Cherry Chimes talks With the Brewers

Match Preview

Blogger Interview - With the Brewers

AFCB v Burton Albion FA Cup third round
4 January 2014

Cherry Chimes has tracked down a Burton Albion supporter ahead of the third round FA Cup tie this Saturday. Colston Crawford has had his own brewers blog at With the Brewers, but has stopped recently as he no longer reports daily on the club, having written on them for some 10 years. However, he still files reports regularly for the Derby Telegraph that features the team.

CC: I understand that if Burton Albion win this third round game it will be only the second time in the club's history that it has reached the fourth round. Do you think the town will go crazy if the Brewers win?

WTB: To be honest, I don’t think too many Burton supporters will expect the town to go crazy if we should reach the fourth round. The club has its hardcore fan-base but, although this is the fifth season for us in the Football League now, Burton itself is still a relatively small town to have a club at this level – in terms of population, the town is 84th out of the 92 clubs in the top four divisions.

It takes a long while to build a fan base and this is a club that was attracting 600 in the Northern Premier League within the last 20 years and which dates back to only 1950 altogether. With Birmingham one side and Stoke and Derby close, there is a lot of competition for football allegiance.

CC: What did you think when AFC Bournemouth were drawn and then Burton Albion followed? Winnable tie, disappointment or a pleasing away trip to the seaside?

WTB: I would not want this to sound disrespectful to Bournemouth but there was a little disappointment in the draw simply because we were down to four balls in the bag and the other possibles were a game against our neighbours, Derby, or Chelsea. So, we didn’t get Chelsea or Derby and we didn’t get a home draw either. We have to think of it as a possibly winnable tie… having knocked Leicester and Sheffield United out of the Capital One Cup and Middlesbrough out of the FA Cup in recent seasons and taken Cardiff and Fulham to extra time in the Capital One, we have a half-decent record of raising our game against sides from higher up.

CC: A few seasons ago in April 2010 AFC Bournemouth came to Burton Albion in the league needing a win to get promotion to League One - Do you remember much of your team from then?

WTB: I remember who was in the team then, as it was our first season in the Football League. Only one player remains on the books from that day, our winger Jimmy Phillips, after the previous longest-serving player, Aaron Webster, was released after 16 years at Burton at the end of last season.

We remember the day well because your fans behaved superbly and had a promotion party on our pitch. We thought Bournemouth were a good club and deserved their promotion.

CC: Who are the stars of the Burton Albion team today and who do you need to keep hold of in the January sales?

WTB: Billy Kee is the fans’ favourite striker and seems very settled in the area. He is from Leicester and was homesick when he played for Torquay so we think there is a good chance he will stay. He is not scoring so many goals that others are likely to feel they have to try to tempt him away. Adam McGurk, who also plays up front, stepped down from Tranmere and is ambitious to play further up the ladder again. He has scored some classy goals and may attract interest in the window. Most of our other standout players at the moment, the defenders especially, are older, seasoned pros and less likely to move on. We have a 19-year-old midfielder, Matty Palmer, who has broken into the first team regularly this season who may also attract some attention in the January window.

CC: What can you tell us about your manager Gary Rowlett and how he likes the team to play?

WTB: Gary is very popular with supporters generally; many were unsure about Paul Peschisolido’s assistant being given the job full time when Peschisolido left but they had not arrived as a pair. Both applied for the job when Nigel Clough moved on to Derby and when Peschisolido got it, Gary was asked to be his assistant.

He sets great store by the team ethic and a work ethic, likes the team to press the opposition relentlessly and play at a high tempo. It’s not always pretty but it’s tending to get results. It’s a more sophisticated philosophy than “route one”. Gary is also big on preparation and will play different ways against different opponents. You can expect us to try to contain you and hit you on the break in this tie.

CC: If the tie goes to a replay will the ground look any different than it did back in 2010?

WTB: No, the ground will look almost exactly the same. You would still get one terraced end and the option of seats towards the away end in the only seated stand.

CC: You are doing well in League One this season. Would promotion really put Burton Albion on the football map and could the club invest if it goes up?

WTB: We would not regard promotion as putting us “on the map” any more than doing well in League Two is doing, really. Four years in, we are still enjoying getting used to the idea of being an established Football League side. We know that we are still regarded as newcomers and “little Burton Albion” by fans who follow what they think are “big” clubs, like Northampton and Oxford but we don’t care about that.

We think we have the best chairman in the lower divisions in Ben Robinson, who has never gambled on spending anything we do not have. Progress has always been affordable and achieved gradually and we’re proud of that. We are in profit most years. Ben argues that getting promoted does not actually cost too much more as the club itself runs in the same way and the slightly bigger wage bill is covered by the fact that the share of the sponsorship pot is bigger the further up you go. When we went up from the Conference to League Two, the accounts proved this; the increase in wages was almost exactly the extra amount of sponsorship cash we received.

CC: Thank you for letting us have a look at Burton Albion Colston. AFCB may seem like a big club to Burton fans but we are more used to being seen as the small club so we don't take any game lightly having ourselves been League Two only four years ago. Burton have already beaten Fleetwood in the last round and you have a good cup pedigree, so I hope our team are wary of your strengths as this could indeed be an upset with AFCB's priorities lying in the Championship. Still Eddie Howe has said he will rotate the squad so it will be an interesting fixture for our fans to see what team we put out.

Breaking News: Vitals website reports that Wes Thomas can leave to join Swindon Town as AFCB has agreed a price for the striker. It is probable that Wes will play no part in the FA Cup tie tomorrow.

Bringing Tokelo in from the cold

You could not help but see Tokelo Rantie looking a bit forlorn at the Amex this week. He has not quite had the start that he and AFCB fans would have liked to his Cherries career, but it seems that he has some problems of his own that are preventing him from fulfilling his full potential on the pitch. An article in The Independent points towards his homesickness and his worry for his ill mother who is living in South Africa. Away from his family and with only Skype to keep in touch it can't be much fun for him, while on the pitch he was been left out of the squad for the Ipswich match and did not get any minutes against Brighton.

Tokelo at the Brighton game.

I am hoping that someone at the club is putting a warm arm around Tokelo and bringing him in from the cold. January is a pretty bleak month for all of us and Tokelo is one who will only be able to play well if he is feeling good inside and focused on the matters at hand, rather than events several thousand miles away. Tokelo has said himself that many of AFCB's players have been making efforts to involve him in activities and invite him around to their homes as he tries to get used to being in Bournemouth.

I know many will say Tokelo is well played and simply needs to get on with things, and that he has a great opportunity which many young aspiring football would be thrilled to have. But it's never that simple, even when you know you have a great opportunity. Eddie Howe was adamant at first that he would play Tokelo no matter what. In recent weeks his stance has softened a little and I wondered what the plan was with Tokelo as the goal against Burnley should have been the launch pad to him feeling better about things. Instead, we find Tokelo getting very little time on the pitch.

The FA Cup could be a chance to kick start Tokelo's performances at AFCB.

I wonder if Rantie may feel it a special privilege to play on the FA Cup. Did he watch the games in the competition when he was a boy in South Africa? I would expect so. While a third round tie may not be glamorous to all fans, for Tokelo it could be the game he so badly needs and I for one hope he is picked and has a cracker of a game.
We will talk to a Burton Albion fan next to get his views ahead of the FA Cup third round tie on Saturday. Make sure to visit Cherry Chimes at lunch time.

Elphick finally leads a team out at the Amex

Tommy Elphick must have had very mixed emotions on Wednesday when he led AFCB out at the Amex stadium. While Tommy had been due to lead out a Brighton side for the first ever match at the newly built stadium, injury had denied him the opportunity and a move to Bournemouth might have seen him never get the opportunity to lead a team out at the Amex. However, when AFCB won promotion last season and Brighton failed to go up in the play-offs, Tommy must have knew as captain of the Cherries that he stood a very good chance of leading a team out at Brighton's stadium after all.

Good job Tommy blessed that post, it came in handy later on
when the ball thudded against it.

Even this season though there could have been circumstances when it did not happen. We saw that Tommy did not get into the team for some time, although he did play in the home game against Brighton in November, as did fellow ex-Seagull Steve Cook. But it was the game at the Amex that both players would have pencilled in as probably their biggest game of the season for personal reasons.

Tommy warms up at the Amex.

Tommy had another great game at the heart of AFCB's defence.

The game on New Year's Day went fairly well for Tommy and with Elliott Ward, the central pair played their part in coming so close to getting the clean sheet that Tommy would have been so keen to earn in front of his former club. It was always going to be a special day for Tommy and I am just glad that he can tick another achievement off and now look to build something special at AFCB.

All Departments reviews the thrilling match at the Amex with its latest podcast. Visit All Departments' website or listen by scrolling down to the All Departments logo and sound bar on Cherry Chimes' right hand panel.

Lee Camp sign here for AFCB!

After his epic performance at the Amex yesterday all Bournemouth fans seem united in calling for the permanent signature of Lee Camp in this January transfer window. The experienced shot stopper has become an instant favourite at Dean Court and his decisive decision making and safe hands at the back of the Cherries defence has seen the team become far more solid and less shaky against the attacking power of other teams in the Championship since his arrival. Now the difficult part comes in enticing him to stay permanently at AFCB and to make the south coast his new home.

Lee Camp is in demand at AFCB. 

While AFCB have had the good fortune in the recent past to sign a renowned keeper like David James and have seen the experienced Darryl Flahavan often out through injury, adding a new experienced keeper to the squad of the calibre of Lee Camp is surely something that Eddie Howe will do everything he can to accomplish. There are no guarantees in football but if the game against Brighton was a final audition for Lee Camp, who soon becomes a free agent, then he passed with flying colours.

Some of the saves he made at the Amex can be put in the world class category. Brighton may well feel that they would have won the game by four or five goals on another day had it not been for the stunning short stopping power of Lee. It was not merely that he made finger tip saves and formed a brick wall barrier in front of the Brighton strikers, it was the way he commanded his goal area in conditions that would have been perilous for most goal keepers. The rain and the swirling wind were a complete nightmare and at the other end we saw Thomasz Kuszczak have problems when confronted with the conditions and Bournemouth players chasing him down.

Lee Camp set the example for the rest of the AFCB players to follow in the New Year derby. He was not going to let anything get past him and he almost succeeded in defying a Brighton team that virtually threw the kitchen sink at him. It could have been very different as early as the 10th minute when Crofts sped his shot away and it slithered cruelly underneath the goal keeper's frame, but a slight touch on the ball was enough to see it come off the post and from that moment on Lee Camp grew in confidence and stature at the Amex.  

It has been a long time since AFCB fans have seen a commanding keeper performance like this one. Sure Ryan Allsop had some good games in the 2012/13 season, but this was in the truly outstanding bracket. Lee did not put a kick wrong all game, he put his body on the line countless times and his heroics encouraged others to play more determinedly.

As Eddie Howe put it: "A special mention to our goal keeper today who was very good. he hasn't had a lot to do in recent games, but today he did and he saved us time and again." 

As long as AFCB can meet Lee Camp's wage demands, I for one would hope that we have a new permanent keeper signing from West Brom in the next few days. If AFCB want a stable Championship side, Lee Camp is a good place to start building some solid foundations. As the away supporters at the Amex demanded, "Sign him up!"          

There is a midday pitch inspection today, because of the overnight heavy rainfall. Lee Camp did not sign in time to play in this game.

Cherry Chimes' away day at the Amex

Like some of AFCB's players, the game against Brighton on New Year's Day was always going to be a highlight for the Bell family. Living in Redhill, Surrey, the match at the Amex was just a 45 minute drive away compared to the usual two hour trip down to Bournemouth's home games, so as our first visit to Brighton's new stadium we were very excited. However, we had not expected the inclement weather which added another dimension to the day, which was not entirely desired. 

The drive down the A23 was quick and met with few difficulties apart from some road works. Outside it was belting down with rain and when we arrived at the Park and Drive area in Mill Lane nobody was too keen to venture outside the warmth and comfort of the car. We had left Redhill just after 11.00am and had got down to Brighton around midday so had loads of time before kick off. That is if there would be a kick-off as listening to the radio we had already heard that the Watford v Yeovil game had already been called off as well as some non- league games and things were not looking that clever on the south coast with strong gusts and driving rain.

Early arrivals at Mill Lane, Brighton

The parking assistant did not look like she was enjoying her job much when we arrived. We were only the fourth car at Mill Lane and it was going to be a long day for her. She reassured us that the match would be going ahead and we stepped on to the coach not really knowing what facilities we would get to enjoy when we reached the Amex as a purpose built stadium. The journey took some 15 minutes and we had a mixture of Bournemouth and Brighton fans on a half full coach. Robert and Stephen wasted no time in talking to the opposition fans and telling them that they were in for a real treat today, because the best team on the south coast led by Eddie Howe would soon be gracing their stadium. They can never resist a bit of banter!

Stephen and Robert on the bus to the Amex.

After the coach driver was told that he should be going to another entrance by an over enthusiastic steward at the Amex, the coach driver won him over by explaining that we were an official park and ride coach that had to come in this main entrance. Robert, Stephen and I would have happily stayed on the bus a bit longer. The rain had worsened and was creating giant swimming pools on the tarmac, while the wind was gusting the water right into your face - lovely! 

Robert is first to get off the coach.

Are you sure this game is on?

Stephen briefly comes out of the shelter of teh stadium walls.

We headed straight for the protection of the walls of the stadium and gradually worked our way around to the club shop which was at least warm and dry. Having assessed every possible Seagull ornament and shirt and having monitored Sky Sports News, albeit with no sound, we tried to get into the bar next door, but were ushered away because of the boys failure to meet the 18 year old age requirements for entry. Luckily at 1.00pm we could get into the stands and the first need was to buy some hot food and a drink. We went for the £7 meal deals and I sunk my teeth into one of the stake and ale pies which I gave top marks to. The Ringwood ale was on tap and the red lighting made us feel at home as more and more cherry supporters steadily flooded in, literally soaked. 

Come and join us at the red end!

It was only then that I questioned where exactly we would be sitting. The Amex's roof did not extend all the way down to the front seats if you were in rows A to H. Could you believe it we were in row I, just in the covered zone as long as the wind did not push the rain sideways. 

As the game approached I got chatting with those around us and I started snapping away on the camera as the players warmed up. I had a feeling that Bournemouth could get a victory on the day even if Brighton were going to be a difficult team to beat. Everything was going well when we had the early penalty and I started to pray to the football Gods that Lewis Grabban could put away the spot kick. Indeed, he did and we were on our way!

Great weather at the Amex.

Rantie finds a big coat to wear at half time.

It was clear that our back four and keeper were going to have one of their busiest games of the season, but as Lee Camp was in electric form we hoped we could hold out. In the back of our mind though there was a nagging doubt and sure enough Brighton's pressure eventually got them an equaliser when the three points had been so desperately close, just like the Burnley away match. It was an action packed game and I am still trying to work out how our goal managed to stay in tact for so long - well done Lee Camp, what a masterclass! I still felt it was a point gained, but thoughts then turned back to the weather and the sudden realisation that much of the 28,000 or so crowd wanted a place on one of those park and ride buses. The race was on and we were at the back of the queue!

All over at the at a soaked Amex stadium.

It was about an hour after the game that we finally arrived back at Mill Lane to pick up the car. It had been a good day and another point on the road. Yet, after driving home I knew we would arrive at about the same time as if we had been at a game down in Bournemouth. So perhaps getting out of Dean Court is not as bad as we all like to think. That's where we will be in a few days time when Watford come visiting. 

Sadly, Cherry Chimes is missing the FA Cup tie against Burton but we trust that BBC Radio Solent will keep us informed of the commentary over the airwaves. 

Match Report: Brighton deny Cherries win just two minutes from time - 1:1

Match Report

Brighton 1 v 1 AFCB

1 January 2014

Attendance: 28,282 (including 1668 AFCB fans)

Tommy Elphick finally leads a team out at the Amex, but its AFCB not Brighton.

A stormy day on the south coast is a good description not only of the weather, but also of this derby match that was fiercely fought by two sides striving desperately for a win in conditions that had many supporters thankful for what rain cover there was at the American express emblazoned Amex stadium. It was Bournemouth's first visit to Brighton's new ground at Falmouth and while the rain and wind were uninviting, some 28, 282 soles made it through the puddles and were entertained to a thrilling encounter from two of the best attacking teams in the Championship. While there were no winners on the scoreboard, AFCB fans were chanting just one thing at the end of the game "Sign him up!" "Sign him up!" - Lee Camp had an absolute blinder of a game and the call to make his move permanent from the fans could not have been heard any louder or expressed more keenly to Eddie Howe.

Sign him up! Lee Camp was just on a different planet for
most of the game - simply outstanding!

Both sides step out on to the wet pitch, which still looked
immaculate despite the constant heavy rainfall.

More pictures on Match Day Gallery

AFCB started the game with just one change from the Ipswich match with Harry Arter returning to the team in place of Josh McQuoid and Pugh starting ahead of Ryan Fraser. Meanwhile, Brighton brought in Lopez and Lua Lua to their starting line up.

Tommy Elphick says hi to the left upright in front of the Bournemouth fans.
 He must have thought of this day so many times in his dreams.

Brighton pressed well into Bournemouth's half from the start and while the Cherries withstood the opening salvos, Ward conceding an early corner with a tackle on Ulloa. When a free kick was given for pushing, Camp tried to set Ritchie away quickly but the ref was having nothing of that and it had to be retaken. Neither side got a grip of the game in the first 10 minutes as they were also battling the slippery conditions, but Lua Lua was proving a problem for Francis on the left wing. AFCB lost the ball a few times in midfield and Arter's poor pass let in Lua Lua who I believe passed to Crofts on 10 minutes and his drive from just outside the box flashed somehow underneath Camp who had dived to his right. We waited for the back of the net to bulge, but Camp had got the smallest of touches on the ball and it deflected onto the left post - what a let off!

Ward was increasingly seen to be winning headers and making clearances as AFCB repelled Brighton's attacks. Ritchie was also battling back in his own half and got the better of Stephen Ward in the right corner much to the delight of AFCB fans. When the Cherries broke with Arter, he played in Pugh on the left and Calderon came across and appeared to mistime his tackle in the box, but in truth Eddie Howe admitted he played the ball first. Still, the ref pointed to the spot and on 14 minutes Lewis Grabban slotted the ball to Kuszczak's right and it was 0:1 to the Cherries! To be honest it was difficult for the Bournemouth fans to see at the other end of the pitch whether it was a foul or not, all we saw was the Pugh had gone down. We were simply delighted that a penalty had been given and a bit surprised. 

Meanwhile, I was still having trouble picking out Brighton's player numbers - yellow numbers on a blue and white background. Thanks for that shirt designers!!

Bournemouth grew in confidence after the goal and Grabban had another shot blocked, but Camp also had to make a save from Ulloa, who had cut in from the right wing and forced a good save from camp low down to his left on 17 minutes.

Croft also started to get on the ball more in midfield for Brighton his pass on 21 minutes to Lua Lua could have been dangerous in front of the box but the shot from Lua Lua went wide. Camp was then at full stretch to his left after Lua Lua had another go a minute later. This was turning into the Lua Lua versus Lee Camp show. The pressure kept mounting on the Bournemouth goal with Calderon heading over from a free kick, but it was looking like AFCB's goal was having a bit of a charmed life.

Ince was controlling midfield by now and Arter was finding things hard going with his passing. Lopez and Lua Lua were attacking Francis at right back fairly frequently as well, while Daniels was putting in big tackles to stop Ince marauding forward. A moments relief came from Pugh, although he blazed over the bar. 

At least Ward and Elphick were doing okay in the centre of defence, with O'Kane as busy as ever in front of them. Having weathered the Brighton storm on AFCB's goal, the Cherries started to pass the ball much more and Arter had a shot blocked on 26 minutes. 

Lopez was caught offside as AFCB pushed up, but Camp was still very active punching from a free kick Brighton had on 33 minutes. O'Kane was starting to enjoy himself and had a go at a strong breakaway, while Ritchie was starting get a bit more involved in play. Brighton's corner on 40 minutes was well defended and by the time Arter did a showpiece turn on Lua Lua that left the Brighton playing standing still, AFCB fans were starting to think that three points were possible here, if the Cherries could just get that second goal. When Andrew Surman was brought down on the right side of Brighton's box, towards the end of the half, I thought a second penalty may have been awarded, but even though it looked a good shout nothing was given.

A few minutes later Arter carried the ball out of defence from the right across the pitch and up to half way line and further still to the left. We wondered if he knew where he was going, but he settled for the left hand corner of the field when we had hoped his antennae might have driven him more towards goal. 

As two minutes of added time were called out, I was thinking we could do with none. I must have known there was trouble ahead, because a ball was crossed from the right wing with Francis and Ulloa just in front of goal and, as Francis misjudged the flight of the ball, it landed right at Ulloa's feet. He soon looked goalwards and his shot was amazingly saved by Lee Camp who stood tall and put his arms up to see the ball deflected over the bar from six yards out! Was Camp having one of those days when he could do no wrong, I thought.

Half time came with the home fans booing the officials over the penalty decision as the teams came off the pitch.

Pitch repairs at half time.

Second half

Bournemouth came out in the second half determined to try and keep the clean sheet. It was Grabban who had a couple of early shots saved though as he tried to extend AFCB's lead. Arter was very much involved in keeping Ince at arms length, while Ward and Lua Lua were seeing a lot of the ball as well. The next alarm bell went off around 56 minutes when Lopez found Lua Lua who hammered his shot against the bar!

AFCB were playing on the break with Grabban latching onto a ball after a Brighton corner and sending O'Kane away before Ritchie fired over the Brighton goal. AFCB tried to apply some pressure higher up the field with Arter and Daniels pressing, but El-Abd and Upson were comfortable at the back, even if Kuszczak had his moments. Bournemouth had a good chance to break with Pugh but his short pass did not find Grabban. A few moments later Daniels would go on a similar run but he was chopped down by Al-Abd who went into the book on 62 minutes.

Brighton then took of Croft and brought on Agustein as the Seagulls looked for a way back.Calderon was getting forward more now and putting crosses in, even if most were too strong. A corner for Brighton on 70 minutes was also headed wide. AFCB fans were urging Eddie Howe to make a change to stem the pressure and he introduced Fraser on the right wing and took Ritchie off, which was a bit surprising although the influential winger has had a busy Christmas period. At the same time Lopez was subbed and Barnes came on.

Shortly afterwards Arter picked up a yellow card for a foul on Bridcutt. Daniels won a corner next and Francis had a deflected shot that was well saved by Kuszczak. AFCB were looking good to hold on to the points at this stage. Fraser hit a weak shot at Kuszczak which was a simple save, but moments later the keeper made a hurried and sliced clearance much to the delight of Bournemouth fans - "dodgy keeper!"

There was also a fun moment when Ryan Fraser was up against Rohan Ince in the middle and slight figure of Fraser fell almost before the towering figure of Ince had come up against him. But Brighton were in control now and a cross from the left wing had to be cleared off the line with 12 minutes to go.

A break from Pugh on the left had us all excited for a moment, when he looked to cut in but El-Abd and Calderon soon snubbed out the chance, when Pugh was in the penalty area. Eddie Howe put Pitman on with nine minutes to go and goal hero Grabban came off.

Camp had to make a save from Barnes on the right as Brighton came forward again. Francis gave away a corner on 83 minutes, but O'Kane made the clearance on the near post. Lua Lua was subbed for Orlandi to come on. While Arter managed to have a shot saved with a few minutes to go the ball was back down Bournemouth end on the left, when a cross was contested for in the middle of AFCB's goal and came back out to the right on the goal line. A sharp header back across goal was met by Ward running in to head home the equaliser! It was a frantic exchange and the ball had been held up like a pinball in Bournemouth's box before the goal had been scored. In some way, it was no surprise that the Cherries had not managed to hold out, even though they had been just a couple of minutes away from achieving their objective, such had been Brighton's late onslaught.

The game was not over though and there was time for either side to get a winner as Arter reminded us with a shot that went over. Five minutes of extra time seemed massive, where had that time come from? Brighton didn't care, they had a corner and more defending was required. In came another cross and Bournemouth's bar shuddered from a Barnes' header! There was no time to reflect, Pugh and then Daniels had the ball up the other end forcing Kuszczak into a save. Pitman was then robbed in the middle of the pitch and Brighton were back on the attack. While Brighton fans yelled "attack, attack, attack!", Bournemouth fans were hoping the final whistle might blow now. Bridcutt hit a shot at Clamp before Calderon relieved the pressure by shooting wide. And then the referee did blow the final whistle on what had been one of Bournemouth's most exhilarating matches so far this season.

Francis and Daniels give a big thanks to fans for the singing support.

Lee Camp in the background was the one deserving all the applause.

It was great to see Eddie work wonders away from home again.

Summary

Despite not holding on for the win, Brighton well deserved their point and created by far the most chances in the game. Yet, the Cherries have shown they are no easy match away from home and could have spoiled any New Year celebrations for the Seagulls if they had got a second goal at any time. The penalty will be the talking point for Brighton fans, although as mentioned there was a suspect challenge later on the right side of the box on Surman, in the first half, that looked more like a penalty, that was waved away at the far end of the ground. 

Lee Camp was inspired for sure and was easily the man of the match. A new signing for AFCB? On this performance the Cherries will be keener than ever to get his signature and from what I saw Lee Camp was very pleased to play his part in a terrific away performance by Eddie Howe's Barmy Army. Until next time Brighton - we loved almost every minute of the game! But please, sort those shirts out. 

AFCB

Camp, Francis, Ward, Elphick, Daniels, Ritchie (Fraser 71), Arter, O'Kane, Surman, Pugh, Grabban (Pitman 81)

AFCB Subs:

Allsop, Harte, Adisson, Fraser, Pitman, MacDonald, Rantie

AFCB Ratings

Camp 9*, Francis 6, Ward 8, Elphick 7, Daniels 8, Ritchie 7, Arter 7, O'Kane 7, Surman 6, Pugh 6, Grabban 7

*Would have been 10 but for the early Lua Lua shot that he virtually dived over, which hit the post and for just failing to keep that clean sheet - I am a hard judge. He was really excellent.

Brighton

Kuszczak, Ward, Upson, El-Abd, Calderon, Bridcutt, Ince, Crofts (Agustien 65), David (Barnes 71), Lua Lua (Orlandi 85), Ulloa.

Brighton Subs:

Brezovan, Andrews, Dunk, Barnes, Augustien, Orlandi, Chicksen

AFCB aim to catapult up the table

Happy New Year everyone!

Only a few weeks ago moist AFCB fans were looking with some apprehension at the fixtures that were coming up. The thought of playing QPR and Reading and having virtually must win games against teams in the bottom half of the table meant that the Christmas period would be a big barometer on where the Cherries' season was headed. To my delight and probably many other supporters, the team has come out of that demanding period with a lot of credit and more importantly points. Now the emphasis must be on seeing if they can catapult themselves further up the table because the better the finishing place the healthier the bank balance will be, while it has always been the objective to finish as high as possible.

Eddie Howe in the dugout before the Ipswich match.

Looking at the current table, this new Year's Day clash with Brighton & Hove Albion is going to be massive for both teams. A compelling win for either side will have a big effect on the table. Brighton could force their way into the top six, while AFCB could jump several places to land just outside the top 10. This division is so tight that you can't take your eye off it for a moment. 

While football pundits calmly talk about Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers, with their large squads, being expected to make a move up the table in the New Year, there is nothing to say that teams such as Bournemouth who have gelled together over the past year and a half can't go and hit the kind of form that saw them break the club's unbeaten record last season. Yes, this is a harder league, and the performances will need to remain high, but in the past few weeks we have been watching a team that is growing in confidence and is likely to be added to with some fresh players coming back from injury and maybe one or two more in the transfer window.

It is strange that the away form that had given the team so many headaches earlier in the season has acted as the springboard for results in recent weeks, and now the home form is starting to build as well. If Eddie Howe can keep this squad together and make the right acquisitions, teams like Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic could even be looking to hold onto the coat tails of AFCB in the coming weeks.  

Safe trip to all fans headed to the Amex stadium today. It should be a fantastic day to see the stadium and perhaps AFCB can also start the New Year with a win in the south coast derby. UTCIAD!

Amex parking details You will need to use park and ride if travelling by car.