Rowett's revival of Birmingham has been teriffic

With Birmingham City now on 50 points and probably already safe from relegation, you have to say that Gary Rowett has done an excellent job at the Blues since his first match as Birmingham manager back in November 2014. Since then Birmingham have won three away games, although their recent run of away form has only seen them win once in the new year in the FA Cup to Blythe Spartans. It is funny that before Rowett's revival the Blues could not win at home, but now that has been corrected and Rowett is looking to see his team do better in away games.

I'd be very happy if it was just 1-0 on Easter Monday to AFCB.

In his last away game post-match interview after the defeat against Cardiff, Gary Rowett said that his team had not been up to the standards they had been setting themselves. Indeed, the Blues have started to drop back off the kind of form that had taken them to within nine points of the play-offs at the end of last year. So have Birmingham City slipped into sleep mode for the rest of the season?

AFCB fans will be hoping so as Birmingham City players have more reason than most players to put in a performance at Dean Court having been pulled apart 0-8 at St Andrews by a Cherries side that was rampant on that day. Wes Thomas might also feel that he has something to prove having not stayed with the Championship leaders and finding himself back at one of his former homes. It was unfortunate for him that he was subbed straight away at the earlier fixture because of a tactical change, but even in Birmingham's last match against Rotherham which they won 2-1 Thomas was an unused substitute. Clayton Donaldson is coming to form though for the Blues and is likely to lead their attack and he is on 14 goals for the season. There is also a good chance that loanee Watford signing Diego Fabrini could play behind the striker.

AFCB will be waiting on the fitness of Marc Pugh who was certainly missed last Friday. The influential winger's finishing in front of goal could be just what the Cherries need in this game as he scored a hat-trick in the big win at st Andrews and would not be a pleasing site for Birmingham players to see him ready to add to his eight goals this season.

Birmingham city Away form
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AFCB Home Form 
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Rival Lines: "It's been time for Clark to go for some time," says Often Partisan

Rival Lines
Match Preview: Birmingham v AFCB

Blogger Interview: Often Partisan

I caught up with Daniel at the Often Partisan blog, last Monday, on the day of Lee Clark's dismissal at Birmingham City. As you might have guessed I felt a little awkward in asking some questions but also wanted to know what Birmingham fans reaction was really like to the change that had ow happened and whether they were confident that Birmingham's results would improve.  

CC: Do you feel it was time for Lee Clark to go?

OP: Absolutely, 100% - it's been time for him to go for some time. One home win in the league in 24, in 389 days is abysmal.

CC: Who is the man who can lift Birmingham out of the bottom half of the Championship?

OP: Good question. We need someone who has experience and who can motivate existing players because they will not get money to spend.

CC: Which result has been most pleasing this season for Birmingham fans?

OP: Probably the Brighton one because we actually won at home!

CC: How do is Wes Thomas doing up front?

OP: So-so. He tries hard, he runs - sometimes he has good efforts but he is a limited player and it does show.

CC: While you've beaten Brighton at home it's still not really happening for you at St Andrews yet, why do you think that is?

OP: Honestly? Lee Clark. I think results may pick up now.

CC: How experienced are your back four as they have only had one clean sheet?

OP: Fairly experienced - in Paul Robinson's case wayyyyy too experienced. It's not about a lack of experience, it's about the lack of quality conjoined with a lack of cohesiveness. Too many changes, too much trying to accommodate the skipper (who shouldn't be in the team) ...

CC: Birmingham have scored quite a few first half goals but have conceded a lot in the second half of games, so are you a bit of a first half team?

OP: We can't play more than 45 minutes a game at any tempo for some reason, we just fall apart every now and then. That limited nature of players (and previous manager) I think.

CC: Which Birmingham player has impressed you most so far?

OP: Demarai Gray. He will go far.

CC: Have Birmingham been unlucky in some games not to get more points as you have had a lot of score draws?

OP: A little; the Ipswich game we should have got more out of (robbed by the ref) and Charlton away we could have got more out of; Brentford away we should have been out of sight at half time.

CC: Was the Fulham game the lowest point for you this season considering their league position then or was another game worse?

OP: Bolton was the worst for me, I wasn't at the Fulham game as I was in HK so I can't really say

CC: How do you think the team will line up against AFCB?

OP: Actually not sure. Randolph, Caddis, Hall, Edgar, Grounds, Davis, Reilly, Gray, Brown, Arthur, Donaldson? Depends on the management situation.

CC: Do you think the spirit around the club is better this season and do you think the team is anywhere close to getting back to back wins (question set before Bolton and Blackburn games)?

OP: It probably is with the fans with today's news (Lee Clark has just been sacked). The club as a whole though still has the whole HK ownership thing dangling over it.

Thanks for taking the time to answer all those questions Dan. There aren't many managers left in the Championship who were at those clubs last season now. The need for success has never been greater and while we wait to see who grabs the manager's chair at Birmingham City it looks like AFCB will be lining up against the Blues. It was also interesting to hear about points that have been dropped against some teams by Birmingham. AFCB have had their slip ups from winning positions too, but when you are in the bottom half those draws don't seem as good. Looking at Birmingham's home record I am sure that they will come out trying to upset the record book as a weight has probably been lifted from the fans now that a change has happened and spirits will be high as the home team look for a boost.

To catch up on the latest Birmingham City news, head over to the Often Partisan website.

You might spot Damien at the Birmingham 

match, he does like his inflatables!

While we are thinking about Birmingham City, my good friend Damien Hill (Twitter @hill_franco) was asked by Birmingham City's programme editor to profile the AFC Bournemouth squad for their match programme.

This is Damien's view of the players at the Cherries that you should see if you buy a programme tomorrow at the game:

1- Lee Camp. GK
Joined from West Brom last season on loan and signed a permanent deal in the summer. Spent 4 years at Forest making 163 apps 2009-13. Steady the ship last year but lost his place recently to loan signing Artur Boruc from Southampton.

2- Simon Francis. RB
Mr Consistent for the past couple of seasons, but at the end of last season and the start of this one he has really come into his own. Pacey defender who can run all day and can pass and cross the ball well. Has a eye for goal. Player to watch!

3- Steve Cook. CB
Joined from Brighton on loan in 2011 and signed a  permanent deal 2012. Great header of the ball and not afraid of a good tackle. He has formed a solid partnership with Tommy Elphick and has scored a few goals including a worldie overhead kick against Ipswich last season. Get in!

4-Dan Gosling. MID
A recent signing from Newcastle Utd, box-to-box midfielder and has mainly been used in cup games this season scoring in every round so far. Quality player and has good ball control and a turn of pace.

5- Tommy Elphick. CB
Captain fantastic. Also joined from Brighton in 2012 and has his own pre-match ritual (head butts the goal post). Solid defender and good in the air, but not as quick as Cook. Still, they have good understanding. Lost his place at he start of last season due to injury, but brings calm and leadership to the team.

6- Andrew Surman. MID
Started his career at Southampton and joined us on loan in 2005-06 and then joined Norwich City in 2010. He re-joined us last season on loan and signed on a permanent deal this September. he links the midfield to the forward line well, but just needs to score a few more goals. Solid player with a calm head.

7- Marc Pugh. MID
Our very own Jordi Cruyff. Usually plays left wing, but can switch to the right. Dazzling foot work with good pace and good crosser of ball. Will also pop up and score few goals. Crowd favourite.

8- Harry Arter. MID
Plays centre midfield and is a tough hard player. He can lose his temper easily and has a tendency to end up in the ref’s book. Also knows where the goal is and will work his socks of running all day.

9-Tokelo Rantie. CF
Our big money South African international striker from Malmo last season. He has failed to make a massive impact so far, scoring only 3 goals in 30 games. But he is a firm favourite with the crowd and 'if Rantie scores were on the pitch!' - is how the saying goes. He's got a big heart and big smile.

10-Brett Pitman. CF
Re-joined us in 2012 after a less than fruitful 3 years at Bristol City. Played a pivotal part of our promotion in 2012 scoring 22 goals along the way. Spent a lot of time on the bench last year and the same again this year. Nicknamed 'chicken' because of his running style.

11-Charlie Daniels. LB
Great left back and loves to over lap on the wing. Solid player and can ping a ball into the box. Suffered a heal injury last season and has not fully recovered and has lost a little bit of pace.

13-Callum Wilson. CF
Our £3 million pound signing from Coventry this season. He scored 23 goals in 55 apps for Coventry from 2009-14. Started well with us and has scored 8 goals so far. Speedy and loves to attack the defence and will run and run all day. He is young and still learning his trade, but the future is bright for him.

14-Ian Harte. LB
Legend. Don't need to say much else. Still wears his heart on his sleeve and still gives 110%.

15-Adam Smith. RB
On the books at Spurs from 2008-14 but spent most of the time loaned out including to us in 2010-11. Joined us last season and is mainly cover for Simon Francis. Good young defender and is also very quick.

16-Shaun Macdonald .MID
Joined from Swansea in 2011 and is a great work horse in centre midfield. Has a nickname of 'the Welsh Zidane' and has similarities to this great player. Lost his place recently but adds quality to the bench.

18-Yann Kermorgant. CF
Big, tall, rock centre forward. Holds ball up well and has bags of experience. Links up the midfield to the forwards well as he normal plays just behind Callum Wilson and will flick the ball on or run himself.

19-Junior Stanislas. MID
Has Premier League experience with West Ham Utd and was with Eddie Howe at Burnley. Great winger and has lots of pace, but yet to get a good run of games to find his best form.

20-Ryan Fraser. MID
Wee man from Scotland. A very, very nippy winger who loves to run at defenders. Has a low centre of gravity and is very nimble, also another player to watch.

30-Matt Richie. MID
Plays right wing mainly, but can play on the left and loves to cut in on his left foot. Great striker of the ball. Joined from Swindon in 2013 and was a massive statement of intent from us. Another player to watch. Doesn't score tap in’s

31-Artur Boruc. GK
Recent loan signing from Southampton with oodles of experience with Legia Warszawa, Celtic, Fiorentina and 58 apps for Poland. Massive presence in goal and has settled in quickly. Commands his area and uses the ball well.

32-Eunan O’Kane. MID
Started his career at Everton in the youth team and joined AFCB in 2012 from Torquay. Great midfielder and always wants the ball and most attacks will start with him. He'll usually will a play holding roll, but will get forward and can unleash a fierce shot.

Leyton Orient or Rotherham to complete the Championship

The new look Championship will soon be in place. Following QPR's promotion yesterday and Derby County's unlucky day at missing out, Leyton Orient and Rotherham United will fight it out this afternoon at Wembley for the final place in next season's Championship. While we have seen Jalal and Stockley go to Orient on loan this season and former Cherry Mathieu Baudry is still playing for the London club, my preference is certainly for the London club to make the leap up to the Championship. Orient have been up and near the top two for most of the season and I would like to see Russel Slade take his side up a division.

AFCB players could be warming up at Leyton Orient again next season.
This picture sees the AFCB players at Brisbane Road
in 2012/13 - do you remember Jalal's indecision during that game?

The difficulty is that Rotherham stand in their way and Bournemouth have other stories there in the shape of Wes Thomas, Miles Addison and Matt Tubbs. Thomas scored in the play-off semi-final against Preston and is finding his form again after his long spell without a goal at AFCB. Addison only made six appearances for the Millers when he was there on loan, but Matt Tubbs was also at Rotherham for a while on loan before joining Crawley for most of last season. So AFCB have played their part in the fortunes of both clubs last season.

Whichever team gets up they will have a good chance to follow in AFCB's footsteps, but they too will be looking to strengthen their squads and some of our players that have been out of favour could well be seen as possible fits for such clubs.

This match hasn't hype associated with the play-off for the Premiership, but it will be no less appealing for the fans of Rotherham and Leyton Orient. It would be great if either Mathieu Baudry or Wes Thomas get the winning goal today and for one of them it will be a fabulous prospect to know that a win will see them get the chance to meet up with old colleagues next season.

Last season's home fixture pictures against Brighton & Hove Albion on 30 November 2013 have been uploaded to Cherry Chimes Facebook page. You can download the phone app to quickly see the pictures or do a search on Facebook for Cherry Chimes.

We also have a new story on World Cup Chimes - All Roy needs to do is to get to penalties. Enjoy the sun today!

Is Rantie ready to grab some headlines?

I was pleased to see that Rantie had some minutes against Wigan at the weekend. Once again he got hearts in mouths for some moments when he looked like he would score. He could be so sensational you feel and yet something what quite fall for him. Against Burton Albion he just might be a touch too hot for the Burton back line to deal with. I want Eddie Howe to play him from the start.

Rantie looked like his appetite for the fight was good at Wigan.

I expect Burton will be expecting a difficult game, but AFCB can make it even harder for them by going for the jugular. So often we have seen managers rest too many players and then not do well in the cup. Our players had a full week before the Wigan game with no matches only training and they did not pick up significant knocks in the Wigan match, although Surman was said to struggle at one point. So I am hoping that it will be a strong side that Eddie puts out with Rantie leading the line.

If Rantie does well and scores a few to boost his confidence he could then take that in to the Watford match. It will be a special night tonight, under the floodlights, with a good atmosphere and a crowd waiting to be entertained. Tokelo must be given this chance and he must take it. It is important to the the fans want him to succeed and give him encouragement.

I expect some surprises in the team selection and perhaps Grabban will be rested allowing Pitman to partner Rantie. Such a duo may be enough to see of a determined Burton side if well supplied with forward runs from O'Kane and Arter. If you are picked Rantie - give it your best! 

By the looks of you score predictions, most of you expect AFCB to do well tonight. I hope you are right. Knowing our luck though it will be a draw and more worry in a replay. Good luck tonight you Cherries, whoever is picked to play. UTCIAD!

Finally, Wes Thomas has gone to Rotherham for an undisclosed fee. I hope he can score some goals there and resurrect his career. He will join up with on loan Miles Addison.

Can the Grabban and Rantie partnership work?

Eddie Howe has changed the way the team is set up in recent weeks with Grabban playing his loan striker role to great effect. But do we already have the perfect partner for Grabban at AFCB? The Rantie and Grabban partnership has not really worked and Eddie has given it a good go. While Pitman and Thomas have also played as a partner to Grabban, it always seemed that Rantie was the one that Howe wanted to use with Grabban. Is it a case of these two not being able to play well together?

Grabban and Rantie. Can they get on the same wavelength?

I'm not so sure. I still think it is early days for Rantie and that we won't see the best of him for another few months. When he can start to be stronger on the ball and make more of a presence with his frame, he could yet become a strike partner that Grabban could work with. The speed and flexibility that Grabban has mark him out as something special in my mind. He is may be under valued by the fans even if not be Eddie Howe.

Rantie is the one with the big price tag and the player knows it. I don't think this has helped, but Rantie has to show more if he wants to be part of the side going forward. Pitman has not made a massive impact either and Eddie Howe may still be looking to supplement the forward department with Thomas likely to leave and Matt Tubbs now out on loan again at Crawley Town. 

So it is down to Rantie to try and make sure that he is the one that makes the partnership with Grabban work. If he can't do that there are others who will surely come to take his place and the next five months for the South African are probably the most important of his career. The others that might partner Grabban need not cost AFCB more money though, because Surman has been doing okay behind Grabban, while McQuoid and Coulibaly may provide more goals.

If you still don't think I write enough each day, you can get a little bit more out of me if you visit the Jesus Was a Wiganer site. I return a few answers on the Cherries ahead of the match with Wigan at the weekend. Don't worry, I get to shoot some questions back at Dan Farrimond on Friday for our Rival Lines feature.

Make or break time for some AFCB players

While Eddie Howe performed miracles with the team last season and has got the players performing at a high level in the Championship it could be a vital period for many of them between now and the summer. It is important that Eddie sifts out the players that are not going to feature in the first team as soon as he can. I had expected more to go last summer, but with the amount of injuries the team has suffered this season it has been good that the squad numbers were kept fairly high.

Still there are players that have not featured this season and perhaps are unlikely to. Joe Partington is a long term project and a young one for the future and his loan move to Aldershot should be just what he needs to get match fit. Jayden Stockley is another that we can put in this category and hopefully he does well in his spell at Torquay. It seems he will now been joined by Chris Hargreaves who becomes Torquay's new manager and leaves AFCB's backroom staff as first team coach. We all wish Chris the very best as his input certainly helped AFCB to the position it is now in with Eddie and Jason.

Looking after our young players is the way to go if AFCB can build a system like the Saints, where local talent is brought through the ranks. It is the big earners who don't quite fit that are probably the ones that need permanent moves.

Keeping the incentive going for our young players could mean loan spells elsewhere.

Yet the club has also bought big with Miles Addison and Matt Tubbs and while they have now gone out on loan, Matt for the second time, I can't see them staying at AFCB beyond the summer. Darryl Flahavan is on a one year contract and may be surplus to requirement with Lee Camp joining the team. At left back Ian Harte may just be here until the summer and Richard Hughes has been used sparingly. 

Ian Harte will still be hoping to play some more games at AFCB.

Other players that are also probably playing to stay part of Eddie Howe's plans going forward could include Josh McQuoid, Donal McDermott and Wes Fogden. None of them have had much time because of injury but they don't have long to impress Eddie before the summer arrives. There are already rumours that Pompey could be interested in Wes Fogden. I have heard nothing about Stephane Zubar who was linked with Bury last season, but he is also still on AFCB's books. Stephen Purches may also end his playing days this summer.

You could also say that there are question marks over Mohamed Coulibaly who has not really played yet and Tokelo Rantie who has not hit the ground running. It is an important few months for them as with all our players.

Whatever the decisions that are made, it is clear that a few players that may not be here much longer and that does not even include Wes Thomas, who has the opportunity to move this January. Andrew Surman is also on loan and will return to Norwich City in the summer.

When you look at the picture as a whole there will be a fair bit of rebuilding and it may be good to move a few out this window with gradual replacement. It should be an exciting period though because Eddie Howe has never really had the money to make his team, and this time around he is likely to be better funded than any Bournemouth manager in the past. Much of the building will probably come this summer, but between January and May it should be a real testing time for players who want to stay at the club.  

Wes Thomas likely to go to highest bidder

It must have been a relief to most fans to know that the Wes Thomas saga is finally coming to an end. His spell at AFCB promised so much in the early days and he looked the powerful striker that would bring success to the club. Eddie Howe always believed in Wes and stuck by him even after Thomas said some things that did not go down so well with supporters of the Cherries.

Swindon Town have been favourites to land the out of form striker, but Yeovil Town are also said to be interested in Thomas as well as Wolves. I expect wages will be a consideration as to where he ends up, but the move should free up some funds for AFCB. A loan move is another option but Thomas' contract is up in six months.

Even though Wes Thomas came on in many games this season, he never really looked like scoring and seemed a troubled man. For his sake I hope that he does rekindle his career at another club. In many ways it was a shame that Birmingham City did not want to take the striker last season after his loan spell or indeed Blackpool, but Thomas' value is not going to go up any time soon and AFCB need to try and attract better strikers if they are to build on their progress.

I have also heard reports that Rotherham could be interested in Miles Addison on loan.

Will the Cherries allow Wes Thomas go to Swindon Town?

The January transfer window looks like it is starting with a bang as far as AFCB are concerned. Interest in our players is likely to be high and while fans might expect bids to be coming in for the players who have been regular starters for the team, however the first bid has come in for Wes Thomas, according to the Swindon Advertiser.

Does Wes Thomas want to stay at AFCB?

Wes Thomas has had a chequered career at AFCB. He was sensational at first when he came from Crawley Town and found it easy to score at League One level. A couple of loan spells at Portsmouth and Birmingham City and his calls to stay at Birmingham City signalled to most Cherry fans that he would be on his way, but with Eddie Howe building a team for the Championship Wes' experience was seen as too valuable to let go. While fans expected bids to come in for him over last summer Swindon were the only club to show some interest but were rebuffed twice.

Now Swindon are said to be making another bid to land the striker and this time they may have timed their approach well. If AFCB free up some funds to bring other players in themselves it may be a good move for the Cherries, while Wes Thomas would get more of a chance to play regularly again. But does Wes want to continue to fight for his place at AFCB?

With Matt Tubbs returning to AFCB this January, Eddie Howe may surely decide to let Wes Thomas leave if the price is right.

Who will start with Grabban at home?

There is no doubt that Lewis Grabban will start at home against Yeovil Town this Boxing Day, but there is a real discussion to be had over who would partner him, if as expected AFCB play two up front. While the obvious choice is Tokelo Rantie, Eddie Howe has not given the South African much time on the pitch of late. I am not sure if Rantie has a crisis of confidence or if Eddie Howe just wants to take some of the pressure off him at the moment, but I expect it is a bit of both. The timing of when to bring Rantie back into the starting line up will be important and Rantie will want to put a few goals away to prove some people wrong. Boxing Day could be his day.

Striking trio, Grabban, Pitman and Rantie.

However, the team is starting to buzz at the moment and I just wonder if Eddie will look elsewhere. How about a surprise? 

If Wes Thomas suddenly started scoring it would not only help the team it would give him a brighter future.
Could Eddie give him a bit more time on the pitch?

Wes Thomas has been quietly going about his business and keeping his head down this season. He hasn't had hardly any chance to really have a run in the team. Eddie Howe may well want to reward Thomas at some stage for his efforts and patience as all is forgiven about last season as far as Howe is concerned with Thomas. I would actually like to see Wes play and I'd celebrate enthusiastically of he could put a few goals past Yeovil Town. He is an AFCB player who made some mistakes, but he has a talent as a goal scorer and if he could feel good again about playing for the Cherries and score a few goals, who knows what might happen in the long term? But Eddie would have to play him for more than five minutes. 

Can Pitman regain his finishing form of last season?

Then there is Brett Pitman. Brett has me puzzled at times because on his day he is unstoppable. I wonder though if he also is a bit lacking in confidence having been in the spotlight from January onwards last season, he just hasn't hit top form in the Championship yet. Is he thinking back at his time at Bristol City and are we seeing similarities? I hope not. Yet, he will know there are no spaces for passengers and that if he does not get some goals and play, well AFCB might feel that his level is as a top striker in League One. That feeling has already been placed on Matt Tubbs you would think and there are some choices to be made in the summer or if not before on who can be let go.

Is Josh McQuoid a player that could come back and excite the crowd?

We also have to consider that Josh McQuoid has been making his way back and could be tried next to Lewis for our next home match. I would say this may also be a good surprise package for the Cherries as, on his day, Josh can be a massive plus for the team, we just need to see him perform consistently. Can he be the player he was when he first burst onto the scene at Dean Court?

I am looking forward to seeing who Eddie Howe picks. We have seen that playing Surman behind Grabban at home against Birmingham did not really work as well as when AFCB play away, so I would be disappointed if he tries that again at home even if Surman has been sensational away from home.

Can the Cherries succeed without spending big in January?

Eddie Howe has said in an interview on the BBC that he is not sure if he will have any money to spend in January, but that he hopes to strengthen. Be careful Eddie, some managers in Wales have been told to resign or get sacked for less!

While I am not surprised that Eddie is in the dark over any potential available funds he has to be trying to make things work out well with the players he has already. If he and Jason can get enough points with the players we have to ensure that AFCB are in the Championship next season, I would be pleased that AFCB hadn't spent a stupidly huge amount of money this coming January window.

Rantie was Eddie Howe's last big spend and Tokelo is still trying to
prove his transfer fee. Spurs fans know spending is no guarantee of instant success.

I also feel that it may be that Eddie can start to trim some of the squad who he feels will not be in his plans. If AFCB can cut the wage bill a bit it has got to be good for the club. Does Wes Thomas have a long term future at AFCB and are there others who could be on their way?

It hasn't escaped my notice that Matt Tubbs will also find his loan period coming to an end at Rotherham. Stephane Zubar is also still on the clubs books and he told us back in October that he would be due to be starting some kind of training at the end of this year. I hope he is recovering well.

We also have players who have not really featured this season like Joe Partington, Wes Fogden, Donal McDermott and Miles Addisson. We have already heard that Shwan Jalal can leave and it may be that Lee Camp does not get the move he wants to AFCB with West Brom's new manager. It is understood that Eddie Howe has also been looking at Swindon's Wes Foderingham.

The situation seems very fluid with regards players at the moment, which I hope does not have an unsettling feeling on the squad. I am also keeping quiet about the possibility that some players could also be targets of clubs in the January window. 

The question is though do AFCB need to spend? I feel that a player or two will be bought to make the team a little more solid. That could be in midfield or in defence, but I personally don't think Eddie will buy another striker until next summer when better deals are available. I may be wrong but I still feel leaking goals is more of a problem for AFCB than scoring them at the moment.  

Vote for what position you feel Eddie Howe most needs to strengthen the team this January. See the poll on the right hand side of the blog.

Yesterday Cherry Chimes spoke to Owl Alive about the Sheffield Wednesday squad prior to today's match. Check out how Wednesday fans are feeling about their team by visiting Rival Lines.

The standard has been set now for AFCB

The victory against Reading was a superb result for the AFCB lads. Now they know they have to follow it up with an equally good performance at home against Birmingham City. How easy will that be? Not so easy, but at least the players now know they have beaten a big team only a few days ago and that they can be a match for anyone. It is important that AFCB players do not feel pressured to perform at home and I am hoping that the Reading win enables them to play with a bit more freedom and belief in their ability to create chances at home and more importantly to take on shots.

It was the fact that all the players defended together so well against Reading that helped them to get the win. They closed down together and simply didn't allow the opposition to get into areas where they could hurt the Cherries. As long as the fans can be patient and raise their voices I'm optimistic that it should be another good day.

Back to back wins would be great for AFCB.

It is pleasing that the back four are now looking more settled as it was last season's promotion winning defensive line up at QPR and Reading. I think that has been an important factor even though Elliott Ward was playing well before his injury. The more players that AFCB can get used to playing in the Championship the better and Tommy Elphick is starting look more at home. The addition of Lee Camp in goal is also making the team more solid, although he will not have been pleased to let in an extra time goal at Reading. If AFCB can keep working hard to reduce the amount of work that Camp has to do then we will see that goal difference start to improve, because our team seems to have goals in it.

Eddie should play two up front for this game but he may well have more choice to select from now. While Grabban will be an expected starter, does he stick with Tokelo? I think it is a big decision whether to play him or Pitman as it will signal whether Eddie is confident with how things are going at home or if a change is required to give AFCB a better chance of getting the points. How that would effect Rantie is unknown, but all players will have times when they are not included. If McQuoid is also fit he would come into contention and Wes Thomas should also be upping his performance if he wants to make an impact this season with AFCB.  

I do think it would be harsh to drop Surman after his display last game and he linked so well with Grabban that it may be in Eddie's mind to keep him in the team instead perhaps of Rantie or Pitman. Who would you play up front in this game?

Earlier this morning we posted an interview with Birmingham website Often Partisan. You can see the interview now on Rival Lines.

Brighton was tough: QPR and Reading are a different kind of test

For once the Cherries really went at the opposition in the first half against Brighton. The worry was that they looked as if they ran out of steam a bit in the second half. Brighton played well in the second period and AFCB have to work out why that was. Some of it must come down to AFCB not managing to do all the things they were doing well earlier.

Team spirit and grit will be needed at QPR. Dig deep AFCB!

Oscar Garcia has to be given some credit as well as the Brighton players for getting back into the game. They clearly saw Ritchie as a problem and they kept him a little quieter second half. The physical side of Brighton's game suited them in this match as the referee was weak in not making a booking for the first poor tackle.

Brighton managed to pin AFCB back and I thought Conway was instrumental in that with his runs on the left wing, while Arter and O'Kane found Rohan Ince more than a handful through the middle. I was pleased when Ince went off half way through the second half. Crofts was kept fairly quiet though for most of the game, which is a credit to O'Kane and Arter as he has been one of Brighton's most influential players.

Still, Brighton are a team who were in the play-offs last season. They were strong and their management of the game was good. AFCB are still learning the art of defending leads when under pressure, but they did not come under the kind of pressure that made Camp have to make too many saves. It was the possession play of Brighton and their movement that kept AFCB at arms length in the second period. Bournemouth's passing also has to remain at the levels it was in the first half, but the energy looked sapped in a few players after the Seagull's goal.

It will be a different kind of tests though against QPR and Reading away. The away form which was so worrying at the start of the season has become a source of real hope. If AFCB can get a lead away from home they must hold on to it this time. They did not manage that against Burnley or Middlesbrough, but if they can just do it again like they did against Doncaster they can climb the table again. Brighton at home was the pressure game, now the QPR and Reading games should be ones that the players now try to enjoy. 

If they play without feeling fear against these teams they could just surprise themselves and the opposition because they have the creative talent on the pitch to do that. We've all seen it in action and it is time that those chances were taken so that the team can get three points. 

Ritchie is certainly a bonus for AFCB in these games, but a goal for Rantie, Pitman, Thomas, O'Kane, MacDonald or Arter would do even more to give the team confidence now.

Later this afternoon,  I'll post an article of an interview I had with Tony Gibson of the Loftus Heights blog. So don't miss it he has some excellent information for visiting fans.

All Departments has a new Kangeroo Court out, talking about AFCB's draw with the Seagulls visit Michael Dunne's site at All Departments.

Finally, pictures of Dean Court on Saturday are up on Match Day Gallery - are you on there?

Is there a way to stop Burnley?

This weeks game couldn't be much harder for the Cherries. The away trip to Burnley is one to savour with Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall making their way back up north to their former Championship club. But this will not be a too friendly an encounter. Both sides will be revved up for this game as one they have to win. Burnley go in to the game on a 10 match unbeaten run which is great consistency, although they have started to see teams giving them close games of late with Millwall the latest team to prevent them from taking all three points in their last game.

So how can you stop Burnley from playing? AFCB are going to find it tough going make no mistake about that. Burnley aren't top of the table for nothing and the first concern must be to try and frustrate their powerful forward game. Bournemouth need to have an out ball that gives them a threat and we have that in the pace of Grabban and Rantie which served AFCB so well in the Middlesbrough away fixture. If the Cherries can give Burnley something to think about when they break, Burnley might not be so cavalier in their efforts to throw everyone forward on each attack.

Burnley are resilient at the back with Trippier, Duff, Schackell and Mee keeping the door firmly shut on many Championship teams, while Ings and Vokes have been banging in the goals at the other end. Marney and Arfield have also been getting good reports in midfield and looking for a weakness is pretty hard in this team. The only points that Burnley have dropped at home were draws against Bolton and Blackburn Rovers, but they are unbeaten at home. The good news is that records are there to be broken though and there is pressure on Burnley to keep the run going. By the way, I have been told that AFCB have never won at Turf Moor.

Burnley managed to come back from two-nil down in their last game so that will of felt as good as a win for them. Sean Dyche admitted they did not play well in the first hour but I can't see them sitting back at Turf Moor. The last team they beat at home was QPR and they managed that with some room to spare. If Bournemouth can stop Burnley it will be a game that will be carefully studied by the other managers in the Championship, because they have dumbfounded everyone so far with their explosive play and string strike force. 

It will be key how Eddie sets the team up. I suspect he might play one up front but as well believe Ritchie, Coulibaly and possibly Fraser are not match fit, Grabban could be moved to the right wing and that would either mean Rantie playing as the loan striker or he could fancy Pitman or Thomas in that role. The latter would be a surprise, but Wes Thomas can play that role well in holding up the ball and he is quicker than Pitman.

If Eddie then goes five in midfield we could see Surman, Hughes or O'Kane come into the team. Meanwhile, at the back  I expect Ward to come back in for Elphick. The good thing is that Eddie has options and he could set up the team to be defensive or offensive and there should be quite a bit of competition for places. There is something that tells me that Jason and Eddie might well have a special game plan for this match and AFCB might spring a surprise or two in their line up.

Over to you Eddie Howe, show us how you come away with points from Turf Moor. 

Have strikers got to score to stay in the team?

Eddie Howe is adamant that he will pick the best side he can to get a result. That may mean selecting players who are not having a great time in front of goal but who are capable of unlocking defences and creating chances for others to profit from. We saw it last season with Lewis Grabban finding it difficult to score and take his chances and yet he was considered too valuable to they way AFCB were playing to make any change. This season it seems that Tokelo Rantie is the striker that is crucial to the style of play the Cherries are trying to impose on teams while he is not able to get off the mark with a goal.

Tokelo is still waiting to tuck away his first goal.

Even Grabban knows he has to keep scoring.

So at what point do you have to try something new? That is a hard question that will crop up at some time if our strikers continue to draw a blank in front of goal. Yet, looking at our season so far the goals have been coming in most games and through a variety of sources. We all like to see the front two players scoring regularly as that is their main job and it provides the team with a lot of confidence when they do manage to score consistently. Sadly, that isn't going to happen all the time.

Against Bolton Eddie Howe did make a change after the hour with Pitman and Thomas coming on to try and get AFCB on the scoreboard. But that did not come off either. While Pitman did have a half chance after a cross that flashed across the box the Cherries are finding it difficult to get their front men scoring regularly.

Indeed, it is a more difficult division and the chances they get will be fewer. But our strikers have to be confident that they will score with the next opportunity they have. It is when they don't think they are going to score that Eddie Howe may feel he needs to make a change.

Looking ahead to the Burnley match it may be that Eddie decides to just play one up front and to bolster the midfield. Eddie has some interesting decisions to make.

Grabban's play has been impressive

Some fans have not really given Leiws Grabban the credit he is due for his performances this season. To concentrate on the odd, one-on-one, missed opportunity is not seeing the wider aspect of his game that has come on tremendously in the last few months. I not only see him as a potent goal scorer, but as a player that has been linking play and even tackling back to regain possession for the team. He is holding the ball up well now and his first touch has been particularly good in the last two games. Things are going really well for Lewis.

Grabban is taking the lead for AFCB goal scoring.

Lewis has every right to be pleased with the start of this season.

Grabban's work ethic has certainly risen. He does a lot of work for the team in running back and making it more difficult for teams to attack AFCB when they have the ball and he also widens the play by making his runs to the corners to stretch teams very effectively. Meanwhile, his goal count is among the best in the division.

As a first season in the Championship I don't think Eddie Howe could expect to see much more from Leiws and I am sure he is one of the first names that goes down on the team sheet at the moment. I know some fans will say he needs too many chances to score but I don't think that is fully assessing what he brings to the team and he has been taking on shots early and trying to keep his scoring record going, which is just what I want to see from him. He has the confidence he needs to feel that he is going to score at the moment and that is vital for a striker. 

Lewis was particularly unlucky at Leicester when he had a shot from the edge of the box after what must have been 25 or more Bournemouth passes only to see his shot narrowly go wide of the post. It would have been one of the best goals the team would have made this season. The good thing is that his team mates know he is in form and they are trying to get him on the end of moves.

Lewis, Brett and Tokelo will be looking to help push AFCB further up the league.

Our other strikers know that they have a hard task to work their way into the team with Lewis playing so well. Thomas and Pitman would be a pretty good strike force for any Championship team but they are fighting for supporting roles along with Tokelo Rantie. What is more, I think Grabban is getting even better and I can see him believing in his abilities now. All strikers are going to miss some opportunities, but Lewis never lets his head go down from what I have seen this season and he looks forward for the next chance. As long as he can keep doing that he will become a real favourite at Dean Court.

You can also visit Cherry Chimes Rival Lines today where you can read an exclusive interview with Chris Parr one of the founders of Bolton Blog - The Men in White. Chris points to a defensive set up and experimentation as the main reasons for Bolton's slow start to the season, but they are up and running now and their strikers are starting to score. Perhaps that's a warning to AFCB.

Grabban is keeping up with the top strikers

At the start of the season not may AFCB fans would have said that Lewis Grabban would be leading the way with the goals for the Cherries after the first 11 games. That is probably understandable when you consider the form of Brett Pitman towards the end of the season when he was scoring in every game. But it's the former Rotherham and Millwall striker that has been getting the headlines, not only for his goals but for some very pleasing all round performances.

This season more than last we are seeing the true value of Lewis. Yes, he has always run the channels and would often find himself in goal scoring positions but he is doing more than that now. He is really getting involved in holding up the ball and making it available to team mates as well as getting in on the end of moves. Both his goals against Blackburn and Leeds were indicative of a striker on form. He did not hesitate with either strike but hit the ball as soon as it fell near to him.

When you also add in the fact that he is having to get used to a new strike partner in Tokelo Rantie, as well while keeping his place in front of Pitman, Thomas and McQuoid he is more than holding his own. Considering he was only playing in League Two a couple of seasons ago it shows you just how a player can go through the leagues and score at each level. Last season it was the early part of the year when Lewis scored most of his goals, but I am hoping that he can go even further this time and keep the goals coming throughout the season. He is battling away with some highly admired strikers at the top of goal scoring table with Jordan Rhodes, James Vaughan, Sam Vokes and Danny Ings in close attendance. 

Lewis is getting used to playing with Tokelo.

The one factor that AFCB fans may not yet have considered is that as the season progresses with Lewis doing so well he could well look like an attractive player to buy for either teams at the top of the division looking to get automatic promotion, or some of the clubs with more buying power than AFCB who could be at the bottom of the Championship. It's happened before to players and it will happen again. If you are playing well you are in the shop window and AFCB may have to decide at some point if they need to keep a man who is proving to be valuable to them in a Championship or if they can let him go for a good price and buy in more success. Suddenly I am not sure if I am looking forward to the January transfer window.

McDermott and McQuoid are ready to step in

Both Donal McDermott and Josh McQuoid are not so far away from making a reappearance in the team by the looks of the current situation. The substitues' bench against Middlesbrough was graced by both of these players, although MacDonald was perhaps more surprised than most to be named in the final squad with Ryan Fraser pulling out just before the match kicked off.

The squad is really being tested now and while others are out I expected Eddie Howe to put at least one of these two on to the pitch as it drew towards the end against Middlesbrough, but he chose not to make a change. Eddie did have one substitute left up his sleeve but for once Grabban, Pugh and Pitman were allowed to play out the game with only Thomas and MacDonald coming on in the second 45 minutes of play.

McQuoid will surely be used in upcoming games.

With Pugh, Eddie may have been taking a risk leaving him out because he was on a yellow card. Still, when he kept Pugh on in the Barnsley game and he came up with the vital goal and that could have been in his thinking. So for McQuoid especially, the wait goes on but I don't expect it to be long before he gets his opportunity.

Donal: a late call up to the bench against Middlesbrough.

If Eddie really does see McQuoid as a forward option he might well be selected to come on to replace one of the other forwards ahead of Wes Thomas in one of the next few games. Giving him a bit more time to get over the surgery may not be such a bad thing in the long term. We don't need another player breaking down having only just come back to fitness.

Grabban and Pitman could benefit from Rantie's arrival

It may seem strange at first to think that the addition of another striker could help your prospects in the team, but I honestly think that Brett Pitman and Lewis Grabban can benefit from Tokelo Rantie's appearance on the scene. That is at least while he finds his feet in the team and the Championship, and carries the weight of expectation to score his first goal and to live up to his high billing. 

For while Tokelo is taking the media spotlight and drawing the attention of the opposition and is the one that may be singled out for special attention, Grabban and Pitman will find a tad less pressure on themselves. Lewis has already bagged five goals and Brett is catching up on three. I don't really mind who gets the goals as long as they keep coming, and if it so happens that Tokelo sets up more than he scores fans should not see this as any less of a contribution.

Top scorer, Lewis Grabban.

If Tokelo finds it a struggle to do something spectacular he may find that he is the one that is over looked for a starting space eventually. But if he is putting in performances that are hurting the opposition and others are benefiting he will keep his place. All goal scorers go through barren spells and it may be that Wes Thomas or Josh McQuoid can contribute with some extra fire power.

I just hope that we don't expect too much too soon from the star signing as he has only just touched down in the country and he has a massive learning curve ahead of him. Eddie and Jason though have talked him up a fair bit so they are sure he will deliver.

Brett Pitman is doing okay from the penalty spot. Can
he score on open play now?

Meanwhile, Brett Pitman must be enjoying all those headlines this week of closing in on, James Hayter, Steve Fletcher and Ted McDougall's scoring records for the Cherries. I suspect though that records are the kind of thing that most players think about only after they retire and Brett, like Lewis and Tokelo, probably just wants to get the next goal, whenever that may be. Sooner rather than later please!