Birmingham are just as desperate as AFCB for a win

Birmingham City are sitting right above the Championship's relegation zone and maybe feeling they are in with a great chance in this game when look at how Bournemouth have been playing in their last few games. Aitor Karanka would love to get a win over Jonathan Woodgate, who he tutored while at Middlesbrough, and he'll know that a defeat could leave Birmingham in the bottom three. Bournemouth will know that if they can perform to somewhere near their best, this is a game they should win, but a new manager, new signings and a lack of confidence could make lead them to further turmoil.

Will we see a new and revitalised AFCB?

Birmingham have brought in a few new players in January. They picked up Rakeem Harper and Yan Valery on loan, while Keyendrah Symmonds and Sam Cosgrove have signed permanent deals with the Blues. Birmingham have been having trouble scoring goals. Jeremie Bela is top scorer with three, along with Scot Hogan, but Lucas Jutkiewicz could keep his place up front, while Jon Toral could play just in behind the main striker.

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The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth 

- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order

A 0-0 draw against Wycombe Wanderers away in Birmingham's last match might seem like AFCB have nothing to fear. But Bournemouth will be doubting themselves with the run of results that they have had. You have to go back to 16 December to find Birmingham scoring more than one goal in a league match and even then they lost 3-2 to Cardiff City. Their last away win was against Middlesbrough on 16 January, but then you have to go back to 9 December when they got a great 1-2 win over Reading. Yet, if Bournemouth had to pick a side to play next, I think Birmingham would be pretty high up in their wish list as they have only won one of their last 10 games.

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Bournemouth themselves have a couple of injury concerns with Solanke a doubt and Stanislas, who has an ankle problem. It may mean that Shane Long is given a start and Brooks and Danjuma might take up the wing positions if Stanislas is struggling. It seems that Cameron Carter-Vickers was putting himself about in training and he must fancy his chances for replacing Chris Mepham who had a shocking moment last game to give Sheffield Wednesday their opening goal. Midfield could also see a change or two with Ben Pearson perhaps given a start after the flat performance of Wilshere last game when he was subbed at half-time.

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Everybody should start with a clean sheet with a new manager, but I am sure Woodgate will know Bournemouth's main players well enough to ask them for a reaction rather than make too many changes. Tindall couldn't make them perform, what can Woodgate do? We'll have a good idea after this game. He'll boost his chances of becoming permanent manager enormously if he can find what is missing in this Cherries side. Here's hoping, as it seems a long time ago when the Cherries last won a game.

Birmingham City Away Form
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AFCB Home Form
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Previous post on Cherry Chimes - Terry, Vieira, Howe, Lampard - is Woodgate really top choice?

Possible AFCB line-up

AFCB Subs: Dennis, Rico, Mepham, Smith, Billing,

Wilshere, Riquelme, Surridge, Anthony 

Sheffield Wednesday are in the bottom three but it's Bournemouth's form that is dire

Bournemouth will need to find away to get back to winning games. It has been a shocking run of results in January that has put Bournemouth on the verge of falling out of the play-off places having been in an automatic promotion place in December. A change of face and voice may be a help on the training pitches as Graeme Jones' position has been taken up by Jonathan Woodgate.

AFCB desperately need a win - will it come tonight?

Sheffield Wednesday are just the sort of team likely to be a problem for the Cherries. They have already beaten Tindall's team at Hillsbrough back in November 1-0 and the odds of them doing the double should not be that large. The Owls have won three of their last five games losing just one, but their points have come from home matches. On the road they are suffering more than Bournemouth with one point from their last five games.

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Bournemouth in comparison have hit rock-bottom in their form. Even at home they have just picked up one point from their last two games. The goals have also been in short supply with just two goals in their last four league matches. Tindall can't afford to be afraid of making changes now. Bournemouth have been floundering. He has to pick a side that is going to work hard and generate far more chances than of late.

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The Disrupted Season (2019-20) completes the story of Eddie Howe's reign at AFC Bournemouth 

- it's available now for £11.49 as a paperback - visit Amazon to order

It is likely that Ben Pearson will get a debut at some point during the game against Sheffield Wednesday, but Jack Wilshere may be thrown straight in at the start. I'd like to see him paired with Lewis Cook but Tindall may prefer a bit more height in the team, so Lerma will likely be kept in the side. I'm expecting Junior Stanislas to start having scored last game. It's perhaps time for David Brooks to rest for a game. Bournemouth need players that are hungry for a win. I still feel Surridge has been underused and yet I expect it will be just Solanke upfront with two wingers in support. Well, that was my feeling until last night when Shane Long was signed from Southampton on loan.

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What Tindall does at the back is also up for grabs now. I have a feeling that things will stay the same though as the back four in the last game. Steve Cook seems undroppable, but with Mepham and Carter-Vickers available, it is still likely to be Mepham that gets the nod to join the captain. I'd like to see Jack Stacey also start again on the right ahead of Adam Smith. On the left side it has to be Rico and Bournemouth need him to find his crossing form that was once so good.

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Bournemouth's Home Form
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Sheffield Wednesday's Away Form
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Possible AFCB lineup

AFCB Subs: Dennis, Smith, Carter-Vickers, Pearson,
Brooks, Riquelme, Billing, Surridge, Long

In other news, Nnamdi Ofoborh has joined Wycome Wanderers on loan for teh rest of the season. Jack Simpson has joined Rangers on a permanent deal, Josh King has completed his long goodbye by joining Everton for £5m and Shane Long has joined Bournemouth on loan until the summer from Southampton.

Bournemouth are still conceding sloppy goals

Bournemouth did it all the hard way against Southampton. Defensive lapses were very evident and mistakes were acknowledged by Steve Cook after the game, but at least the players knew how to dig themselves out of the hole in this latest game.

Bournemouth are still finding it hard to protect their goal.

I don't believe Howe will have to many fond memories on playing this match back and looking at Southampton's goals and chances early on. Bournemouth were well out of their comfort zone and were hanging on for dear life at times. The ease with which Southampton were finding space with Redmond, Long and Ward-Prowse was alarming and Howe was having to change the shape of the team because the five at the back just wasn't functioning  and tracking the runners.

There is obviously a lot of work to do for Bournemouth's back line ahead of the Tottenham game. The team concedes goals like throwing confetti at the moment. Artur Boruc had moments when he covered himself in glory and then didn't get near Southampton's second and third goals where he might have done better. Still two of the goals went through players legs, which indicates that Aké and Simpson on those occasions didn't get close enough to close down and get the blocks in. It was all a bit frantic and haphazard at the back at times.

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While Bournemouth were lucky to get away with a few chances that Southampton had to score more, the shot count against the Cherries rapidly rose to 22 shot by the end of the match. Boruc was not getting a quiet Saturday afternoon and his protection was pretty threadbare at times.

Bournemouth have to work on their shape like they did for the Man City match for next week and it's imperative that the back four or five get their distances right and track runners much better than they did against Southampton, while the midfielders have to cut down the number of turnovers they are giving away just outside of the box.

It will be fun to beat the Saints

There is only one message that Eddie Howe should need to say to his players coming into this match. Southampton are a good team and will believe this is three points waiting for them - let's give them their hardest game of the season. After all, it's fun to beat the Saints!

Can AFCB be the thorn in the Saint's season?

Bournemouth did not manage a win against the Saints last season despite having a Harry Arter penalty to win the game at St Marys. The home game at Dean Court was more of a battering with Rodriguez returning for the Saints to get a double in a 1-3 away win. At least Rodrigues is not going to be running out this time. But Charlie Austin could be back in the team as well as Manolo Gabbiadini if Southampton have the ambition to really try and take the game away from Bournemouth from the off. Shane Long could be out though with a calf problem.

Southampton may have set up defensively against Man City, but they aren't going to be as worried about facing the Cherries. It was unusual for Oriol Romeu to score the Saint's goal but they did not have many attackers on the pitch. I'm happy that Southampton will come forward more in this game, as that does make it more of a risk for them if they do lose the ball and leave themselves open to counter attacks.

Bournemouth managed to do the counter-attacking well against Huddersfield in the second half with 10-men, so it is mad that the Cherries have struggled to do as well n their next two games. But if they get it right, they could have some fun with the Saints. How good would the players and the fans feel with a win and climbing above the Saints? Eddie has to get across to the players and fans that Bournemouth season starts again here, if they want it to. They can either go back to thinking about a spell in the relegation zone or they can have some fun and take points off of Southampton. It's doesn't have to be a game ruled by fear of losing, it can be just good to go onto the pitch and believe it is your day and that everything is going to come off for you. We need the fans to get right behind the team for this one.

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It doesn't just happen, AFCB will have to work for every ball, every tackle, knockdown and every moment in the game when they can take the advantage and stop Southampton from playing. The players need to feel it is great every time something goes their way and keep believing the next ball will also fall their way. AFCB need some positive thinking and they need to make it happen for themselves, but we'll do our part in the stands because it is fun to beat the Saints, and AFCB have not done that enough!

Steve Cook just loves hitting the back of the net

It has been quite a while since Steve Cook scored against Norwich City earlier in the season. The goal he netted last night though against Southampton could not have been better timed. The pleasing thing was that when the ball came to Cook after Forster had made the initial save he just had one thought in his head and that was to make contact with the ball.

The shot itself was not perhaps that cleanly hit, but importantly it was hit down into the ground and that took it well away from the keeper and right into the corner. The most gratifying sight though was to see Benik Afobe be the first one over to celebrate with Cook having missed out on perhaps having a tap in himself. The knee slide from Cook as well was well mastered.

Steve Cook chips in with his second goal of the season.

It was quite a night for Steve Cook who had to win a lot of the aerial balls that were put into the box. Apart from one early moment when Charlie Austin escaped his attention, he and the back four did a pretty excellent job in getting a second consecutive clean sheet. That was almost stolen away when Saido Mane got through in the last few minutes of the second half, but Artur Boruc waned that clean sheet.

Robbie Savage on BT Sport named Steve Cook the man of the match and it was hard to disagree. To defend against Shane Long, Charlie Austin and then the power of Pelle was really a big step up from the last home performance and Steve Cook was central to most of the good work at the back. The task now is to go and get more clean sheets.

PremierTalk: What a night of football yesterday! Catch up on what it all means. They would all rather have a scrap for fourth place  

All Departments has released its podcast to review the South Coast derby win over Southampton.

The Saints can be beaten - tonight would be handy!

It would have been nice if Southampton had little to play for when they turn up at Dean Court. However, with their first defeat in seven still fresh in their minds and only three points outside the top six, there is every reason for the Saints to do AFCB no favours tonight.

With a positive goal difference of nine and plenty of goals coming from the feet and heads of Shane Long and Charlie Austin, there is an an unease about facing the Saints at the moment. Long is an injury doubt but the Saints have other options and the Cherries are likely to have to be wary of James Ward-Prowse who has shown he is starting to grow at this level, while Dusan Tadic is also worth attention for his ability to pop up with goals. At the back too they are strong with Fraser Forster having just set a club record for not conceding, even though Chelsea got the better of him in the end at the weekend.

Eddie Howe has to find some way of playing positively against the Saints from the start. Their quality in the last third is excellent and the battle for possession in this game could be key as if Southampton get a platform they have the players to find a finish in a snap moment if they are controlling the game. 

Arter made his Premier League debut against Southampton in November.
Can he have more of an impact now on this game?

The Cherries record against Southampton is pretty poor, but that mental block has to be overcome sooner or later. We have not seen many dominant performances from the side at home this season and when they have played well like against Norwich, for example, it was the finishing power of Afobe that mattered. Getting him on the ball and running at goal is going to be important. Gradel (or Pugh) and Ritchie must also take the fight to the Saints. We have seen the Cherries' finishing more than anything costing them points of late and a goal rush now would start to build some momentum which is what the side needs most of all right now.

One win at home in the last five for AFCB is not something that the players can be too pleased about, but they can do something about that tonight. UTCAID!

Possible AFCB team (4-1-3-2)
Boruc (GK), Smith (RD), Francis (CD), Cook (CD), Daniels (LD), Ritchie (RM), Surman (CM), Arter (CM), Gradel (LM), King (FW), Afobe (FW)

Subs
Federici, Elpjick, Distin, Gosling, Iturbe, Pugh, Murray   

Saints Away Form
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AFCB Home Form
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AFCB are set to help raise funs for Wimborne Town on Wednesday with a friendly. Remember The Back of the Net podcast is scheduled for release later today. 

The Cherry Chimes Newsletter is also out today.
Cherry Chimes' March Newsletter brings you the best stories on the blog and the thoughts behind them from last month, plus there is a special Newsletter article entitled: Afobe underlines lower league quality.

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Arter's debut for Ireland lifts dull international friendly

We had to wait 62 minutes before Harry Arter got the signal that all Bournemouth fans wanted to see from Martin O'Neil to enter the fray for Republic of Ireland v England at the Aviva Stadium. Glenn Whelan of Stoke City was withdrawn to make space for Harry in what looked very much like a summer training exercise rather than a full blooded international. All I wanted to see was if Harry would get a chance to swing that majestic left foot on goal.

Ireland are perhaps not the team with an abundance of creative ability and while they posed some problems for England it was a bit of a dull affair in the Dublin sunshine, as end of season friendlies often are. Arter's job was to try and find Shane Long and Jonathan Walters. Harry certainly caught the eye on 73 minutes when he plundered the ball off of Ross Barkley and let fly with his left foot. The shot was only a couple of meters wide. Harry then upset Irish fans by misplacing a pass in the box that could have set Walters in.

Arter get's his first international under his belt.

Still Harry was making things happen as he had all season for AFCB. Trying to get the ball up and near England's box was the difficulty though. Possession had swung in England's favour after numerous second half substitutions. Arter's job had turned into more of a marshaling job in front of the back four. As a whole though, the contest had been fairly even with little work for either keeper.

If O'Neil wants to add some excitement to his team he should start to pick Harry Arter more often as the Irish only managed eight attempts at goal in the 90 minutes, and one of those shots was one of Harry's when Ireland had started to do more defending. Ireland were solid enough against England and they'll need that when they take on Scotland next weekend. Whether Arter has done enough to get a start for that game is perhaps doubtful with a few of Ireland's players coming back to full fitness, but he did not look out of place. The game ended 0-0 and I guess you could have predicted that I suspect after the first 10 minutes of this game.