AFCB need to find something extra to beat Norwich

Last season Bournemouth didn't find playing Norwich City at all easy with a blank score sheet in both games only earning one draw and a defeat. Scoring against Norwich has been a problem and this August the Canaries have signed a new defender Xavi Quintilla from Villarreal. They have conceded two goals in their two Championship games, but Bournemouth will need to be at their best against the second favorites,  behind Brentford, to lift the Championship title this season.

AFCB will try for the third time to score against
Norwich City having failed in the last two meetings

Norwich have lost Jamal Lewis to Newcastle United but have not been as deeply scarred from their Premier League exit as Bournemouth. Daniel Farke remains in the managerial hot-seat and will be seeking an immediate return to the top flight. This game is likely to be a good indicator of whether Bournemouth or Norwich are better suited to earn that quick return to the top flight.

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For this match, Norwich has declared Emi Buendia and Marco Stiepermann available for selection, but Kieran Dowell and Jacob Sorensen are expected to miss out due to injuries. Norwich's big goal threats will no doubt come from Todd Cantwell and Teemu Pukki, the latter of which scored against Preston North End in Norwich's last league match.

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Bournemouth's difficulty has been in keeping clean sheets, and with Lloyd Kelly a doubt, they may have to reshuffle their backline. It should be a tightly contested game but Bournemouth needs to find something up front to get past Norwich and may well need a couple of goals with Bournemouth's leaky defence. Solanke has been rested in midweek for this game, but Sam Surridge is also in good form. I'd like to see both strikers get on at some point, but with Danjuma also rested and available and perhaps Josh King ready to return, there are options for Tindall.

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The advantage is with Bournemouth for this home game, despite having had a busy week. These are the games they will need to shade if they want to keep gaming the front-runners for the promotion places.

Norwich Away Form
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AFCB Home Form
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Possible AFCB line up

AFCB Subs: Travers, Stacey, Zemura, Gosling, Billing, King, Surridge

Ramsdale is the only one who looks like he's enjoying his football

I was really impressed with Aaron Ramsdale at Norwich City. It wasn't just his saves of which there were many, but it was his attitude. He came over to the fans after the game and was still smiling and thanking them for their support despite the result, and when he was interviewed he was not thinking negatively about the relegation battle, but likened it more to a challenge. He has been used to being in these situations at Chesterfield and AFC Wimbledon and it's unfortunate for him to be in another scrap with the Cherries.

Ramsdale up for the fight.

It is hard to pull out which was the best save that Aaron made against Norwich, but I think it was the one-on-one with Teemu Pukki. Ramsdale had to be out quick to make it more difficult for the striker and to get the save in when Pukki shot early was outstanding. He really is a tremendous shot stopper and even the save he made before Steve Cook gave away the penalty was a sharp stop.

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Ramsdale is certainly up for the fight and I hope that the players talk to him as much as they can as he has the enthusiasm and hunger to do well despite the situation. You can tell that he is enjoying his football and I'm not too sure that too many other Bournemouth players feel the same about football at the moment.

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It's not making light of the situation, but it is trying not to let things get you down. We need more of the players to feel confident about their personal game like Ramsdale, if they are going to start to pick up points again. The Cherries are not an awful side, they just need one or two things to start going for them and we'll have to hope that starts on Tuesday night.

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Easy Odds - Mid-season review

The Cherries hand three points to Norwich City 1-0

Match Report

Norwich City 1  v 0 AFCB

17 January 2020

Attendance: 26,781

Is the writing on the wall for AFCB - another defeat cement's AFCB's second-bottom position 

Everyone knew how important this game was. The loser was not going to come out pf it well and in one moment of instinct Steve Cook made the fatal mistake of saving a shot from Duda with his hands and the game was lost.  Pukki scored from the spot and Bournemouth toiled to stay in the game. There was endeavour when Norwich also saw Ben Godfrey sent off and it was 10 against 10 for the last quester of an hour, but the Cherries had another blank in front of goal and damaging defeat was clear on the faces of all the players at the end of the match. 

A long old journey.

Callum Wilson given a start and Ramsdale came back into the team along with Diego Rico. I should mention hear that it was really annoying that Bournemouth's players were made to warm up at the opposite end from where there supporters were, unnecessary Norwich! We travelled a long way to see our team.

A Championship fixture next year?

There are more pictures on Match Day Gallery.

Match Description
Ramsdale had a good early kick that found touch. Fraser put a cross in that Callum Wilson got his head to but not enough power to beat Krul.

Norwich got their first corner on six minutes. Duda almost got Pukki in, but the Cherries were given a goal kick.

Adam Smith intercepted well and put a cross in but Aarons touched it back to the keeper.

Rico puts a square ball in but no Bournemouth player was near it. Billing then shot over from distance on 10 minutes.

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Callun Wilson won a fee kick. Rico took it and Gosling headed over.

Buendia to Pukki, shot blocked then McLean has a shot blocked. Aarons crosses from the right but Buendia heads wide at the far post on 15 minutes. Gosling puts Harry Wilson in, but the flag goes up.

Pukki on the break runs it out of play. Adam Smith clears and Tettey shoots wide in the volley from 20 yards.

Adam Smith wins a corner. It comes out to Rico but Krul makes the catch.

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Ramsdale comes out before Duda hits the post. There might have been a handball. Steve Cook is given a red card on 31 minutes for stopping Duda's shot with his hand. VAR decision is a penalty, Pukki hits it in on down the middle to score.

Harry Wilson is subbed for Francis. Todd Cantwell tries a volley that goes wide. Tettey has a wild crack at goal from distance.

Two minutes of added time. Krul punches.

Oh, Steve Cook you are not our goal keeper. Eek!

Rival Lines: Daniel Farke can do no wrong

Second half
Gosling clears from Pukki before Buendia shoots wide. Buendia fouls Rico and is carded.

Cantwell to Byram and Norwich have a corner. Aké wins the header, and Billing puts it out. Ramsdale catches it from another corner.

Wilson runs into trouble. Buendia's shot is blocked.

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Bournemouth have a rare corner. A scramble but Aké can't put it in. Adam Smith is injured.

Fraser pulls it across the box and Wilson misses it! He just slipped and took his eye off it. 65 minutes gone.

Cantwell's shot goes out for a corner. Gosling battles well. Buendia plays Pukki in on 69 minutes and Ramsdale saves low to his left.

Fraser hammers it against Lerma and straight to Pukki. Bournemouth just can't find a pass.

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Aarons crosses it comes to Tettey and Ramsdale saves low to his right. Burnedia turns past everyone but Ramsdale denies him what would have been a great goal.

Godfrey fouls Wilson and is carded. Its red. Duda is off and Hanley comes on after 78 minutes.

Lerma is off and Solanke comes on after 78 minutes.

Rico crosses it's kept out. Bournemouth won a corner. Solanke wins another corner,

Francis knocks it on to to Goslings, but straight to the keeper. Wilson wins a free kick. Aké heads it,  tipped over.

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Pukki breaks. Cantwell wins a fee kick Pukki is subbed and Drmic is on. Lewis Cook replaces Gosling on 86 minutes.

Buendia shoots wide from the fee kick. Norwich corner off Francis. Ramsdale saves on the line. Five minutes added.

Smith crosses right across the box. Buendia is subbed for Rupp. Smith is carded for taking out Cantwell.

Applause not boos, but another defeat helping to send the Cherries down.

Summary

Another defeat and this one is just as costly as the Watford game, perhaps even more so. Bournemouth are heading to the Championship at alarming speed now. It's no wins in 12 now and the games are not going to get easier. Eddie cut a forlorn figure at the end of the game. I'm not sure he can turn it round in time. The players really upped their game in the last 15 minutes when Norwich were reduce to 10-men, but it just wasn't enough. The will is there but the ability is lacking at the moment. While Bournemouth aren't bottom of the table they could be very soon.

AFCB team

AFCB Subs: Boruc, Simpson, Francis, Surman, L Cook, Solanke, Surridge

Cherry Chimes' MoM - Aaron Ramsdale, it shouldn't be the goalkeeper who keeps picking up this honour, but Aaron was amazing again.

AFCB Ratings: Ramsdale 9, A Smith 6, S Cook 3, Ake 5, Rico 4, H Wilson 4, Lerma 5, Gosling 5, Billing 4, Fraser 5, C Wilson 4

Ref Watch - Paul Tierney 8/10: Got major decisions right even if he got a bit picky with constantly keeping Callum Wilson in line.

Norwich City
1 Krul, 2 Aarons, 6 Zimmermann, 3 Byram, 4 Godfrey, 17 Buendia (Rupp 90+3), 27 Tettey, 14 Cantwell, 25 Duda (Hanley 78), 23 McLean, 22 Pukki (Drmici 85)

Norwich Subs: 21 Fahrmann, 11 Hernandez, 5 Hanley, 12 Lewis, 20 Drmic, 7 Rupp, 19 Trybull

In other news, Sky Sports has linked AFCB with winger Jacob Bruun Larsen of Dortmund.

Norwich could take Bournemouth down with them

This weekend's game is another massive game in the season for AFC Bournemouth and Norwich City. It's not inconceivable that this could be a Championship fixture next season. Norwich may be cut adrift on 14 points but if they win this game that will put them just three points below Bournemouth and could effectively do much to scupper Bournemouth's chance of beating the drop.

A draw last time we played Norwich City - AFCB need to improve on that.

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A draw wouldn't do either side much good either. Eddie Howe will be setting up the Cherries to do all they can to win this game and I have no doubt that Daniel Farke will do the same for Norwich. While Norwich are at the foot of the table they have drawn their last two home matches against good opposition in Crystal Palace and Tottenham. They haven't had the crisis of goal scoring a badly as AFCB either having only failed in two of their last 11 matches.

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Norwich's problem is that while they have been in games they have always just come out the wrong side of results. their last defeat against Man United was unusual to see a 4-0 defeat. It's been much closer than that in most of Norwich's games and they have the ability to counter-attack with great speed. Todd Cantwell and Teemu Pukki are their star performers, but there is a good team spirit that has not been depleted despite the fact that they are propping up the table.

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Norwich City are certainly good enough to beat Bournemouth. It is probably their last chance to really stake a claim to hang in the league and start to close the gap but if they manage that they will severely damage Bournemouth's chances of escaping as well. Norwich are a decent side at home and Bournemouth need to be very aware that this is probably their last chance to give themselves a foot up out of the bottom three.

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Norwich City Home Form
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AFCB Away Form
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Cherry Chimes' previous post - Do Bournemouth's hopes rest on a fit Josh King?

Were AFCB too desperate to score?

It is unusual for AFCB to be a team that struggles to create chances and make the most of their opportunities, but they didn't really get going against Norwich City. The team went out without Josh King, but was a credible attacking fore, so why did Bournemouth fail to register many significant chances against Norwich City?

AFCB didn't quite get the balance right up front but did ell at the back.

Firstly, you have to credit the visitors that grew into the game and commanded a slightly higher share of possession. Bournemouth didn't really use the ball well enough in the areas where it mattered. The only player for me that looked to quicken things when AFCB got in and around the box was Diego Rico. Most of the time he looked up first before trying to cross or pass, but there were one or two occasions when he lost possession just hoping that a quick pass would find a red and black shirt. I say that and for me Rico was the best Cherries player on Saturday.

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Most of Bournemouth's creativity came from Rico or Callum Wilson running out wide and trying to make things happen. What I am saying is why weren't Ryan Fraser and Harry Wilson more effective on the wings in getting past their markers and finding gaps amongst Norwich's midfield and defence? It was no surprise that Danjuma was given a chance and we saw from him some of the attacking mentality that I felt was missing from the earlier play.

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I am not sure if Bournemouth were looking to be too precise. They had worked their way through the defence on a couple of occasions but didn't finish well - yes, Solanke's chance stands out. Callum Wilson's foot out to try and direct the ball goalwards in the second half from Rico was just great improvisation. Sadly, it didn't quite come off. I didn't get the sense that Bournemouth were really getting up a head of steam like they sometimes do and it was a bit fortunate and in part down to Ramsdale's skill in the end, that Teemu Pukki didn't quite find the bottom corner to give Norwich all the points.

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In other news, congratulations to Aaron Ramsdale on his new contract with AFCB.

Bournemouth and Norwich fire blanks in 0-0 draw

Match Report

AFCB 0 v 0 Norwich City

19 October 2019

Attendance: 10,669

Scrum down, AFCB and Norwich before kick-off

This was a game where Bournemouth would have expected to take three points, but just like the Sheffield United match they struggled to be effective in the last third. Rico was again at his best delivering crosses, but the team couldn't get a clear chance from any of them. Solanke had the best chance first half but couldn't beat Krul who closed him down. Callum Wilson came close in the second half when Rico floated a ball in that the striker glided just wide with an outstretched foot. But it was Norwich who could have won it second half when Pukki shot from the edge of the box to have Ramsdale tipping it around the corner at full stretch.

Bournemouth made a few changes with Lewis Cook, Ryan Fraser and Adam Smith coming into the side and Jack Stacey, Jefferson Lerma and Josh King coming out. King moved to the bench. Norwich made three changes. Out went McGovern and Stiepermann and they were replaced by Krul and Tetty.

There are more images on Match Day Gallery.

Chimes to Camera: Norwich City fan Carol give a pre-match interview.

Ryan Fraser made the first corner, on three minutes, which led Diego Rico have a volley go over from 30 yards.

Harry Wilson took a tumble outside the box. Rico hit the free kick too strongly and out of play.

A steady build up led to Rico winning another corner but still there was no shot on target for the Cherries.

Norwich go long with McLean on the left and Lewis Cook concedes the corner, which Ake then clears.

Rico shows a lovely touch before a Bournemouth third corner, which Billing got underneath and hit over on 11 minutes.

Lewis and Pukki get down the left and Lewis Cook has to stop Pukki from getting a shot in. Billing clears the first corner, before Ramsdale catches the second.

Norwich press well and Pukki gets in, but is offside. Aarons is then caught offside. Great early ball by Rico to Wilson and Solanke has a one on one with Krul but has his shot saved for a corner!

Steve Cook just does enough to hold off Lewis for Ramdale to collect.

Leitner is run off the ball by Billing returning. Lewis 12 is booked for a foul on Harry Wilson. Rico crosses deep for Solanke and Godfrey has to head clear. Lewis Cook nutmegs Pukki and Pukki has to laugh.

Adam Smith puts a big tackle in on Lewis. Fraser almost gets in but has his pass cut out. Lewis finally gets attention for his injury.

Rico puts ball in but Callum can't make it stick.

Lewis and Cantwell almost get in to shoot  at the other end, but the danger is shut out before Solanke makes a mess of playing out.

Where are the goals?

Second half
Fraser's cross is in behind Callum Wilson. Adam Smith puts the ball in to Harry Wilson and the cross just misses at the far post.

Godfrey goes off and Trybull  comes on. Fraser cross is caught by Krul.

Callum holds the ball up well and Adam Smith drills a shot just over with the assistant referee raising his flag.

McLean has a shot blocked before Pukki shoots and it's deflected over. Amadou heads over.

Rico, on for Callum Wilson and it's just wide of the far post.

Callum and 27 chase the high ball. Rico has to slide to stop Pukkis break.

McLean is blocked and Aarons has an effort cleared by Steve Cook. On 62 minutes Josh King is on for Solanke.

Ramdale saves a hard hit cross well. A shot then goes wide of left post from Norwich. Pukki shoots and Ramsdale saves low to his right on 66 minutes - great save! King is on the break but hist the pass too hard for Harry Wilson.

McLean is booked for chopping down Harry Wilson. Harry Wilson is replaced by Danjuma on 69 minutes.

Adam Smith is carded for a foul on McLean. Cantwell to Amadou who shoots over.

Good play from Callum and Josh, before Danjuma cuts in and Krul gets down to save to his left. Danjuma again has a shot blocked by Trybull and he's gone down form the blow.

Cantwell is subbed for  Hernández for Norwich on 81 minutes.

A shot is drilled wide by Trybull and  Ramsdale was at full stretch high to his left.

Buéndia fouls Danjuma. Buéndia fouls Fraser. The corner is volleyed over by Danjuma.

Pukki takes Adam Smith out but only a yellow. A long Steve Cook throw and Billing heads wide. Billings shot is deflected.

Norwich sub Srbeny is on and Leitner goes off on 89 minutes. Into added time and there's four minutes to go Corner to Norwich. That's it 0-0.

A point takes AFCB up to ninth.

Summary

It is days like this when you have to come away and just be thankful that your team didn't lose the game. It could so easily have happened as Norwich grew in confidence second half. While Eddie Howe must be pleased with a clean sheet that is no goals scored in the last two matches and for those saying Fraser should start, it didn't make a dramatic difference to chances created. Solanke probably had Bournemouth's best chance of he match but he doesn't see himself scoring at the moment. Lewis Cook was playing quite deep and Harry Wilson is getting involved in play enough for me.

AFCB Line-up

AFCB subs: Boruc, Francis, Surman, Mepham, Kelly, Danjuma, King

AFCB Ratings

Ramsdale 7, Rico 8, Aké7, S Cook 7, A Smith 7, H Wilson 5, Billing 6, L Cook 6, Fraser 6,
Solanke 5, C Wilson 7

Cherry Chimes MoM: Diego Rico

Ref Watch: Lee Mason  3/10 - Another curious display from Lee Mason. Does he see the fouls at all? Or players walking off not at their nearest exit point from the pitch?

Norwich City
1 Krul, 2 Aarons, 24 Amadou, 4 Godfrey (Trybull 50), 12 Lewis, 27 Tettey, 17 Buendía, 
10 Leitner (Srbeny 89), 23 McLean 14 Cantwell (Hernández 81)
22 Pukki

Norwich Subs
33 McGovern, 3 Byram, 11 Hernández, 18 Stiepermann, 19 Trybull, 20 Drmic, 32 Srbeny

Which Norwich City will turn up at Dean Court?

I was one of the few bloggers who looked at Norwich City at the start if the season and thought, they could stay up and surprise a few teams. My views was in part shaped by what a close game the Canaries gave AFCB's players in the Carabao Cup last season. But what I didn't expect was them to be good enough to beat Man City at home.

Norwich fans visit Dean Court today, but will they have their feathers clipped?

The matches have not been all as well celebrated as Norwich's win against the defending Champions. Last time out they were battered 1-5 at home by Aston Villa. The Canaries only other League win came at home against Newcastle United. So on the road it has been a bit of a slippery slope, with no wins and a hefty 4-1 defeat against Liverpool on the first night of the season as well as defeats to Crystal Palace, Burnley and West Ham United.

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Still, everyone has noticed that Norwich are scoring goals and most of them are coming from their Finnish striker Teemu Pukki, who has six goals from his eight appearances. He's been well supported by Todd Cantwell who has two goals from midfield.

Like Bournemouth, though, Norwich have struggled to keep a clean sheet. They have also lost Tim Krul for two games with a back problem, although he could be back for the Bournemouth match. A bigger miss is probably Christoph Zimmierman who was the star performer at centre-back for Norwich City last season. Grant Hanley another centre-back is also injured. So you can see that Daniel Farke has had to make a few changes.

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All of this is perhaps good news for Bournemouth fans to hear, but Norwich City are in the bottom three and they know they'll need points to get out of there, and that they can't expect to survive on home form alone.

Norwich City last time out below. Expect a few changes as they have several players coming back.

33 McGovern, 

2 Aarons, 24 Amadou, 4 Godfrey, 12 Lewis

10 Leitner, 23 McLean, 17 Buendía, 18 Stiepermann

14 Cantwell, 22 Pukki

AFCB Home Form

DLWD

Norwich Away Form

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Look out for my answers to some Norwich City blogger questions at Norwich City My Football Writer.

An unchanged team for me for AFCB

Subs: Boruc, Francis, L Cook, Surman, Ibe, Fraser, Danjuma

Norwich City Press conference


AFCB TV preview