Can Ritchie force a starting place for Scotland?

Matt Ritchie is now attracting attention much further afield than on the pitch in England. His recent performances have been recognised to the extent that he has been awarded a Sky Bet Championship Award for being named in the team of the season, made up from Championship teams, and his international recognition for Scotland could be about to hit new heights with an international friendly against Qatar on 5 June in Edinburgh, and also a massive Euro 2016 qualifier against the Republic of Ireland on 13 June at Dublin's Aviva stadium, where he could be lining up against Harry Arter.

Ritchie can be a big hit across the border.

The two matches that Matt has played for Scotland this year were against Gibraltar and Northern Ireland in March and in both games Scotland came out with a victory. So is Matt now going to get the opportunity to see if he can make the right wing position his own in the team? Ritchie played the full 90 minutes against Northern Ireland but it was just a friendly, while against Gibraltar he was substituted for Gordon Greer in the second half which was perhaps disappointing for him, but Gordon Strachan's team was 4-1 at the time and Scotland didn't need to be overly attacking in the second half. James Forrest, 23, who plays for Celtic is probably going to be his main competition for the place in the coming games and Forrest already has nine senior caps to his name.

While Matt has had lots of playing time with Simon Francis at Bournemouth it is going to take him time to get his game flowing as well when he puts on a Scotland shirt. It is a new experience, but an exciting one for him and with players like Ikchi Anya, Darren Fletcher, Jordan Rhodes, Steven Naismith and Shaun Maloney in the team, the Scots are looking like a solid and strong attacking team these days.

The aim for Matt will just be to try and make a few headlines north of the border, so that he can then be involved in the next couple of Euro 2016 qualifiers in September, when Scotland take on Gibraltar and Germany. 

Harry Arter could also be involved in the unofficial friendly at the Aviva stadium when Ireland take on Republic of Ireland, although Harry sat out training the other day with a bruised foot.

While we are talking tournaments you'll find Cherry Chimes preview of the Copa America Competition on Premier Talk. 

Ritchie gets 45 minutes for Scotland

It was a bit of a mixed reaction by Scottish fans on Matt Ritchie's performance in the first 45 minutes against Gibraltar. While he made a great through ball for Shaun Maloney to get on to which led to the initial penalty and gave Scotland the lead, Ritchie did not get on the ball as much as he does for the Cherries and while Scotland were looking shaking at the back at times, he was replaced at half time for another defender - Gordon Greer.

Matt is just getting used to the international scene.

Of course, this was only Matt's second cap and Gordon Strachan is probably aware of what potential Matt has and that AFCB are involved in a massive race for the Championship. For all we know Eddie Howe may have asked that Matt be not asked to play 90 minutes in both matches while he was away with the Scotland squad. Scotland were also 4-1 up at half time and so the points were really in the bag for this game by half time considering Gibraltar had not scored this campaign in any of their other fixtures. 

It was still noticeable that Ritchie was chosen to start ahead of Derby's Johnny Russell both against Northern Ireland and Gibraltar. Strachan clearly was not worried about putting Matt right into the heat of battle with a European Qualifier and while Gibraltar are not the most dangerous of sides, the fact that they scored against Scotland and gave them plenty of problems in the first 20 minutes illustrated that they are not the push over some might have thought.

Matt is hopefully going to return fresh for AFCB.

I did feel Matt did not get on the ball as much as he would have liked and when he did get it he did find the big number nine - Steven Fletcher - quite well with his crosses and if Strachan is looking for a quality crosser of the ball, then Matt should be in his plans going forward. It is not only Matt Ritchie who needs to get to know how Gordon Strachan's team play, Scotland also need to try and give Matt what he needs to get the best out of him. 

We did see Matt have one shot in the first half against Gibraltar but it was tame and right at the keeper. It is may be going to take Matt a bit more time to contribute in a Scotland shirt as well as he does in an AFCB shirt but I was just thankful that he did not pick up an injury and that he can use the experience to add to what he has already learnt in the Championship.

Scotland ran out 6-1 winners against Gibraltar.

AFCB need to repeat last season's win over Wigan

The need for three points at home now is going to be very plain for all to see for AFCB. Having only taken four points from a possible 12 at home, it is not the start that Eddie Howe will have wanted to make. Now the team plays host to a Wigan side that have made a slightly slower start to the Championship and have not won away from home yet. The pressure is truly on for both teams with just one point between them in the table.

Wigan and AFCB last season at Dean Court.

In such circumstances it might not be a bad time to play Wigan, but there team is packed with quality and has players we know only too well. Callum McManaman is a handful on the wing, but came off after 36 minutes against Ipswich with a dead leg and James McClean came on for him. Still, Shaun Maloney is also be the player that has the ability to unlock defences with great ease, so I expect a very hard battle to win the ball in midfield. It is a young Wigan team now though, and Adam Forshaw, who was at Brentford, and William Kvist, who signed from VFB Stuttgart, are who they rely on now. Uwe Rosler is a tactical master as well and he'll be keen to get Wigan winning away and playing as well as they have been at home. 

Marc Antoine-Fortune, Andy Delort and Oriol Riera have not got off to a great start this season up front. Martyn Waghorn and Andey Delrot have also been used as strikers. Grant Holt is also on Wigan's books, having spent some of last season on loan at Aston Villa, but has not played since the 2-1 Capital One Cup win against Burton Albion.

Wigan's players warming up.

Repeating last season's 1-0 home win is not beyond AFCB, but they need to keep their heads against a very strong Wigan side. It is the kind of match that would give the Cherries a tremendous boost and put their season back on track if they can get that win, but to do so Francis and Daniels must win their battles and push Wigan back on the wings.

Try and see if you can make time to listen in to the Jesus was a Wiganer podcast as they have some great commentary as ever on Wigan's recent performance against Ipswich and some not so confident predictions on how their team will do against the Cherries this weekend. 

Wigan Away Form:
LLLD

AFCB Home Form:
WLDL

Referee: Gary Sutton
Assistant Refs: Mark Derrien and Matt Foley
Fourth Official: Colin Lymer

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Another big fish – bring it on!

If Jesus was a Wiganer is any inspiration for this game then come 5 O'Clock one of the teams will be walking on water and the other may well be on thin ice. But have we much reason to be on our guard against the FA Cup holders when they come to grace the pitch at Dean Court. I am wondering when did we last host an FA Cup holder in a match? I don't mean Wigan last season as they hadn't won it then. Where's my stats man?

As you would expect, Wigan have a lot of talented players and it will be difficult to work out where the main threat will come from, but we can probably start off with their new summer signing Grant Holt. I was never confident that Grant would score many goals when he was in the Premiership with Norwich, but he always seemed to pop up with a goal or two – 15 in the first season and 8 last season. He was devastating in the Championship in 2010-11, when Norwich went up and I suppose he feels he can rekindle that kind of display, now that he is back at this level in a strong side. He has already scored this season against Barnsley and, while he is not the most mobile, it is his heading ability that I think will cause our defenders the most nightmares.

You can also look at Wigan's wide men as having great quality. The FA Cup final really showed how good Callum McManaman was as he cut loose at every opportunity during that game. They also have Shaun Maloney who not only produces killer passes but had an excellent midfield goal record when Wigan were in the Premiership. Another midfield maestro is James McCarthy who is currently the subject of some Premiership interest. 

Even on the bench we know how good Mr Jordi Gomez is from last season's FA Cup tie. Did I mention Chris McCann, the signing from Burnley? He'll probably be the chief play maker and one for Arter to keep hounding. Eddie Howe will know all about Chris.

In defence, as well, Wigan has some very accomplished players. They have Scott Carson in goal and Stephen Crainey who signed from Blackpool this summer, and had a spell at the Saints at one time, is at right back. Emmerson Boyce and Gary Caldwell have played in the Premiership. Boyce is one of the longest servants at the Latics and is a popular member of the team with fans.

I could go on and on, Wigan has a talented team. Lots of Scottish players are in there too as well as Owen Coyle. But these are the games our players should be looking forward to - a real test against ex-Premiership players.

By the way, I stumbled across a PWU podcast of Wigan supporters on Wigan Vital and Cherry Chimes kind of got a few mentions (after 20 minutes) which is great. If you want to listen in to their thoughts on AFC Bournemouth ahead of the game try the link.