Have Millwall got the weapons to hurt the Cherries?

Millwall's strike force has not been prolific. The well-known Ricardo Fuller heads their chart along with Lee Gregory on three goals. What you can say about Millwall is that just about everyone in their team has grabbed a goal but they are struggling up front to find the net.

Millwall players at Dean Court.

Ian Holloway will be aware of his side's shortcomings, but perhaps hasn't got the funds to deal with the problems. With 19 goals this season though they are far from being the worst goalscorers and they have only failed to score in one of their last five matches. That was against Charlton when they played out a 0-0 draw.

Ricardo Fuller scored against the Cherries last
season in a Blackpool shirt at Dean Court.

Coming into this match, Millwall's attacking players might not frighten AFCB's defence too much but they are well capable of nicking a goal. From midfield the Cherries will have to watch out for Martyn Woolford who scored the goal that separated the two sides in the last game of last season. Scott Malone will be the main target of entertainment for AFCB fans, but I always thought he played with strong ability when he was with the Cherries and his direct dribbling style is a weapon that Millwall will surely use to relieve pressure.

So while Millwall may not have massive striking power they are averaging just over one goal a game. The task will be to ensure that they are gifted with nothing and AFCB will surely be aiming to get back to obtaining a clean sheet here.

Blackpool have been dropping like a stone

The big win against Doncaster last time out for AFCB will only be seen as a turning point if they can back it up with a good performance away at Bloomfield Road. Blackpool have been driving in reverse for several weeks and Barry Ferguson will still be looking for first gear when the Cherries arrive for this seaside clash. Blackpool's defence has been anything but rock solid and the Cherries will fancy their chances of coming away with the points if Blackpool are not on their game.

It was bad enough for Blackpool when Paul Ince went on a non-winning run, but the pressure has continued to mount on Barry Ferguson since he took over in January with the Tangerines just having picked up just three points in their last 10 games and they are now sitting in 19th place, eight points above the relegation spaces. With Charlton having three games in hand it is possible that Blackpool could be even closer to the danger area in coming weeks especially if they slip up against AFCB.

So Blackpool will be playing for their lives on Saturday and the Cherries will have to be aware of the threat and to manage it while looking to put away another Championship side with some talented players. Blackpool may have lost Tom Ince in January but they still have the experienced Ricardo Fuller leading the line, while Michael Chopra is warming the bench. AFCB won't have to face Nathan Tyson though who has been loaned out to Notts County for a month.

Ricardo Fuller is likely to lead the line for Blackpool as he
did when the teams met last at Dean Court.

Such names might have worried this Bournemouth side in the past, but they are a different outfit now. It is exciting for them to go away to such ground and to get a result. Watford beat Blackpool 4-0 last weekend and the onus for Ferguson will be firstly to try and keep a clean sheet against a Bournemouth side that have found their cutting edge. He needs some help, so it is no surprise that he has enlisted the services of Eric Black as an advisor.

While Blackpool have earned credible draws against Forest and Ipswich they have been beaten by the likes of Birmingham, Barnsley and Middlesbrough in recent months and that kind of form is spelling danger signs. Only Yeovil, Charlton and Doncaster have scored less goals than Blackpool. Their last win was back in November, some 17 games ago against Sheffield Wednesday! It hasn't been a pleasant time for Blackpool fans and with Barry Ferguson not plying his trade on the pitch I think they are in real danger, despite being only four points behind the Cherries.

It is important though that AFCB play with as much passion and fight as a Blackpool side looking to find their lost form. Nothing is ever given to you and AFCB have to match the opposition in every area before they can try and win the game. UTCIAD!

You can back the team and win by placing a bet on Free Bet Negotiator.

Blackpool Home Form:
LLDDL

AFCB Away Form:
WDLDL

Catch up on the Rival Lines tab to hear John Campbell of Blackpool FC Blog give his thoughts ahead of the Blackpool v AFCB match. Find out what he puts Blackpool's current slide in form down to.

AFCB 1:2 Blackpool: Cherries switch off and Ince sent to stands

Match Report

AFCB 1 v 2 Blackpool

14th September 2013

Attendance: 9446

They don't make flags as big as that in the club shop to sell.

There was something not quite working on Saturday at Dean Court. It was as if someone had plunged the team into darkness at the crucial moments of the game. At first, I thought it was just the scoreboard on the blink, as no minutes were being shown in the first half,  but at least the floodlights were on. Yet, when two moments called for someone to switch the lights on in the minds of AFCB players, when defending set plays, no one did and it would turn out to be a gloomy day for those supporting the Cherries. For full match day gallery click here

The teams are led onto the pitch.

Paul Ince knew where he should be when watching the match, but even he found himself out of position and watching from the stands. He had already seen left back Robinson sent off for two yellows and after what became a bit a bad tempered affair in the second half, Blackpool's manager incurred the wrath of the fourth official. Apparently, there was an incident with Paul Ince around the 80 minute mark, for which Ince later apologised - he was aiming for his own dugout, after Delfouneso missed a great chance to seal the match.

Those white shirts with orange stripes made the
numbers hard to read Blackpool, thanks for that! 

Still, this was the league leaders Bournemouth were playing who had only let in two goals in league games and a two-one defeat could, and perhaps should, have been so much better for the home team. Eddie Howe had only made one change to the previous game's starting line up as Eunan O'Kane came in for Harry Arter in central midfield.
The subs bench was very dissimilar though with the first appearance of Harry Cornick and the return of Josh McQuoid. However, there was no Tokelo Rantie in town. The Cherries will have to wait until Tuesday to see their new South African striker.

Players almost ready to go - team photo first.

First Half
Far from being slow out of the blocks, it was Bournemouth that created the fist chance with Pitman providing an opening minute cross for Grabban to head narrowly wide. Blackpool countered with Barry Ferguson and Tom Ince down the right. Ricardo Fuller took Blackpool's first shot but it rebounded out towards Pitman who sent Fraser tearing up the pitch, before he ran into a brick wall of tangerine defenders!

Blackpool were going to take the fight to Bournemouth from the off and while a free kick Ferguson took was met by Fuller, Ward managed to put the ball out near the family stand near the corner flag. Danger averted we thought! Well, not quite. From the deep throw the ball was lobbed in to the box and everyone went up for the first header. The ball bounced and found its way straight through to Ricardo Fuller who, unmarked, stooped low on the penalty spot to nod home the first goal. 0:1 to the visitors and just 7 minutes gone.

Blackpool's tails were up and Neil Bishop was next to have a shot which looped up from the edge of the box into Allsop's hands. Daniles was making a break up the left wing but overran the ball. Moments later Fuller and Ward tangled with them both ending up on the floor in what was already becoming a central battle of the match. 

AFCB got back in the game when a throw from the left wing was headed on by Ward to Grabban, who fired home into the bottom of the net after 12 minutes - 1:1. Grabban had taken his goal tally to five for the season as he pounced quicker than the defenders around him near the penalty spot to hit his shot low and hard past the keeper.

The goal unsettled Balckpool and Gary Mackenzie showed his nervousness with a short back pass but got away with it. Pitman almost broke the Blackpool back line himself, but did a cheeky little back heel which Grabban latched onto on the edge of the box. Lewis' shot on 15 minutes took a deflection though and went over for a corner. Francis put in a deep cross from the resulting corner and Pitman fired the ball back into the box but wide of the goal. The home fans gasped - it was a near miss.

Fraser was being his tricky, quick self, but not quite getting the run of the ball. Tom Ince had started to assert himself on the game and on the right wing he was finding some space. His ball in found Ricardo Fuller who headed wide on 18 minutes.

A minute later AFCB won a free kick for a foul on Grabban and Daniels delivery fell to Ward who took a powerful shot, but it rebounded out off a defender and Pugh's cross was caught by the Blackpool keeper.

Tom Ince was creating problems by running at players and he was linking up with Robinson on the right. O'Kane was AFCB's player in the middle of the park who was trying to be king maker, setting Fraser on his way a lot of the time. Pugh had us all amazed at his spinning turn, but he wasn't getting much time on the ball.

It was Tom Ince and Ricardo Fuller that were dictating things, while MacDonald was scrapping at their heels and O'Kane kept trying to feed Pitman, Fraser and Grabban. An important yellow card was shown to Robinson for a foul on Fraser on the edge of the box on 28 minutes. While Daniels shot hit the wall, the yellow card would be bad news for Blackpool in the second half.

Francis and Fraser started to combine some more with Fraser cutting in from the right to hit a low shot that Gilks saved easily.

Blackpool were still creating plenty of chances with Osbourne and Basham on the right wing trying to work a shot and when the cross did come over, Bishop put the chance over. But if that was not close enough, AFCB gave the ball away around the half way line and Fuller sent a pass away to Ince who was left almost to run in on goal, running at pace towards the right side of the box, while Cook and Daniels scrambled back well enough to see Ince's shot come off  the post. Blackpool should have been ahead.

Blackpool were well in charge now and Cook was hurling himself into challenges with Fuller only to lose his boot. Bournemouth tried to hold possession with Pitman and Grabban, but before you knew it Blackpool were coming back with Osbourne shooting well over.

The shape of things to come were seen on 43 minutes when Fuller whacked ward in the face and Elliott fell to ground. It had been a fierce contest but fair. Now things were starting to get more nasty as the ref was letting a lot of the fouling go. So 1:1 at half time.

Blackpool fans

Second Half
The second period started in just the way Eddie Howe would not of liked. It is not the first time that the team has come out in the second half and conceded a goal almost straight away. This time it was a basic corner towards the near post, which Neil Bishop met by running across the Bournemouth defender (possibly MacDonald) to head past Allsop and O'Kane on the post. It was 1:2 to Blackpool after 47 minutes on the clock, which had miraculously decided to start working in the second half, unlike our defenders! 

Blackpool made a sub on 52 minutes with Basham being replaced by new signing Bradley Orr. AFCB won a couple of corners, while Orr's first contribution was to foul Charlie Daniels.

The game changed when Fraser was brought down by Robinson for a second yellow and he then saw red to the sound of  "cherrio" from Bournemouth fans. 56 minutes had gone and for the third home league match the Cherries would play substantial part of the game against 10 men. Tom Ince was also shown a card after arguing with the referee I thought, but it was actually Ferguson.

Paul Ince made a sub on 62 minutes with Martinez being replaced by Delfouneso. AFCB went straight for goal now with Fraser looking like his tangle with a defender in the box should have been a handball, but Blackpool escaped any punishment. Pitman's follow up was a long shot that went wide. Bournemouth threw everything at the visitors with Ward staying up after corners and Cook doing a superb marshalling job on Fuller and Ince with some great last ditch tackles.

Blackpool were already playing for time with Gilks chief culprit and he who was booked after 70 minutes. Pugh then came off for Wes Thomas as Bournemouth looked to press home their one man advantage. While the Cherries had the possession they did not have the cutting edge. Thomas had a good chance from a right wing cross but headed straight over, when he looked favourite to score. Fraser also got into the box, but his shot lacked any power and was easily gathered by Gilks.

Meanwhile, Blackpool took Fuller off to bring on Nathan Tyson on 75 minutes. Tom Ince was still pulling some strings and appeared round the back of AFCB's defence, with Pitman having no idea where the Blackpool midfielder had gone.

Thomas managed to chop down MacKenzie in an uncultured manner which did not earn a card, but a few moments later MacKenzie would go right through the back of Thomas in retaliation. Thomas had a great opportunity to score a few moments later, but had his shot was deflected after some good work by Fraser.

The last 10 minutes of normal play were pretty frantic. Cook made a mess of a pass and let in Delfouneso one-on-one with Allsop, but the Blackpool player fired well wide. Moments later, the game stopped as Paul Ince was sent to the stand - and to think I was searched for bottles before I entered the ground - perhaps they need to check managers too?

While Bournemouth tried everything they could, you got the feeling that Blackpool's professional job of stopping the Cherries was going to see them through. Grabban had a couple of chances, Daniels was knocked over in the box but nothing was going to be given for the Cherries.

While Tom Ince had the ball in the back of the net with a few minutes to go, he was ruled offside and it didn't count. With five minutes of extra time the home crowd did what it could to help get the goal the team deserved and while Pitman had the ball in the net after a late charge, the assistant referee put his flag up for offside.

Game over - not used to seeing Cherries lose!

Summary
There were times in this game when AFCB played some entertaining and fast football but it was mainly in the first half. When they had the man advantage the ball wasn't moving around quickly enough and Blackpool were masters of holding things up and stopping any momentum the Cherries tried to build. 

Blackpool fans celebrate.

While some creative wizardry was required for the final pass, which a Harry Arter may have found, if he had been on the pitch or a moment of forward genius play, which Tokelo Rantie may provide in future, what will hurt Eddie Howe is the manner of the two goals that Blackpool scored. Bournemouth switched off for two moments and in those two instances, the seasiders from Lancashire punished the Cherries by taking their chances. And while the Cherries home winning run has ended, many will have gone home thinking Bournemouth were much the better side.

AFCB
Allsop, Francis, Cook, Ward, Daniels, Fraser, O'Kane, MacDonald, Pugh (Thomas 71), Grabban and Pitman

AFCB Subs
Flahavan, Elphick, Harte, McQuoid, Thomas, Hughes, Cornick

Blackpool
Gilks, Robinson, MacKenzie, Broadfoot, Basham (52 Orr), Ince, Bishop, Ferguson, Osbourne, Martinez (62 Delfouneso), Fuller (75 Tyson).

Blackpool Subs
Halstead, Orr, Grant, Tyson, Chopra, Delfouneso and Barkhuizen.

AFCB player ratings
Allsop 6, Francis 7, Cook 8, Ward 6, Daniels 8, Fraser 7, O'Kane 7, MacDonald 7, Pugh 6, Grabban 8, Pitman 7.

For full match day gallery click here

Don't underestimate Blackpool

Okay, Blackpool are top of the table. It may only be five games into the season but you have to have played well to be in top spot. The away form of Blackpool is what we should be interested in. They started the season with a comprehensive 1:3 away win at Doncaster, but since then lost to Preston away in the Capital One Cup and drew with Middlesbrough 1:1 away.

Now about that Carling Cup game they had with Preston. On the surface you might not have thought much about a narrow cup exit in a derby match, but it had quite an impact on the team with Tom Ince having to sit out two games and Paul Ince being reprimanded for his after match comments. A pitch invasion had angered Paul Ince, because his players were still on the pitch and there were horrific scenes with a steward being trampled by a police horse. Personally, I would say Paul Ince was only concerned for the safety of his players, but these days you are not allowed to speak out against the authorities. 

The Middlesbrough game could so easily resulted for a win for Blackpool but Emnes late goal really robbed Blackpool of two more points. What we can see is that Blackpool have not been scoring heavily away from home and they don't necessarily need many shots on goal to come away with the points. 

The players that AFCB are going to have to mark tightly include Ricardo Fuller who has seen plenty of top action with Stoke City and probably Tom Barkhuisen, although Michael Chopra will also be in contention for a striker spot having moved over the summer from Ipswich. Blackpool have also bought Nathan Tyson during the last window and he is perhaps likely to play a part in events. Their wild card is certainly Tom Ince who seems to be able to ride through challenges and score from just about anywhere on the pitch. Eddie will have to come up with some plan to keep him quiet, but it will  probably be down to the nearest player to him at the time to try and tackle him before he gets any momentum up. 

The Blackpool Supporters Association previews the AFCB v Blackpool tie and gives its opinion on past and present Blackpool managers and the current players at Blackpool FC who are about to taken on the Cherries this weekend, go to the Rival Lines tab.