those that have come up from the Championship? It is hard to say but like Norwich and Watford keeping hold of the main first team players that did a good job last season is critical and as long as there are no late bids for any of the Cherries players who they need to keep hold of the team will go into the new season with a lot of belief. AFCB probably could have spent more but sometimes you have to have some faith in those that have got you to this level. Progression is what AFCB should seek not just big shop window purchases that would be just as happy playing for any other club that can pay good wages.

The injury to Harry Arter could yet mean more business is necessary for AFCB and Aldene Guedioura of Crystal Palace tipped as a possible new recruit, by the Surrey Mirror and Skysports.

Will clean sheets start to come for AFCB?

It is at home where improvements are most needed for the Cherries. The atmosphere at home games should help the Cherries, but the disappointments of the past probably play on the minds of some when they put their boots on at Dean Court. I wish it was different, but until the Cherries get a good win at home, they will always have it in the back of their minds that they are vulnerable, even when they are ahead. 

It is getting back to the clean sheets that has been the real difficulty. The team let in too many goals last season and it is the one area where we have not seen any new signings this season unless you include the goalkeeper position and Artur Boruc. The goals that Nottingham Forest scored against the Cherries included a header from a good cross, and it is clear that teams need to be stopped from getting to the byline whenever our full backs can stop them. You could argue that the free kick from Leeds and the goal that Watford scored, after a free kick, were wonder goals, but free kicks are something that also need to be reduced if the Cherries are to give themselves a better chance of clean sheets.

Will Ian Harte keep Charlie Daniels out of the side?

The signing of Artur Boruc is another factor that has been brought in to try and help AFCB get some clean sheets. Even Artur was beaten in his debut by what Eddie Howe described as a "worldy". It may not have been as stunning as Harry Arter's strike in the same game, but Craig Cathcart's volley was good enough to wipe out any hope that the Cherries had of getting a clean sheet. It was disappointing, not only because it meant that three points would not be coming AFCB's way, but a win would have given the payers the lift that they are seeking at the moment. 

We have only seen Artur Boruc in the Watford game and he looked very solid making one outstanding save from a Vydra header, even though it would not have mattered if he hadn't of saved it, as the move was offside. How Boruc does at Dean Court will be key and the early signs are that he comes for crosses and is confident in his decision making. His experience should make the team feel that they are less likely to concede, but it's what the team do on the pitch that counts. We need to see improvements fast now and to regain some of that swagger that makes other teams a little more apprehensive when they come to town.

At Watford, I thought the back four did exceptionally well all game with Simon Francis particularly setting the standard with his industry for the whole 90 minutes. Cook and Elphick seemed in control for most of the time with Vydra kept quiet for long periods, while Lloyd Dyer and Anya did not have as much of an impact as they might have. Ian Harte played as though he never missed the penalty and he does give the team that experience and fight when he is on the pitch that adds to the doggedness of the team. 

I suppose the loss of Elliot Ward is not something that has helped AFCB's preparation in the early part of this season and his return to the team in winter will be a big boost. The experience of the current back four though is not huge with Francis, Elphick and Cook only having played one season in the Championship. Just like other teams looking at our strikers and how they play, opposition teams will also be looking for weaknesses at AFCB's back four and our players have to learn to deal with that. Last season Simon Francis had a few matches where he was getting caught high up the pitch, but he seems to have overcome that and Cook and Elphick have been better at getting blocks in and sensing danger as strikers move across or behind them. The latter was evident in the last game when Watford were stopped from getting many clear chances.

All it needed though was one well directed shot and AFCB's work was all undone. I don't think there was much wrong with the defensive performance of the team at Watford and yet things did not work out in AFCB's favour. The trick is to keeping working and believe that things will change soon. Another good away performance at Cardiff certainly would help.

Being the Third Round of the Capital One Cup tonight, Kyle Cotter has written a special League Cup report on three Premier League ties that you can read on Kyle's Cups.

Finally, for those who wonder how former Championship teams can possibly do well in their first season in the Premier League, I had a look at how Leicester City were getting on this weekend - 'Leicester outfox United'.  Not too bad, by all accounts!   

Watford are again among the pace-setters

Watford may have come off worse last weekend against a rejuvenated Charlton side under Bob Peeters but they dominated most of that game. Oscar Garcia also had to go away to Blackpool in mid-week, where his team squeezed a one-nil away but he suffered some heart discomfort. Sadly, Garcia will not be present at the match against the Cherries, but it appears that he is recovering well and will soon be back at Watford after some rest. His side though are bound to give their all for the manager and AFCB could be on the back end of a goal hungry Watford side who are already third in the table.

It has been built up to be quite a match with the Sky cameras there and the unveiling of the new East stand, but AFCB have to forget all that and concentrate on trying to get three points because we have seen what a rampant Hornet side can do at home last season and we don't want a repeat.

Vicarage Road last season.

Troy Deeney will be a big miss for Watford as he is again showing that he is a striker who can propel Watford right up into the top play-off positions. It is time for Matej Vydra to see what he can do against an AFCB defence that has started to leak goals. Vydra scored against Blackpool but has only scored one in seven games for the Hornets. The creative play of Almen Abdi will also be a threat and in the box it is Gabriele Angella who has a habit of scoring against the Cherries. Lloyd Dyer has mainly been used as a sub this season, but again is a player that can get a goal out of nothing. Fernando Forestieri is likely to face the Cherries again and Gianni Munari is said to be available.

Watford have won all three of their home games this season. They netted three against Bolton on the first day and since then they have scored four against Leeds and Huddersfield, so be under no illusion, this is a tough assignment for Eddie Howe's side. They have to try and take the first points away from the Hornets at home this season.

Containment may be the best strategy against Watford. It is unlikely that Eddie Howe will take that option though and that is what makes this game a big spectacle for the TV cameras. I believe AFCB are a much improved side though from the 6-1 defeat we saw last season, even if Watford are also improved. The key will be who retains possession the best, and if the Cherries can keep Watford out in the first half hour I see the possibility for a tight match.

Update: Watford have changed their mind and said the new East stand will now not be open for the Bournemouth game.


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Breaking News: Polish international goalkeeper, Arthor Buroc is said to be joining AFCB on loan from Southampton.