The Cherries must take their hurt out on Preston

Coming into the English Football League Cup game with Preston having just had one league win, there is much need for the Cherries to reassert their belief that they can control games and start scoring some goals. The third round of a cup competition is not always a routine game though and Preston have already knocked out Oldham and Hartlepool who would both be considered as hard games for AFCB only a few years ago. Last season, Preston proved to be tough opponents, taking the Cherries to a penalty shootout at Deepdale at this stage. 

AFCB should have too much for the Championship side and the Cherries home form is something that is not a massive concern, having seen the side get a win against WBA. Yet, the side will be changed from what we saw on Saturday and there needs to be a reaction.

The pressure will be on Eddie to get his team selection right.

For Preston too it has been a nervy start to 2016/17 and in their last match they were thumped 5-0 by Brentford which is hardly good preparations for going away to a Premier League side. Their best result in the Championship so far is certainly a 0-2 away win at QPR, but whether their influential Aiden McGeady can rally the 'Invincibles' is perhaps a big ask for them considering that they are shipping goals at an alarming rate, just like the Cherries.

Simon Grayson's summer signings include: Republic of Ireland winger Aiden McGeady on loan from Everton. Alex Baptiste in central defence from Middlesbrough, and striker Marnick Vermijl from Sheffield Wednesday. Other signings include the Danish striker, Simon Makienok from Charlton, keeper Chris Maxwell from Fleetwood and Tommy Spurr, a defender from Blackburn Rovers.

The forwards that have been most in form for Preston before the Brentford defeat were Jordan Hugill, Callum Robinson and Eoin Doyle - and all three played against the Bees so we can perhaps expect a change up front. Jermaine Beckford is still at Preston North End and could be involved.

Eddie and Jason have to choose a side that will progress and the choice of who to pick is wide now, but  many of the players who were involved in the last round of the EFL Cup will be charged with the responsibility to clear the hurt of the City result and challenge for  a place in the squad on Saturday.

AFCB possible line up
Federici, Aké, M Wilson, Mings, B Smith, Faser, Gosling, L Cook, Pugh, Grabban, Afobe

Subs
Holmes, Buckly, Lee, Hyndman, Mousset, Gradel, Ndjoli

Preston will try and hit Cherries on the break

Preston have already dispatched of Crewe and Watford in the Capital One Cup and if Eddie Howe had had his pick I'm sure it would not have been an away tie at Deepdale. Still there is sometimes plenty of merit to be put in taking on teams that are going to make a real game of it and AFCB's players need to have some tough examinations if they are to improve and learn as a group. Simon Grayson is an experienced manager and will want to get one over on Eddie Howe for sure. This Capital One tie will not be a simple matter for the Cherries to get through, but we know they can do it.

Joe Bennett could make his debut for AFC Bournemouth.

Preston may have only beaten Watford 1-0 in the last round but Marnick Vermijl's goal was scored as early as the  eighth minute and the Lilywhites held on for a long time for the win, even if they played against 10-men for most of the game. Still they beat a Premier League club albeit a slightly weakened Watford side, but the Cherries will have taken notice of Preston's ability to keep a clean sheet against such an attacking team as the Hornets.

I was interested to see that Preston played Jordan Pickford in goal ahead of Kirkland and perhaps the same choice will be made for this next game. Joe Garner (suspended) and Jermaine Beckford (rulded out) are two strikers that won't now feature for Preston, while Eoin Doyle is also out as he is cup tied. So Grayson will have to provide a changed team without his first choice strikers.

Preston have not started as well as they might in the Championship, but they have had some big teams in Hull, Ipswich and Middlesbrough and a period of adjustment will be needed.

Preston North End's team last time out against Watford in the Capital One Cup:
Pickford, Clarke, Huntington, Wright, Woods, Vermijl, Brownhill, Kilkenny, Browne, Garner, Reid.

Jason Tindall says the AFCB squad will be used for the Preston match.

My predicted AFCB line up for tonight is as follows:
Federici (GK), Smith (RD), Cook (D), Cargill (CD), Bennett (LD), Atsu (RM), O’Kane (CM), MacDonald (CM), Stanislas (LM), Kermorgant (FW) Murray (FW)

Preston MAD shares some Rival Lines

Rival Lines
Preston NE v AFCB
Capital One Cup
Blogger Interview: Preston NE MAD
Twitter @PNEMAD

It's always great to find out what is happening with historic teams and you don't get much bigger than Preston North End. So ahead of the capital One fixture between Preston and AFCB I had a quick chat with Simon Ostiadal who writes on Preston North End MAD. Let's find out how strong the opposition are for this game.

CC: Last season Middlesbrough put Preston out in the second round of the Capital One Cup (sorry to remind you of that) but you got to the fifth round of the FA Cup going out to Man Utd - so Preston take cup competitions pretty seriously would you say?

PNEM: In league one a cup run meant more revenue whether league cup or FA Cup. In fine margins, with fair play, the additional revenue from cup games was a bonus. It also complemented our league form. Whilst changes will be made the match will be taken seriously.

CC: The match against Watford in the second round of the Capital One Cup was a big result as Watford played a strong side, but did you feel confident the way the team was playing before that match?

PNEM: Defensively we have been strong against the better teams being difficult to break down. It means we are always in the game and rarely take a beating. Watford couldn't break us down and we managed to hold on to an early goal lead.

CC: Strikers seem to have been in short supply by Simon Grayson has brought in Steve May and Eoin Doyle with Kevin Davies leaving, but are some of the low goal counts in matches a bit of a worry for Preston?

PNEM: Scoring has been our problem this season against championship and higher sides. We are set up not to lose meaning our goals mainly come on the counter. It hasn't helped with injuries and suspensions meaning we have had to play one up front at times. Hopefully the new boys will assist.

CC: Joe Garner is the striker that was in great form last season with 25 goals - I'm surprised that other teams did not look at him or perhaps they tried last summer. Can he do it again in the Championship? 

PNEM: Garner will find it harder simply because the defences are tougher and more streetwise. He gets frustrated too easily and whilst I think he will score goals when with a partner his tally will be a lot less than last season.

CC: Who are the wingers in the team and do they have a big impact in the way Preston play?

PNEM: We tend to play wing backs at the moment. New boys Vermijl and Cunningham play whilst the out and out wingers Humphrey and Reid only get limited game time. Unfortunately there's no Present day Tom Finney!

CC: What sort of team would you expect Simon Grayson to play against AFC Bournemouth - will he rest many for the Wolves match the following weekend?

PNEM: He will rotate but still at a strong side. September is a busy month with the league programme. The squad is fairly strong.

CC: Kris Kirkland seems to be being kept out of the side so how well is Jordan Pickford playing in goal since his signing from Sunderland - best loan signing of the summer?

PNEM:  The last few seasons we have picked up young keepers on loan - Rudd from Norwich, Johnstone from United and now Pickford. He seems strong on crosses good shot stopper and high on confidence at the moment.

CC: What do you think Preston fans expect from their team after such a big season in 2014/15 - is Championship survival enough in 2015/16 and a good cup run - perhaps Preston are finally getting the hang of play-off having won 1 in 10?

PNEM:  I think a stable season is in order and anything in mid-table to build on for the future would be ideal. There are games we should win but also many tough games in this league.

CC: Thank you for those comments Simon. Please visit Preston North End MAD for more information on how Preston North End have been doing this season. Well, Preston will be looking to bounce back from their weekend defeat at Brentford in the league, but the Cherries can make quite a few changes for this game. I don't think the Cherries will be able to ease up on this game as it would be easy for them to slip up at Deepdale.

Over on the Premier Talk tab we ask - Can the shock results keep coming?