AFCB need a big performance against Villa

Villa were trounced 0-4 just like the Cherries in their last game but they will see this as a chance to give their fans some kind of pleasure after a tortuous season. Villa have nothing to lose now so might as well have a go, and that makes then more of a loose cannon and the Cherries have to go into this game almost forgetful of thinking where Villa are in the league and just play the team in front of them.

Villa and Bournemouth go head to head again.

Aston Villa are not a team that has wowed their fans this season but they still have some players that should be doing better and it will be a nightmare if they decide to save their best for the Cherries' visit. Following their last game against Chelsea, their fans might not expect a reaction, but Eric Black who has stepped in as caretaker manager is bound to remind the players that they are playing for the badge on their shirts and that they owe the fans more than they are giving at present. 

Players like Carles Gil, Jordan Ayew and Rudy Gestede are capable of getting goals and they could only be one game away from changing their stats of two home wins all season and one win in their last 10. The problem is that Villa's fans have had enough and you can't blame them. Playing while seeing signs of 'Proud history, what future?' is hardly going to be inspiring for the players to look up to and the Cherries best game plan is surely to keep in control of the ball and let the discontent grow until they can find a way to goal like they did up at Newcastle Utd.

Playing teams down the bottom comes with its own difficulties. Even Leicester City only managed a draw at Villa Park so there are no guarantees, but the Cherries need to get something from the game for their own well being which is being severely tested after back to back defeats. See you there UTCIAD!

Raise money 4Louis
Please try and bid for the AFC Bournemouth official merchandise on ebay to help the charity 4Louis. The auctions end on 18 April. There are lots of items to bid for and they are in memory of Renee, the daughter of Harry Arter and his partner Rachel.

First goal is likely to decide Villa match

You'd have to say that on recent evidence the first goal is likely to be central to where the points will be going on Saturday for AFCB. Against Stoke, Spurs and Man City the early goals against the Cherries have seen disappointing performances follow and it is important for AFCB's confidence to get off to a flyer if they can.

The opening day of the 2015-16 season and Aston Villa got a win at Dean Court.
We've had to wait but now the Cherries can go and try and get the result they wanted back in August. 

Getting that quick start will be something that will surely be a key focus this week in training. The players need to feel that they are going out to beat a side that is awaiting the Championship and that just need a firm hand to be pushed over the edge now. AFCB will want to hit them hard with pace and power on the flanks and look to serve their strikers to get ahead early. 

There is no secret to playing well for AFCB, it's just starting at the right tempo and energy and making Villa worry about what the Cherries are doing more than anything else. As long as Villa are on the back foot there is every reason to believe that AFCB can add to their away wins this season. There have been games where the Cherries have been caught even when they have got the first goal but I do believe that the Cherries almost need a goal just to get them playing positively and stretching teams. 

It is a balance though and Edie will also want to see the side doing some of the basic parts of the game better than they have of late especially at set pieces. Villa have height in Gestede as we know all to well and the fact that Villa have beaten the Cherries once means the Cherries have to go and win this game and can't expect it just to fall their way.


So while the first goal will be important, I'm hedging my bets and predicting a 1-1 draw. Tomorrow you can send in your score predictions for the game. It will be the last prize giving score prediction for this season!

Pray that Skrtel and Benteke have an off day

The heading power of Liverpool's team is something that I am sure Eddie Howe will have warned his players about. Having let in a bit of a soft goal for Rudy Gestede from a corner the news that Liverpool are next up should be ringing alarm bells in the southern team's defensive quarters because the Reds are a team that don't just play it on the floor and do have a couple of players who are strong headers of the ball.

Skrtel is always a danger from set pieces. 

I'm talking about Martin Skrtel and Christian Benteke. Both defender and striker have been renowned for scoring from corners, and if AFCB needed to test that they have their starting positions and marking procedures up to scratch they won't be disappointed by a visit to Anfield. Yes, Liverpool prefer to play fast paced passing football just like the Cherries but they are also a team that will adapt to whatever weak point they can see in the opposition, and it is likely that we will see quite a few balls flung into the seasider's box to test their defensive qualities on a floodlit night on Merseyside.

For that reason I have an inkling that Eddie Howe may make a couple of changes to the Premier League new boy's starting line up. While the centre back pairing of Elphick and Cook started against Aston Villa there could be good reason to bring in Sylvan Distin ahead of Steve Cook for this match. The extra height and the leadership might be too hard for the manager to ignore on a night when Liverpool will be expected to take the game to the Cherries. What is clear is that the back four and keeper will have to have a tremendous game and they should see that as a challenge and an enjoyable one to aim for a clean sheet.

Does Distin have to come into the team?

The speed and power of the Premier League players has been noted and something that has given AFCB players more motivation to train harder than ever in pre-season. The header of Rudy Gestede that gave Aston Villa their victory over the Cherries is an indication that at times there is need to have a stronger physical presence and it is judging in which games where that is going to be needed is something that Eddie Howe will be mindful of.

It is the midfield though where I believe most Premier League teams will look to over power their opponents. the options for Howe in this central area are reduced slightly with Arter being out but he'll have to see what is needed to ensure the Cherries are not overrun. Against Villa the possession was in AFCB's favour but not to the extent that AFCB were so dominant that Tim Sherwood's side looked like they were being out-gunned. In Micah Richards and Ciaran Clark, Villa had a lot of experience in holding off AFCB's threats and getting the better of them proved too difficult this time.

Is Distin about to come in for the Liverpool game?

The size of Bournemouth's squad is not that large even with the new additions that have been brought in over the summer. Speed and trickery have been more favoured by Howe in the main. But the AFCB defence looked strong and were not dominated which bodes well going forward. If Liverpool field Christian Benteke though they will have even more of a physical test at Anfield and that may signal a reason to bring in Sylvain Distin for this match.

In other news I see that Steve Fletcher has a big smile on his face having seen AFCB draw Hartlepool Utd away in the Capital One Cup. Look out for my next article on Shoot's blog pages as later today.

Villas's Gestede spoils Cherries' Premier League debut 0-1

Match Report

8 August 2015

AFCB 0 v 1 Aston Villa

Attendance: 11, 155 (inc 1500 Villa fans)

Feel the heat - AFCB kick off their first Premier league season.

You couldn't have wished for a more glorious day on the south coast to start a new Premier League campaign and AFC Bournemouth had much to be proud about. If it wasn't the sunshine that made you smile, then home supporters were visibly pleased to see new signings Tyrone Mings, Max Gradel, Adam Federici, Sylvain Distin and Josh King warming up before kick off when the fun really started with 12ft flames spiralling into the sky to welcome in the big day at the Vitality stadium. Sadly Aston Villa's Rudy Gestede's 72nd minute headed goal was all that split the teams over the 90 minutes, and it would be the taste of Premier League defeat that would play on the minds of home fans at the end of the day.

Aston Villa just before kick off.

AFCB in their new kits.

More pictures on the day will be on Match Day Gallery. 

We have managed to salvage a bit of footage from 
the interview with two AFC Bournemouth fans pre-match,
 but there is a lot of background interference

Eddie Howe picked was very loyal to those who had helped AFCB win promotion last season with only Josh King and Artur Boruc of the summer signings making the starting 11. Yann Kermorgant was among the substitutes as a result of King making the team, and Dan Gosling filled in the centre midfield role where we are most accustomed to seeing Harry Arter, who is still out injured. Meanwhile, Aston Villa started with five new signings which gave the home crowd good reason to perhaps feel some optimism that it could the the Premier League new boys day.

While the scoreboard took on an intriguing pink glow as if shocked that the Cherries were really starting a game in the top flight, there was nothing embarrassing about the action on the pitch. The first half was a tight affair with both teams pressing high up the pitch and AFCB playing with conviction, giving everyone a touch of the ball. Early possession was lost by Dan Gosling a couple of times, and even though Josh King had an opportunity to shoot, we were still waiting for a clear-cut chance after 15 minutes. Pugh almost got on the end of a Francis cross but headed it high and wide. Jordan Veretout picked up the first yellow card, having said something to Mark Calttenburg, after the referee had awarded AFCB a free kick for Ciaran Clark's foul on Andrew Surman. There was plenty of pace in the Cherries' attacks with Wilson and Ritchie, but not a lot of quality in the finishing. When Villa did get a break, Idrassa Gueye was just as wasteful in front of goal. 

With half an hour gone it was Steve Cook that was making penetrating passes who found Josh King and then Matt Ritchie in space, before Surman hit a powerful shot wide to awaken the crowd. The best Bournemouth move of the first half followed though when Surman and Pugh made space in the box and Dan Gosling hit a shot over, but was perhaps pleased to see that he was offside anyway. He made up for that with a great tackle that sent Wilson on his way moments later and, but for Guzon's skill at blocking the shot with his feet, the Cherries would have scored at that moment. 

But when Cook put the breaks on Gabriel Agbonlahor's galloping run, moments later, Clattenberg went straight to his book and Villa had a great free kick chance to test Boroc, Luckily Leonardo Bacuna blasted his effort straight into the wall. Meanwhile, Boroc was looking imperious in goal as he came to catch a Villa cross and simply plucked it out of the air.

AFCB were not getting many shots off though and when they did they were a bit wild with King perhaps guilty of not playing Pugh in when he shot over. Ritchie was showing his class with some brilliant pieces of control and it was no surprise that Ciaran Clark caught him late and was given a yellow. A great chance followed with Pugh blazing right at Guzon in the Villa goal just before half time.

All square at half time.

Chimes' Fancam:  Judy and Andy give their pre-match views on
 Aston Villa's likely lineup.(background noise is high)

Second half
Tim Sherwood's words must have hit home at half time as Villa came out like they were a different team. Within a few minutes Scott Sinclair had the best opportunity of the game when he found himself on the end of a cross with most of the goal to aim at, but Borus pulled off an incredible save! As Josh King was withdrawn on 53 minutes, Yann Kermorgant was introduced. It was Villa that were in control though and two minutes later the tall Rudy Gestede came on for Jordan Ayew. 

AFCB were still trying to get Wilson in behind but Bacuna was able to keep him out. Yann Kermorgant was sadly looking off the pace though. 

A let off for AFCB came when Gestede volleyed wide in the box, but the warning was certainly there. Pugh was withdrawn for Max Gradel to make his debut on 68 minutes. He immediately beat his man on the left and chipped in a cross that Wilson headed back across goal only for Clark to head clear off the line.

Villa subbed Veretout and brought on Carlos Sanchez on 71 minutes and within a minute a corner from Westwood had been headed in by Rudy Gestede! It was a shock to the home fans, but a bit of quality finishing that sent the Villa fans into raptures of delight.

Bacanu then charged Gradel and was given a yellow card from the restart. Why he decided to do that I have no idea. Wilson then won a free kick over on the right and the yellow card for Gueye gave the Cherries a chance to try an intricate free kick routine that saw Kermorgant slip down the blindside and cross. That ball was headed out before Surman hit his volley over.

It was Villa's game to hang on to now and with Scott Sinclair removed for Kieran Richardson, Sherwood was looking to close the game out. With 10 minutes to go Gosling picked up a yellow card, it hadn't been his day. Ritchie was still looking like AFCB's best hope of doing something special but he did not have his shooting boots on him as he flashed his shot wide. O'Kane replaced Gosling with six minutes left and with five extra minutes AFCB fans hoped for a reprieve. The closest they came was to see a Francis run unleash a cross into the six yard box, but a corner was their only reward. It ended 0-1, a first game defeat for the Cherries.

No win this time for the Cherries.

First game escapes Cherries, but the team put up a good show.

Summary
It's is easy to get despondent when your team doesn't win, but this was a learning experience as the whole season will be. The positives were that Artur Boruc had nothing to do in the first half and was only beaten once in the second 45 minute period. The back four that were untried as a unit in the Premier League did well. Ritchie looked Premier League class with his touches and ability to find space. King also appeared comfortable at this level and Gradel added sparkle to the attack. In fact the whole team applied the usual attacking Howe style to this game and created chances just as they had done in the Championship. The problems are clearly the marking for set pieces, which will be disappointing for Eddie Howe and the lack of clinical finishing. A moment when Villa switched on and the Cherries switched off was the difference and that is simply a lesson that must be learnt very quickly.

AFCB
Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Ritchie, Gosling (O'Kane 84), Surman, Pugh (Gradel 69), King (Kermorgant 53), Wilson

AFCB Subs
Gradel, Mings, Smith, Kermorgant, Federici, Distin, O'Kane

AFCB Ratings Boruc 5, Francis 5, Elphick 6, Cook 5, Daniels 5, Ritchie 7, Gosling 4, Surman 5, Pugh 5, King 6, Wilson 5

Aston Villa
Guzan, Bacuna, Richards, Clark, Amavi, Veretout (Sánchez 71), Gueye, Westwood, Ayew (Gestede 59), Agbonlahor, Sinclair (Richardson 78)

Aston Villa Subs
Baker, Cole, Richardson, Hutton, Sánchez, Bunn, Gestede

Referee watch: Mark Clattenberg 5/10 - the foul count was rather high in a game that was not played in a bad spirit, but we know how refs like to stop the game.

How strong is Tim's newly rebuilt Villa?

There have been a lot of changes at Aston Villa over the summer, not least the departures of former captain Fabien Delph, lead striker Christian Benteke, midfielder Tom Cleverly, Andreas Weimann and the experienced Shay Given. It's been difficult for Tim Sherwood and after the FA Cup Final and the poor end of the season that the club had he'll be desperate to prove that he is the man to bring stability and then success to Villa. New signings have been made that are thought to exceed an outlay of £45 million, but are Villa really a better side than the Cherries fast in the fourth round of the FA Cup last season?

Aston Villa will have a very different looking team to when they last met the Cherries.

Well, they certainly should be. While Delph's leadership and midfield gile have been lost it will be a race to try and integrate the new summer signings with much reliance on the foreign signings of Idrissa Gueye from Lille, along with Jordan Veretout from Nantes, Jose Angel Crespo from Cordoba and Jordan Amivi from Nice. If these players click in the Premier League Sherwood will be rewarded with vision and praise, but the signing that he has made that I believe will lift their team is midfielder Scott Sinclair who was long lost at Man City but may have found the perfect home at Villa Park. Sinclair signed in May having been on loan at Villa and he is in good form too having smashed a hat-trick in the Villa's last pre-season game at the City ground against Nottingham Forest.

Pre-season has been a little uneventful with Sherwood looking how best to integrate new signings into his side. Draws against Walsall (1-1), Wolves (2-2) and Nottingham Forest (3-3), and an early 3-1 defeat to Fulham, might not have given Villa the winning feeling but playing against Championship and League One sides in pre-season is perhaps a good grounding for the newly signed foreign players who'll have to come to terms with the pace of the English game fairly quickly. Sherwood has a squad that still has some recognisable names but it's not known how much playing time he'll give to the likes of Joe Cole, Philippe Senderos and Gabriel Agbonlahor. His jewels though are the flare players like Jack Grealish and Carles Gils, but he'll want more from them and the likes of Charles Nzogbia, Ashley Westwood, Carlos Sanchez and Ciaran Clark.

Sherwood has not added that many British-based players, but big things will be expected for former Blackburn striker Rudy Gestede. The Benin player is 26 and has signed for four years and he had been linked with Watford and Norwich before deciding on Villa. Mark Bunn has also signed from newly-promoted Norwich. Micah Richards will know all about the Premier League but he has been playing in Italy so it will be interesting to see how much he has improved since his Man City days. Perhaps there are enough funds to bring in Emmanuel Adebayor from Spurs as well? There was a time when Villa would bring in the top Premier League strikers such as Darren Bent, but perhaps sights have had to be set lower now.

Behind the scenes there is still talk of a takeover as Randy Lerner seeks an exit deal. This has been the unsettling influence that could still spell disaster if the club cannot sort out the direction it is going in. While the sales of Benteke and Delph have allowed the strengthening of the team, it is a test of Sherwood's eye as to how well he has bought. By bringing in Ray Wilkins to the coaching staff, Tim is getting help from a well respected pro. One thing's for sure, he could have hoped for a less charged first game against the newly-promoted Champions on the south coast.

Injury news for Villa for the game includes the attacking talent of Carles Gils and Jack Grealish who have not trained, Jores Okore has had a knee operation at the end of last season, but keeper Brad Guzan and Carlos Sanchez should be available, while defender Ciaran Clark signed a new five-year deal at the club this week.

If you still want to predict the score for this first game send them in on twitter to @peterbell19

Blackburn's Josh King - a risky signing for the Cherries?

Earlier today, Sky Sports was first to break the news that Josh King was thought to be a target for AFCB having not renewed his contract with Blackburn Rovers. The left-sided winger only made 19 appearances for rovers last season and 11 of those were from the bench. With a total of four goals for the season I suppose that you could say it could have gone better for him last season and AFCB were said to be interested in him last January.

King is an international player for Norway and having come through the Man Utd academy he certainly has pedigree but the presence of Jordan Rhodes and Rudy Gestede have limited his chance of making a bigger impression at Ewood Park. I do remember him scoring a stunning hat-trick in the FA Cup against Stoke City in February when he tore through the middle of the Stoke defence with great speed and power to take Rovers to the quarter finals.

How much of a risk though would it be for the Cherries to bring King into a 25-man Premier League squad? Frankly, I believe Eddie Howe has to take some risks and if King comes on a free transfer, financially it will be a good deal for the Cherries. Ensuring that King is over his injury problems will be key. In January he suffered a hamstring injury, he also missed the league match at Dean Court for the same reason and March he missed the sixth round tie with Liverpool with another hamstring problem. He did get back into the side as a sub for the Huddersfield game in April and Blackburn's last game of the season against Ipswich. While we know he can score against Premier League teams, Howe will need to know if he can give him enough minutes on the pitch.

A change in scenery for the 23-year-old could help his injury problems and get his career back on track. There has to be a reason why he breaks down so often and a change in training methods could help him to overcome some of his problems, but it would be a risk if the Cherries take him on. AFCB would need game time out of King and the medical could well be the most difficult thing in getting him to Dean Court. If King does come to Bournemouth though it would probably kill off any hopes of Demarai Gray coming to the club, but that would be a saving of £5+ million. 

Cherries' late show does not unsettle Steele Rovers 0-0

Match Report

AFCB 0 v 0 Blackburn Rovers

28 February 2015

Attendance: 10, 196

All present and correct. AFCB's players and
fans make it for the delayed kick off at 3.30pm.

Flag bearers at the ready.

This game was perhaps destined to be problematic with a major car crash on the A338 causing a half hour delay to the kick off time. The traffic on the pitch though was mainly headed in one direction and but for Jason Steele the Cherries might have driven home with a few more points.

AFCB have made it pretty hard going of late and getting back to winning ways has been more of a challenge than might have been thought in recent matches. This was another match where the Cherries gave it their all and it was a disciplined performance with plenty of endeavour, but it was a game that lacked that special ingredient to break the deadlock. Marc Pugh came the closes in the first half with a well struck volley that Jason Steele turned around the corner. The second half saw more pressure from the Cherries as Yann Kermorgant was first thwarted by another full length save from Steele and then thundered another header against the bar as the Cherries fought hard to get the three points that they have been missing out on of late. But Blackburn stuck to their defensive shape, routinely banging the ball up to Rudy Gestede and hoping for something the go array at the back for the Cherries. That AFCB kept a clean sheet was progress in my book, but goals are becoming hard to come by at the Goldsands stadium at the moment.

Tommy Elphick gets set to start the hand shakes.

It's a flat pitch - I really don't care which end we kick towards.

There are more pictures on Match Day Gallery.

There was good cause for Eddie Howe to make changes as Harry Arter was back having served his suspension and Yann Kermorgant had made himself available after his difficult week. Charlie Daniels and Marc Pugh came back into the side on the left while Ryan Fraser moved over to the right wing and Matt Ritchie was moved out to the bench along with Adam Smith and Brett Pitman.

Blackburn set up with the sole intention of frustrating and not wanting to concede. They just played Gustede up front on his own and left Jordan Rhodes on the bench.  Flooding the midfield might have worked for them but AFCB's busy players were able to control the early tempo of the game. Marc Pugh was especially enjoying his return and won the first corner after six minutes.  A poor ball from Simon Francis though let Rovers off the hook for a moment before AFCB worked the ball back to Fraser and Wilson before Marc Pugh hit a volley at the far side of Rover's box that was headed for goal but for the flying save of Jason Steele.

The corners kept coming for the Cherries as they took the game to Rovers. Unfortunately, some passes were going astray though with Surman and Rover's Ben Marshall finding it hard to find their team mates.  Harry Arter was making his presence felt against Chris Taylor but his attempts to get Callum Wilson away were less successful as the striker mistimed his run to be offside. Steve Cook had clearly learnt his lesson of making solid clearances and it wasn't long before he put one out over the East stand.

Meanwhile, Simon Francis was doing his own gardening work by leaving a big sandy whole in the pitch after his challenge on Ben Marshall. Callum Wilson was also finding free kicks going against him as he chased and battled with Craig Conway.

Blackburn were containing the Cherries well. Callum Wilson got no freedom and was picking up the offside flags. Francis and Fraser were often having to come inside to keep moves from the right going. It was quite a shock to see Rovers have a shot but Chris Taylor had a go on 19 minutes with his shot pulled wide.

Yann Kermorgant was down more than he was up, but was fighting hard in the centre circle for most of the time. Following a foul on him the ball ended up with Wilson in the box but then sped out wide to where Ryan Fraser came hurtling in and went flying through the air as he tumbled in front of Steele. More corners followed but AFCB were unable to keep the ball well around the box, while Daniels' cross went straight out of play.

Daniels did a bit better on 29 minutes when he ran into the box after a good move between him and Pugh, but Charlie shot straight at Baptiste and the keeper at the near post and had to settle for yet another corner. Blackburn also won a corner after 35 minutes but Matt Kilgallon fouled in the box. AFCB were getting a bit frustrated and Arter tried a long shot that veered wide of the right post. There was a better chance with Callum Wilson on the break but he dallied and before he knew it Rovers got back into place.

Blackburn won another corner off Steve Cook as things got a bit nervy with half time approaching. Blackburn were enjoying some possession and Craig Conway's effort was blocked by Arter. Callum Wilson then fouled Corry Evans and AFCB fans held their breath as the minute of extra time went up, but for once the opposition did not score and it was goalless at half time.

Oh great - no goals!

He is a bit good with football! Half time entertainment.

Second Half

There was no real change in tactics for the second half. Rovers still looked to find Gestede with every out ball and the Cherries tried to find the final pass that would unlock the door to a goal. Marc Pugh started the half by beating Conway and Marshall and putting in a deep cross from the left ,but it evaded everyone with Callum Wilson and Jason Steele ending up in the net, while the ball careered on past with Kilgallon and Makus Olsson in close attendance. If it was frustrating to watch it was frustration that boiled over for Harry Arter and he was the first and only player to receive a yellow card as he caught Chris Taylor, who had already moaned at the referee in the first half about Harry's tackling. This time the referee wasn't going to let Harry off.

Alex Baptiste was seeing more and more of the ball as AFCB applied the pressure but he was looking very solid at the back for Rovers and was reading the game well making interceptions and winning headers. Alongside him Matt Kilgallon was doing a great job of marking Callum Wilson.

AFCB tried to change things on 56 minutes when Marc Pugh went down to get some attention for his ankle. He got up okay but Eddie Howe decided it was time for a change and he replaced Pugh with Matt Ritchie.  The Cherries were still mainly aiming to get Wilson in but most of the passes were too long and Steele was always covering as an extra sweeper.

Blackburn almost became a bit more adventurous when Corry Evans had a shot from distance but it was well wide.Ryan Fraser had been pinned with long passes all game and he managed to make some excellent chest downs and headers just to keep the ball in play at times. He also had a faint chance of scoring when on the left hand edge of the box but he hit a weak shot straight at the keeper. Things were summed up when Charlie Daniels then thundered down the wing only to hit row z in the North stand with his cross!

The corner routines were not coming off this game for AFCB and Rovers were starting to see a bit more of the ball, which might not have been too worrying until Gary Bowyer decided that Jordan Rhodes should replace Chris Taylor on 73 minutes. Jay Spearing was also subbed for Lee Williamson. 

However, it was the Cherries that were pushing for the win and Yann Kermorgant almost provided the break through when he leaped well in the box and met the ball well from a Charlie Daniels' cross, beating Olssonand Kilgallon in the air,  only for Jason Steele to make another great save to his left on 75 minutes. Blackburn still tried the odd long shot with Ben Marshall having a final go before he was subbed on 79 minutes for Tom Cairney.

The last 20 minutes were going to be tense. Yann Kermorgant had a shot go over before AFCB won a corner off of  Gestede.  It was the moment to get up off of your seat as Kermorgant had a shot blocked and from a resultant throw the ball was crossed back in by Francis to the far side and Yann Kermorgant out leaped Baptiste and crashed his header against the bar with the keeper well beaten! It just wouldn't go in.

Tokelo Rantie had been waiting for a few minutes to get the green light to come on and he replaced Callum Wilson with just six minutes to go. He was keen to impress and somehow managed to get a low cross in when pinned in the right corner of Rover's half but Steele was quickly out to stop and AFCB player from latching onto the ball. The Game was there to be won and Harry Arter did his best to do that by making a sharp turn from a throw and striking a fabulous shot across goal that had Jason Steele again at full stretch.

Rovers had one good opportunity with Tom Cairney at the very end, but he set himself only to shoot wide from about 22 yards out. There were five minutes of added on time when Rovers won a corner, but the Cherries soon cleared and in the last minute or two Callum Wilson went down on the corner of the box, perhaps a little too easily and shouts for a penalty were waved away and it was just to be a point shared in what was AFCB's first goalless stalemate at home of the season.

That'll be a draw then.

Anyone happy with a point?

No goals today.

Eddie heads towards the officials.

Harry Arter has a word with the officials. Sorry about my yellow card
 - well, okay he might just have said something else.

Summary

The Cherries will be pleased to see the back of February. Blackburn might not have put all their weapons on the pitch straight away or for long enough to win the match, but they were not going to roll over easily. They had not won away since September and getting a point was perhaps their main objective, if they felt the play-offs are now beyond them and they need to use some games against passing teams like AFCB to prepare for their FA Cup quarter final against Liverpool. 

For AFCB it was more of a point gained than two points lost I felt as other results were pretty good on the day for the Cherries and for once they had kept a clean sheet. It is a starting point from which they can grow again and as a first step it was a performance that is going the right direction. The Cherries had been told to make better decisions in their last game, especially in the last 10 minutes and if hitting the bar and making the opposition's keeper make a great save to share the points is not good enough, then it just wasn't the Cherries day. You could say, the late show just didn't quite happen for the Cherries.

Tommy looks to put another ball over the east stand - naughty!

Let's try again on Tuesday.

AFCB

Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels, Fraser, Surman, Arter, Pugh (Ritchie 56), Kermorgant, Wilson (Rantie 84)

AFCB Subs

Camp, Rantie, Pitman, Smith, MacDonald, Ward, Ritchie

AFCB ratings

Boruc 5, Francis 6, Elphick 6, Cook 7, Daniels 6, Fraser 7, Surman 6, Arter 6, Pugh 6, 

Kermorgant 8, Wilson 7 

Blackburn Rovers

Steele, Henley, Baptiste, Kilgallon, Olsson, Taylor (Rhodes 73), Spearing (Williamson 73), Evans, Conway, Marshall (Cairney 79), Gestede

Rovers Subs

Spurr, Dunn, Brown, Cairney, Rhodes, Eastwood, Williamson

Referee Watch: Simon Hoper 5/10

Cherry Chimes March Newsletter - out today!I release the Cherry Chimes March Newsletter today which picks over the top stories from the blog this past February. 

You can read extra posts there entitled 'Oh no! reality check' and 'Money, money, money' which asks is that what AFCB's success has been really down to.

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Why can't Blackburn convert cup form to the league?

Gary Bowyer must be wondering what he has to do to get his side playing as well in the league as they are doing in the FA Cup. I am sure the Blackburn fans want to go as far as they can in the cup, but sitting in 10th in the league means they have lots of work to do if they are to challenge for a play-off place now. 

Even a gap of 15 points can be cut back and last season Blackburn Rovers put in a good run towards the end of the season, but it would be a major shock if they do that again, especially as their recent away form has not been encouraging. They have not won away in the league since beating Nottingham Forest at the end of October. It's a different story when they play at home and in the FA Cup, but that is not going to get them a play-off spot.

Hopefully Rovers won't bring their cup form to Dean Court.

If Blackburn are to challenge they have to beat the top sides and they had the perfect opportunity to start that in midweek when they met Norwich City, but they lost the game. AFCB will be another game where they will need to try and take points off a team that is above them. They'll need Rudy Gestede and Jordan Rhodes to keep putting away their chances, but it has been the two strikers who have kept Rovers from falling further behind in the race for a top six finish. Some other Blackburn players are going to have to start finding the net if they are to really push on now.

A few injuries to Ben Marshall, Chris Taylor and Corry Evans have not been helpful, but everyone is getting injuries to their team. One player that will be keen to get game time is Tommy Spurr who only made his first start of the season against Blackpool last weekend, but he did not feature against Norwich in mid-week.

The cup run could be taking more out of Rovers than is good for them of course. With Jay Spearing, Tom Cairney and Grant Hanley in their side there is plenty of fight and experience, but succeeding in cup and league campaigns is going to be very demanding for them. In some ways the match they face against AFCB will be a good prelude to the Liverpool cup match. Their players will be playing for their shirt in that game so the Cherries should be aware that Rovers are going to be doing everything to improve their away record, because they can't afford to lose any more ground on the top six in the Championship.

It seems that set-pieces have been causing them problems of late and perhaps the Cherries can cause them problems with their corners. But beating Rovers will be a difficult task and AFCB must make the most of home advantage, which they couldn't do against Derby and Huddersfield.

Send in more score predictions for the match and I'll post them up on Cherry Chimes.

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.

Match Preview: Cherry Chimes talks to the RoverStan blog

Match Preview
Blackburn Rovers V AFCB
Blogger Interview - RoverStan

Cherry Chimes speaks with RoverStan of the RoverStan blog who has some optimism now that Gary Bowyer is bringing some stability to goings on at Ewood Park. Blackburn did not have to play on Saturday, so they played on Sunday when they just fell short against their arch rivals Burnley, but they have also had a heavier defeat to Bolton as well. Please note that the questions were set before the Burnley game when RoverStan did not know the result. I get the feeling that they might prefer to play a southern team this week. So how does RoverStan think Blackburn Rovers will do against the Cherries?

CC: Are you surprised at how Gary Bowyer has started to turn things around so quickly at Blackburn Rovers?

RS: No, not at all. Gary Bowyer proved last season during two spells as caretaker manager that he was capable of steadying the club and saving us from free fall to Division 1. It was with some relief that he took the position full time at the end of the season. He has previously worked with many of the current squad and they seem to want to play for him.

CC: What happened against Bolton the other week?

RS: A previously settled back four was upset by an injury to captain Grant Hanley which prevented him starting the game. Then Matt Kilgallon went off injured. Rovers have been down to the bare bones in recent weeks in that department following Scott Dann’s departure to Crystal Palace. This resulted in players having to play out of position, leaving Robinson exposed at the back. Bowyer has now moved quickly to bring in young centre-back Michael Keane from Manchester United on loan until the end of the season, so expect a much tighter unit to face The Cherries in mid-week.

CC: Which game do you think was the catalyst to the team's recent good form if we discount the Bolton match?

RS: Rather than single out any one game I would say it has been a gradual improvement over the season as the younger players and new signings get to know each other. Gary Bowyer has had to rebuild the squad to try and comply with Financial Fair Play rules. This has meant shipping out players on Premier League wages and replacing them with a mixture of young players from our own Academy together with promising new signings. The return of the experienced Paul Robinson has also been a major factor.

CC: Which players are really in form for you at the moment?

RS: Rudy Gestede has been in fine form in the last few months. He has allowed Rovers to play a more conventional 4-4-2 by partnering Jordan Rhodes. He is good on the ball and in the air. He’s certainly going to be a handful to play against. Tom Cairney is another one to watch. He is the attacking midfield player that Rovers have needed for so long. He will be trying to make the team against Burnley, following injury, and if he does then his contribution can be a game changer for subsequent games as Rovers try to make the top six.

CC: Have you sneaky feeling that you could make the play-offs?

RS: A win against Bournemouth could put us back in the hunt for a play-off place. You have to keep in mind that this time last season we were looking like relegation candidates so to be comfortable in midfield with a chance of a play-off place is a bit of a luxury this season. I think we could achieve the play-offs but if we did get promoted then there would be an awful lot of work to be done to compete at the higher level.

CC: Paul Robinson is back and you've been getting some clean sheets is that no coincidence?

RS: Jake Kean and Simon Eastwood have both played their part in goal over the last couple of seasons but they are both young and still learning their trade. They have both been guilty of goalkeeping errors and the return of Robinson has given a massive boost to the whole team. He suffered a blood clot on a lung following a knee operation and was out for almost a year. Since his return he has been in magnificent form.

CC: You have the Burnley derby the game before meeting AFCB so would the atmosphere for our night game might depend on how well you have played a few days earlier?

RS: I’m sure the players will be treating the Burnley game as just another 3 points but for supporters it is the game of the season. The crowd will be large and Burnley have sold their allocation of 4500 tickets. Such is the rivalry between the two that the police insist that games between Blackburn and Burnley are all ticket and visiting supporters must travel to the game only by coach. This results in a huge fleet of coaches travelling the 5 miles down the M65 accompanied by police for protection. The game on Sunday will mean that some supporters will not afford to come to the Bournemouth game. If we beat Burnley (sadly Blackburn didn't this time) this may encourage a higher attendance. Typically crowds have been down to around 12,000-13,000, a far cry from the 23,000 we would average in the Premier League.

CC: Do you feel that Blackburn would need to shed more high wage players if you don't make it back up this season?

RS: The high earners have mostly been sold now. The exceptions are Robinson, Etuhu and Rhodes. I think we can expect Rhodes to be subject to offers at the end of the season. The key to keeping him will be our own promotion. He must be worth more than the £8M we paid for him.

CC: What has happened to Jordan Rhodes, can you put your finger on why he has not been finding the net of late?

RS: Expect him to find the net very soon! Injuries to wide men King and Marshall has meant that service into the box has been limited. Jordan is capable of scoring goals without that service and has been unlucky in recent games not to score. That was demonstrated with a magnificent strike at Reading a couple of weeks ago which was brilliantly saved by their keeper. He will find the net very soon.

CC: If Blackburn are to reach the play-offs you'll need to beat teams like Bournemouth at home so do you expect an attacking line up from Bowyer?

RS: He should play a 4-4-2 with a fairly settled team with the only unknowns being how well Hanley, Kilgallon, Cairney and Dunn have recovered from injury.

CC: What will Bournemouth fans make of Ewood Park? And is parking good nearby?

RS: Away supporters are accommodated in the Darwen End of the ground. The stadium was rebuilt on 3 sides around 1991 and visiting supporters should enjoy great facilities in the lower tier behind the goal. Those fans travelling by coach will be dropped off in the car park right outside the Darwen End. If travelling by car then there are some car parks nearby but note that the streets nearest the ground are resident only parking and traffic wardens are very active on match days. You can find paid parking on several industrial estates in Lower Darwen on Branch Road. This will give you easy access back to the M65 motorway. The club shop, The Roverstore, has all the usual club memorabilia and is situated at the opposite end to the Darwen End. There are bars inside the ground or away supporters are welcome in the Fernhurst on Bolton Road, which also has hotel accommodation.

CC: Thank you for your answers RoverStan. We have seen that Mr Rhodes is already starting to score the goals again and I am sure our fans will be interested in Rudy Gestede who we have not heard much about and Michael Keane looks a good prospect as an England U21 international. While Blackburn have been on the end of a couple of defeats I think that makes it a much harder game for the Cherries as 3pts will be seen as a must for Gary Bowyer and his men. If you want to catch up with more opinions from RoverStan please have a look at RoverStanblog which has just been updated with a recent report on his visit to the Madejski stadium where Rovers came away with a good 0-1 win.