Grabban has done himself and AFCB proud

It's a big day for Lewis Grabban today as Aston Villa take on Fulham in the Play-off final for the Premier League. Lewis Grabban has been quietly going about his work in the Championship. To score 12 goals at Sunderland who have been relegated and then to join Aston Villa and score a further seven goals in the second half of the season, he has proved that he is still a top Championship striker. I wouldn't be surprised if Aston Villa want the Bournemouth striker to stay on whether they go up or not.

I wish Lewis the very best, but I would be even
happier if Fulham win promotion this Saturday - sorry Villa!

In recent days Nottingham Forest have been inked with a move for the striker and under Steve Bruce and Chris Coleman, Grabban has re-found his goal touch. It means that Bournemouth can probably hold out for more or less what they paid for him, when he has bought from Norwich City, and while Grabban has not made his name in the Premier League, sometimes players find their level and have to be content with that.

Lewis had some difficult times and could have messed up his chances when out on loan but he got himself together and did the business. Travelling up to play in Sunderland might not have interested many player after the team was relegated from the Premier League, but he went in there with the right attitude of making a fresh start.

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The Aston Villa move was perhaps even more impressive, as he had to score goals to stay in a team that was seeking promotion. He has not looked out of place and has scored some important goals. Why he was not able to do that at AFCB is a real shame and I was looking back at least season's first game to see that he started against Man United, so it could have been a very different outcome for Grabban, if he had take his second chances at AFCB in 2016-17.

With Villa now in the play-off final in the Championship, AFCB may be hoping that Villa do get promoted and take Grabban, but they may well have the money then to decide they can do even better and leave Grabban to other Championship teams to squabble over.

In other news, Rhoys Wiggins retires after his troubles last couple of years at AFCB.

Sunderland to give Grabban another chance to find form

The Daily Bournemouth Echo has been reporting that Lewis Grabban is set to leave for Sunderland over the last few days and it's not going to be a big surprise to AFCB fans. A loan deal suits the Black Cats, and Eddie Howe will have to see what Grabban can do this time in the Championship to see if he can improve his value come January or next May. 

Lewis Grabban looks to be headed up north.

Grabban signed a 3.5-year contract in January 2016, when he rejoined the Cherries from Norwich for a fee thought to be around £7 million. Coming back to Bournemouth could have been amazing if he had stormed back into the starting line up and scored some goals, but Grabban never seemed to be in contention to make an impact in the side with just three Premier League appearances last season from the bench.

While I thought, last month, that he could be going up north to Scotland, he isn't going to stop far shorter than that at Sunderland, and I think a big location move was certainly on the cards having already had a loan period at relatively near-by Reading. Sunderland are going to be a bit of an unknown quantity under Grayson in the Championship, but they must halt their slide ,and I'm sure many AFCB fans will be keeping just an occasional glimpse at how Grabban is doing on loan.

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This is a new start for Grabban and he really needs to take it now. He might have interested Reading if they had won promotion, but now he has to try and do it again with a new team that has a club pedigree of the Premier League in its history and facilities, so it is a big club for Grabban to play his football for.

If he does well then doors will open for him again and that's really what Grabban needs. There may be too much familiarity about AFCB to do well again at Dean Court, but he has a clean sheet now to go and impress.  

HITC articles

AFCB winger may not be training long in Marbella

Sunderland have been making a lot of noise about acquiring Max Gradel. Simon Grayson is keen o being united with the former Leeds player who Grayson coached before at the Yorkshire club. Now at Sunderland, Grayson believes Gradel would be a good addition to help get the Black Cats back to the Premier League and that could cut Gradel's time short in Spain.

Gradel is being sort after in the transfer market.

The Sunderland Gazette has reported that Gradel would cost Sunderland £3m to buy outright but they are more keen on a loan deal. Grayson wouldn't be pushed on the deal though when questioned by the local paper and instead replied, "You will find I don't give too much away."

Max Gradel has been on the periphery of AFCB's starting 11 since he signed from Saint-Etienne in 2015. A cruciate ligament injury against Leicester City kept in out of the side for much of 2016 and last season he was mainly used as a substitute.

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Having signed Connor Mahoney who played 20 games for Blackburn Rovers last season, AFCB have already added a young winger to the club who could step up as cover for the first if needed so it is likely that AFCB would listen to offers for Gradel now.

The Championship would also seem the place where Max would get a full season of games now and while Sunderland ponder over a move it may well attract attention from other clubs in him. Fulham and Derby have also been linked with the winger. Leeds Unite might also raise their interest having had an association with Max in the past.

Defoe would add some 15 goals or more to AFCB

There has been open coverage on the possibility of Jermain Defoe coming to Bournemouth and the Daily Mail is convinced that Jermain will be offered a three-year deal at 34 for a 85,000 contract at the Cherries. It seems astronomical money for a 34-year-old, but when that comes with a guarantee of 15 goals, and no transfer fee, is it really a move that the Cherries can look away from?

Jermain would make an impact if he joined AFCB.

All the initiations appear to be coming from the Cherries on this story and the press are fairly certain a deal is being done. Defoe as an ex-player is bound to feel some connection with AFCB but is it enough for him to sigh? I would be surprised if many of their Premier League clubs would offer a three tear deal, but you know you are getting quality with Defoe. He hits the target and that is something that has been often missing in the Cherries play.

I can see Defoe running off of King and getting into advanced position to punish teams, but it will not be good news for Callum Wilson or Lys Mousset if AFCB bring in a top- quality striker. AFCB need to add that experience and guile though to push the club on to a higher finish and while Defoe is getting older, his sharpness in front of goal has not diminished and he is always looking to shoot.

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While the signing of a 34-year-old seems a risk for any club, the proof of just how good Jermain is, in a struggling team like Sunderland, is testament to what a good player he is. His 15 goals for Sunderland show just what he can do for a relegated side, but imagine what he could do with the supply from AFCB 's players. It's just, a three-year deal seems a tad excessive. AFCB should look to a one-year deal with possibility to renew, if they are to keep players who come to the club wanting to do their best to see out their careers. AFCB can't reward for past performances. They need someone that can deliver right now, but that is exactly what makes Defoe a viable striking candidate despite know he is comingto the end of his career.

Cherries on the move - three U21's are released by AFCB - Callum Buckley, Jake McCarthy and Matt Neale.

Points against the bottom teams - signs AFCB are learning

The run of back to back wins against the two bottom sides has pushed AFCB into the higher reaches of the league, but had they lost those games it could have been a very nervy end to the season. Wins against the bottom sides were fairly infrequent in 2016, but the Cherries seemed to have managed these games slightly better in 2017 and I wonder why?

AFCB react when the pressure is on.

When you look back at how AFCB have gone against the bottom six they started in August with a draw against Crystal Palace when the team let in an added time goal, defeat against West Ham followed where the Cherries failed to score and Arter was sent off. The stand out result was the 6-1 win against Hull City, but it was soon followed by a 2-0 away defeat to Middlesbrough when the Cherries failed to score again. A defeat to Sunderland in November and an away win to Swansea in December meant that the Cherries accumulated six points from a possible 18 points in the early season fixtures. This is where AFCB have slipped up a bit this season.

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The New Year did not bring immediate improvements with defeat to Hull City 3-1 and a 0-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace. March saw the turnaround with a 3-2 win over West Ham and 2-0 win against Swansea City. April has also been fruitful with wins against Middlesbrough and Sunderland, making it 12 points from 18 in these bottom fixture games. So in all the team has only gained 18 points from 36 in games against the sides that are struggling and it is an area where Eddie Howe can look to make further gains next season if he can do better against the weaker sides. Swansea City have been the only side in the bottom six that AFCB have beaten home and away.

This gives me optimism that if the Cherries do not end up with 50 points this season, then at least there is room for improvement. Now that the pressure is off a little though for this season will AFCB be able o pick up more points in the remaining three games?

AFCB were tested to the brink against Sunderland

I got the sense of there being some relief after the Sunderland match rather than a feeling of a comfortable win. Eddie Howe will have a lot to digest after that match as the game was very open, and plenty of mistakes were made that could have been pounced upon if AFCB had been playing a better side.

AFCB have come through the tests this season.

We saw the ball given away and turned over fairly regularly. Both sides were so keen to get the ball forward that they did things in a frantic manner and both teams seemed happy for the game to run from one end to the other. It was a super contest for the neutral, but one where it was an energy-sapping game and the quality of passing certainly suffered the longer the game went on. It was still pleasing that the Cherries did not give way under pressure from set-pieces, and they defended Sunderland's six corners without too much difficulty. Artur Boruc was fouled for one of them, when stretching for a punch, but the big man had one of those days again when just about everything went right for him.

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Boruc was certainly tested and he made some big saves from Fabio Borini and George Honeyman in particular, but Howe will wonder why he was not better protected on some occasions. Sunderland got to the last line of defence several times, and I thought Simon Francis was most determined not to let Jermain Defoe get the better of him.

This was a tight match when one mistake was likely to decide the outcome and the fact that both teams were right on the edge for the whole match perhaps took away some of the quality. The importance of a win was huge for both teams, and it's not often that you get great games in those circumstances, but Sunderland contributed to the game and will feel unlucky that they did not get at least a point to keep their Premier League status for another week. It was a hard test for AFCB's players to come through, but they can look ahead now with a belief that they may be able to play more football in the next three matches without that high tension.

We nicked it in the end

Eddie Howe was realistic with his comments after the Sunderland game. It hadn't been an immaculate performance by the Cherries and I thought there were the first signs of tiredness, which is hardly surprising. The fact that AFCB are now on 41 points could give Eddie the chance to use a few unusual faces though and the season will carry on.

The first half against Sunderland started really well for the Cherries. They carved out plenty of chances and had the ball for most of the time. What they couldn't do is find much penetration in the last third, even when Pugh and Daniels would get around the back. It just wouldn't fall to the feet of Afobe or King in front of goal, and while AFCB looked to score the perfect goal they probably just needed something scrappy to get themselves ahead.

AFCB get a narrow win at Sunderland but they all count.

Charlie Daniels came pretty close when he tried to wriggle his way through the box mid way through the first half, only to have the ball snatched away from him before he could shoot. Josh King also had a good first half attempt that was all of his own creation in running down the left side and trying to pick out the top far corner with an audacious lofted chip that landed on the bar and post.

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In the end King was not to be denied his 15th goal of the season and the move was highly prised by Eddie who noted not only King's finish but the part played by Lys Mousset and Ryan Fraser in the build up. It is good to see young players in the side starting to excel and these last few games may well give some of them more of a go to push their claims.

Sunderland of course were a bit unlucky. It would not have been a surprise if they had come away with a draw or even a win. But their was great resolve in AFCB's side not to concede and that always meant thy would have a possibility of snatching the win as Sunderland pressed for the three points they required.

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AFCB break 40 points and send Sunderland down 0-1

Match Report

Sunderland 0 v 1 AFCB

29 April 2017

Attendance: 38,394

A Josh King goal just two minutes from time condemned Sunderland to relegation and championship football. It was far from a convincing display from the Cherries but by winning the game they also are likely to have secured their Premier League status for another season. It was far from a certain outcome though as Sunderland had numerous attempts on the Bournemouth goal that were thwarted mainly by the leadership at the back from Simon Francis, and the outstanding saves of Artur Boruc. Their were moments of beautiful passing football from the Cherries, especially in the first half, but it became a game of attrition and Benik Afobe was subbed after picking up a hamstring pull. AFCB will still feel that they can now start to celebrate if Swansea don't win at Old Trafford this weekend. AFCB did what they needed to and move up to 10th in the league.

Lewis Cook made his second start of the season replacing Dan Gosling in central midfield, while Jordan Ibe returned to the bench along with Brad Smith.

Sunderland made four changes from the mid-week team that lost to Middlesbrough. In came Koné, Love, Pienaar and Anichebe. Out went Cattermole, Denayer, Gibson and Jones.

The Stadium of Light.

First Half
AFCB kicked off in their blue away kit and had to retake it. Bournemouth were straight at Sunderland and quickly won their first corner. Daniels worked the corner with Fraser and fired in a low cross, but Steve Cook could not beat the defender to the ball.

Pugh was next to drive into the box and was blocked out by Koné for AFCB's third corner. Sunderland did then get into AFCB's half and Borini won a free kick against Daniels in the corner. 

But Lewis Cook led the AFCB breakaway. Adam Smith moved forward quickly on the right and fed the ball into King and he shot right at Pickford, for the first shot on target.

Love put a bad ball across the pitch which Fraser latched on to and set the Cherries up field again. Pugh then picked up another corner. Fraser's cross almost reached King and Sunderland were living on the edge.

Sunderland almost had a chance when Borini misaligned a volley on the edge of the box and missed the ball completely! Arter was finding Adam Smith on the diagonal frequently in lots of space. 

Afobe gave the ball away to Borini and Defoe was blocked before Borini hot a shot high at Boruc which he managed to keep out, but it was serving viciously. A good save from Boruc.

Josh King went down in the box in the 12th minute from a Koné challenge, but he did not claim for a penalty. Fraser put in a great ball for Daniels, who stepped inside O'Shea and could not quite get his shot away, but he was really close to taking the lead.

Sunderland's attacks were quickly being broken up and while AFCB had the possession, there was a danger that Sunderland might counter themselves. The big pitch was really suiting AFCB who were knocking the ball around with a fast tempo.

Khazri makes a run to AFCB's box and pulls the ball back to Defoe who shoots horribly wide. AFCB go straight up the other end up the left wing, but King unluckily hit his shot against the crossbar and far post. It was an ambitious bend on the shot that almost curled in. AFCB's best effort so far.

This was end to end now with Khazri firing a shot at Boruc that was comfortable to save.

The only surprise is that it's still 0-0 after 22 minutes. King is winning his battle with Koné and Arter puts in a big tackle on Borini. Pugh is taking advantage and shoots back across goal, but Pickford gets down to his right to make the save.

Defoe is hit long by Pickford, but fires a hopeful shot wide. Francis loses the ball to Anichebe and Defoe shoots and has his shot blocked. Calls for handball on Francis are turned down.

Afobe is next to get some injury attention after Koné caught him. It looks like Afobe's right ankle, but he is going to continue.

Sunderland have the ball in AFCB's box and Boruc makes a good save from Khazri with his feet and Defoe has a leg stuck out to try and flick the ball past Boruc, but it's right into Boruc's arms. 29 minutes gone.

Arter is picking up a lot of Sunderland's misplaced passes in midfield and Afobe comes close to turning O'Shea. Lewis Cook is then fouled by Pienaar. King holds off a defender and sets it back to Adam Smith who shoots on target from distance and it's easily handled by Pickford.

Lewis Cook tries to stop Borini, but fouls from behind. Lewis Cook gets a yellow card. It's a good position for Sunderland, but Khazri's ball in is headed wide.

Daniels almost causes problems with a clearance that goes across the box. AFCB will be disappointed if they are not ahead at half time as Sunderland are coming more and more into this.

AFCB are not quite getting it right in the last third with Ryan Fraser the latest player not to manage to pick out King clearly with a low cross and Sunderland clear.

Defoe gets closer with some movement from Borini, and Defoe's shot back across goal going just wide on 39 minutes. Pugh puts in a low cross for Afobe that is blocked and Kings shot is cleared off the line by Love.

Kings finds some space and Afobe sees his shot blocked by O'Shea. The long ball almost finds Defoe but Francis cuts it off superbly, picking the ball out from the air. Two minutes of extra time are underway.

Defoe and Anichebe just over run the ball in the box. Pienaar puts in a good cross but Daniels puts it out for a corner with a flick header. Great defending, 0-0 at half time.

Half time Stats
AFCB: Possession 61%, shots 7, shots on target 4, corners 4, fouls 5
Sunderland: Possession 39%, shots 9, shots on target 2, corners 1, fouls 3

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Second Half
Fraser is quick out of the blocks and plays it down the line for King. His cross picks out Pugh on the far side, but he heads down and straight at Pickford. Pienaar catches King and gets Sunderland's first yellow card.

Arter gets caught in possession by Ndong, but Francis makes a great interception. Fraser goes down but Manquillo makes a fair challenge, no penalty. Pugh tries to pick out the top left corner but it glides just over!

Defoe puts in Borini and Boruc has to make a great save to his right. That was a match saver! 50 minutes gone and Boruc just kept the game level.

At the other end Fraser hits a shot from 18 yards low and at the keeper. Khazri fouls Adam Smith in the air.

The game has gone just a bit chaotic. AFCB try and take a free kick quickly and Sunderland get the blocks in, but it's last gasp stuff. Francis is fouled now. Steve Cook heads over.

Great tackle from Steve Cook at the other end on Khazrhi as he was about to shoot. Corner to Sunderland and Koné heads over. Good chance missed.

Sunderland sub Pienaar for Honeyman on 55 minutes. Afobe is down again and holds his right hamstring. He's going off and Junior Stanislas comes on after 57 minutes. Stanislas plays the number 10 role and King moves to the main striker position.

A quick through from Boruc to Stanislas almost has King in, but Stanislas hits his pass too hard.

Kings puts Stanislas in up the left and AFCB recycle the ball back to the right wing with King. AFCB keeping possession and Fraser tries to play King in but he is held off.

The pace has slowed a bit this half. Honeyman is pulling Sunderland forward though. 35 minutes to go here at the Stadium of Light.

Defoe on a run from half way is forced to pass to Borini and he holds the ball up in the box and comes out to put a reverse pass in for Honeyman and Boruc has to make a sharp save at his near post! That was close.

Francis concedes a corner. Sunderland are pushing for this goal. Boruc is fouled and gets a hand on the cross.

Adam Smith puts a deep cross in from the right and Pugh again heads over on 71 minutes. Anichebe is getting some attention now after Simon Francis caught him, as Anichebe bent his head down. Adam Smith is now bundled over by Anichebe.

There's a big argument with Arter involved. Both he and Borini are booked. Kharzi is now also carded.

AFCB have a corner on 78 minutes. Arte comes forwards and Fraser gets a cross in but it's cleared y Koné. Khazri is caught offside.

Pugh goes down in the box as he loses his feet. Arter is prevented from getting a shot away and Francis has to rush back to stop Defoe on the break. This is like a school park game.

Lys Mousset is coming on for Marc Pugh on 82 minutes. Sunderland only find Boruc's hands from their corner.

King goes down in the box, it is not given as a penalty. King was actually offside as well.

Khazri then goes down in Bournemouth's box with Francis and Adam Smith falling over him.

Sunderland have another corner, just five minutes left. Boruc has to make a good save as a shot is fired in from distance!

Defoe has a chance but it deflect off of Adam Smith for a corner. The corner is straight out.

Bournemouth are back in possession. Lys Mousett plays in Fraser and he crosses for Josh King to put AFCB 0-1 up on 88 minutes. It was calmly finished by King. The Sunderland defenders all got sucked into Fraser and it was simple for King.

Summary
The game was perhaps rather apt for two teams that have had trouble keeping out goals all season. They both attacked with everything they had and it was quite remarkable that there was only one goal and that it came so late in the game. It was not any easy win for Bournemouth and they will be pleased to have got over the line with three games to play, barring a Swansea win at Old Trafford. Sunderland fought hard and might have had better luck at times, as AFCB certainly rode their luck. Josh King will again be the headliner but the whole team will know that they did a lot of running in this game. The lure of a top 10 finish is now tantalisingly within AFCB's grasp, if they can finish the season strongly from here.

Sunderland
Pickford, Love, Manquillo, O'Shea, Koné, Pienaar (Honeymann 55), Ndong, Borini, Khazri, Anichebe, Defoe

Black Cat Subs
Mannone, Lescott, Honeyman, Embleton, Gooch, Januzaj, Djilbodje

AFCB
Boruc, A Smith, Francis, S Cook, Daniels, Fraser (Gradel 90), L Cook, Arter, Pugh, King, Afobe (Stanislas 57)

AFCB Subs
Allsop, Mings, B Smith, Stanislas, Ibe, Gradel, Mousset

AFCB Ratings
Boruc 9, A Smith 7, Francis 8, S Cook 7, Daniels 7, Fraser 8, L Cook 7, Arter 7, Pugh 7, King 8, Afobe 6

Referee Watch: Stuart Attwell - 7/10 he let a lot of things go and could have given out more cards, but he managed to keep the players on the pitch and did not fall for any of the suggested penalty calls, which was the correct call.

The Cherry Chimes' Newsletter is out tomorrow.

Cherry Chimes' May 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: Southerners, southerners, southerners!

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King and Afobe aren't the only ones who'll worry Sunderland

The form of Josh King and Benik Afobe has shot the Cherries back up to 13th in the league and they have been a major reason for the club's revival in fortunes. In the early part of the season they did not get to play together, and it is some times intriguing to see how the side develops during a season.

While most Premier League teams have one leading striker, the Cherries have had to dabble a bit with different players to get the goals they need. This can be a strength when the goals go in from different players, but not being over reliant on one striker is something that AFCB have learned. Eddie Howe talked about momentum in his press conference before the Sunderland game and much of that is down to the goals of this pair.

Lys Mousset is not the main man but he certainly
could benefit if he got a few more minutes.

However, there is another young man on the sidelines who will be hoping to get more than five minutes on the pitch. Lys Mousset has the attitude of a greyhound wanting to be released form the traps. He has been used sparingly, and his frustration about missing a last minute goal against Middlesbrough was plain to see. He may not yet have the experience of some of the other members of the squad, but he needs to see his potential realised and while AFCB close in on safety, I'm hoping that Eddie Howe may actually start to give Lys a few more minutes. The ambition and energy that he brings to a game is very evident and unlike some of the signings who have not grabbed the crowd's excitement I think there is a real degree of not knowing how good Lys might be, and I don't even think Lys knows what he is capable of yet.

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You don't throw an inexperienced striker into a game that could be so important for the Cherries league status though and Lys will have to see how the game goes. I see him as a player who knows now what Eddie Howe is looking for when he comes on, and I have a good feeling that he cane deliver, so even if Josh King or Benik Afobe come off in the last 15 minutes, Sunderland may find that Lys Mousset gives them just as many problems. If he could score the goal that saw the Cherries surpass 40 points, it would also help Lys to feel that he has really contributed to the Cherries season as well. UTCIAD!

Possible AFCB team
Boruc (GK), A Smith (RD), Francis (CD), S Cook (CD), Daniels (LD), Fraser (RM), L Cook (CM), Arter (CD), Pugh (LM), Afobe (FW), King (FW)

Subs

Allsop (GK), B Smith (LD), Mings (CD), Cargill (CD), Stanislas (RM), Gradel (LM),
Mousset (FW)