Should AFCB play with two up front more often?

Flicking back through the records, it has been quite unusual for Eddie Howe to chose an away 11 to play as a 4-4-2 this season away from home. Having seen Yann and Callum play up front at Bolton and Huddersfield and the team getting a result on both occasions it is justifiable to ask why the system is not used more frequently away from home? Granted, Yann's sending off meant that there was not much of the game when AFCB had two up front at  Bolton, but the idea was to at least start that way and the team caused Bolton all kinds of problems in the first half.

Eddie Howe has often said it does not matter what system they play as long as the players do the jobs they have been asked to play in that role. Some opposition teams lend themselves to being played against with one system or another, but having played most of the top teams away from home there could now be a period when Eddie Howe can decide that playing Callum up front on his own is not the best option to get all three points.

The immediate problem is that Yann has picked up a three match suspension for his red card at Bolton which Eddie Howe has described as a big issue. "The only thing is for us is that we lose Yann for three games. Potentaily, but without looking at it again it was the best 35 minutes or however long he was on the pitch for. He was outstanding and that was a real killer blow for us because he is so important to us as I have said before."

Brett must be favourite in line for an AFCB start against Charlton.

Eddie Howe now has to see how best to set up the side against Charlton and Reading at home and Birmingham away without Yann. I just wonder if Brett Pitman is going to have a busy few weeks ahead of him.

Four points off the play-offs and ready to kick on again

Eddie Howe was quick to point out in his post match interview with Andrew Moon at BBC Solent last weekend that AFCB have had a hard start to the Championship this season. The reason being that they have played all of the top four teams and three of them were matches away from home. Had they held on against Rotherham and Watford they could have been in the play-off positions, but the win against Bolton has given the side a more respectable position in the league and a platform from which they will hopefully build from now.

Eddie can take quite a few positives from the Cherries' performances so far.

You can't argue with the teams that sit above the Cherries as they have been more consistent and that is what Eddie Howe is looking for now. Back to back wins have only occurred once in AFCB's season after the first two games, and since then it has been a story of draw and defeats in the main. Mid-table though is not a bad position to be in as we reach the second international break and what damage has been done in terms of points is very much still recoverable, if the side can turn its recent win into a new held belief that the side is good enough to knock over more of the big sides in the division.

As the leaders are only six points ahead of the Cherries, it is clear that teams in the Championship are finding it difficult to win ever week and a run of consistent results could put m
any of the chasing sides in the clear.  

Callum Wilson already looks like a bargain

It is no wonder that strikers cost so much money when they win you so many games. AFCB would have been lucky to come away with a win at Bolton were it not for the finishing power of Callum Wilson. His first goal showed his quickness of feet and sharpness of mind. Callum is one of the most goal hungry strikers I have seen at AFCB. He does not seem to worry overly when he misses a chance, but gets up and has another go. That makes him a cracking buy for me and he has already shown that he is worth the large amount of money that the Cherries payed Coventry City for his services.

Callum - back on target at Bolon.

While there is still more to come from Callum, it is great that Eddie Howe, Jason Tindall and Simon Weatherstone will be able to work on him and encourage him to greater things. It is not every day that you can find a striker that is a raw talent that has the attributes to be a big star at the top level. Callum is already showing that he is capable of great things, and for his first season at AFCB he is setting a high standard. Yes, he could have scored more goals. He has missed chances, but he has also got himself into those positions to get the chances. 

It was interesting to hear that Harry Arter said that the team had been working hard on getting Callum though like he did for the second goal against Bolton. Callum took the ball down nonchalantly, despite it being a difficult ball to control and he had the presence of nerve to steer it past Lonergan with ease. Playing to Callum's strength is clearly starting to pay-off, and the season is already starting to mirror last season in what a certain striker, who has moved on, achieved for AFCB. Let's hope that come the end of the season, AFCB are in a better position to keep Callum's services.   

Hot property - Callum Wilson is proving to be a great buy for AFCB.

Artur Boruc has only been beaten by two stunning shots

Artur Boruc is probably a bit annoyed at not having kept more than one clean sheets since his arrival at AFCB. However, the two strikes that have beaten him have been sensational strikes and so he should not be too disappointed that he has been unable to keep all the shots against him out since arriving at the Cherries. As we have a two week break, it is likely that Artur will be one of the players that Neil Moss would really like to do a lot of work with, but Poland play Germany on Saturday 11 October and have Scotland at home on Tuesday 14 October, so it is most likely that Artur will have an international call up, even if Szczesney is the Polish number one.

Artur Boruc may find that he is a few hundred miles
away from Dean Court in the next few days.

Boruc will not get too much rest then, although both games are in Poland. For him it will be a case of supporting the team unless their is an injury in goal, but that still means a lot of work on the training  ground - it just won't be at AFCB. That means no time with a back four that he is still getting to know and having Charlie Daniels come back into the team he has now been working with two different left backs at Bournemouth. 

Communication is the main aspect of his game that he'll have to get right and while we have seen some disputes about coming for the ball with Steve Cook in the Wigan match, as long as the decision making is confident then there should not be too much to worry about.

Of course, Darryl Flahavan sat in on the bench at Bolton, after Lee Camp's red card at Derby last week and it is likely that we will see Darryl at Dean Court in the next few weeks as he looks to play more of a part in proceedings. At least Darryl has proved on many occasions that he can come in at a moments notice and perform. While he saw two goals fly past him at Derby, I would not say that he had much chance of saving either shot. He may not have more than a bench spot in the next two games, but he can certainly do some work on the training ground along with Lee Camp, while Boruc carries out his national commitments.

It is early to say how many points that Artur Boruc might be able to save the Cherries before his loan period ends in January, but I already hope that there may be a way that Eddie can keep his services for even longer.

Aside from wallowing in the fabulous efforts of AFCB this weekend, I have noted that there has been a managerial change in the Championship at Cardiff City. So my NewsHub story this week looks at Russell Slade's move and asks: 'Will Slade's gamble at Cardiff City pay off?'. 

AFCB's win against Bolton was just the ticket

It has been a hard few weeks for AFCB supporters. While the League Cup games have gone well, it has not been at all easy in the Championship. The importance of the Bolton away win is huge. It is not just that the Cherries secured their second away win of the season in the league but the manner in which the result was achieved and the circumstances of the day yo beat managerless Bolton.

AFCB players really put in a shift with 10-men for 60 minutes against Bolton.

When everything has been seemingly going against you and the pressure is on to get points it cannot of been a great feeling for the team when Yann Kermoirgant was shown the red card. "Oh no, not again!" were my thoughts and it must have struck the players that the referees have it in for the side at the moment.

I was not surprised that Eddie Howe did not make a substitution after the sending off as playing one up front was a simple enough change and even with nine outfield players and a keeper, AFCB quickly showed that they could still control the game. The Cherries were able to get to half time without conceding and that must have given Eddie Howe the confidence to keep things as they were for the second half and getting that first goal proved vital. Bolton played well then and got back into the match with an equaliser, but the second half performance of the Cherries must have made Eddie Howe smile. This time Callum Wilson put away his finished and the Cherries continued to use him as a threat on the break to good effect.

Now the team goes into the two week break thinking that they are a good team and can still get better. The big job that Eddie Howe has to do now is get the team playing better when they are at Dean Court.  

There is a new podcast out from All Departments that reviews Bolton 1 v 2 AFCB.  To listen visit the All Departments' website or scroll down the right hand side bar of Cherry Chimes and click on the All Derpartments' sound bar.

Did Kermorgant deserve to see Red?

There was only one question that AFCB fans had on their lips after the match at Bolton - did Yann Kermorgant deserve to see red? In Andre Marriner's mind it was a clear and immediate decision to send the French player off of the field of play. Most commentators believed it was justified for a high foot up against Mark Davies, which was said to catch him on the thigh. Looking at the incident at full speed, it looked like Yann had caught him more in the head, as Davies had ducked towards the ball. Yann did not look like he saw Davies coming as his eyes appear to be on the looping ball, but the referee perhaps thought there was some intent. Such is AFCB's luck of late that two red cards in the last two games is the way it has been going, along with conceding late goals.

Yann's high boots get him into trouble.

Of course by now I have had the opportunity to see the video clip back several times to feel that Yann could have been given a yellow for his challenge, if it had been another referee on the day. Still it was a challenge that was going to make the referee consider what was a fitting punishment and while he leaned to the more severe interpretation of the incident, it is hard to argue against his decision from the camera angle that TV viewers see. Still, AFCB showed that they are a side that can dig in and grind out a result with 10-men.

Kermorgant has much to thank his team mates
 for after they pulled through against Bolton.

The referee had not been too generous to AFCB earlier on, when Callum Wilson was taken out as he ran into the penalty box by Matt Mills. A penalty might have been given, but only a free kick was awarded. Yann Kermorgant so nearly scored from the opportunity but for a goal line clearance from Mark Davies.

I think the bad run of late has really made the players very determined not to lose any more points that they should really have in the bag. It would have been easy to get everyone behind the ball and defend after Kermorgant's red card, but the Cherries have learnt that they have to attack and ask questions of teams down the bottom of the league, and on this occasion they benefited from being brave and not sitting back with 10-men in the second half.

Eddie Howe said: "Most things again were chucked against us today. Having a man sent off away from home in the Championship, it does obviously change the game and it does make it difficult to win the game or obviously to get a point....My initial thoughts I can see why the referee gave a red card, his foot was high, but there was no malice in it."

Yann is now suspended for the next three league games.

Wilson double sees Cherries beat Bolton 1-2 with 10-men!

Match Description

Bolton 1 v 1 AFCB

4 October 2014

Attendance: 13,033 (including 390 Cherries supporters)

The idea was certainly to attack Bolton at the Macron stadium. Eddie Howe decided to play two up front which had not been seen in away game since the opening day when the team played so well at Huddersfield. Eddie Howe brought back Artur Boruc and Yann Kermorgant to the starting line up along with Charlie Daniels and Marc Pugh. Meanwhile, Rantie and Francis were brought into the squad but O'Kane and Stanislas were left out of the 18.

AFCB got on top after the first 10 minutes with Ritchie bringing out the best in Andy Lonergran. Wilson and Kermorgant were also seeing much of the ball, while Marc Pugh and Harry Arter were also getting forward. Matt Mills was given the first yellow card for a foul on Callum Wilson, but the big moment came in the 35th minute when Yann Kermorgant was sent off for a high kick on Mark Davies. Beckford and Ritchie both had efforts go wide but there was no goals in the first half.

At half time AFCB had taken 10 shots with four on target compared to Bolton's five shots with two on target. The Cherries had been very dominant with 66 per cent of possession and six corners compared to two. Bolton had also committed seven fouls compared to AFCB's two but Yann Kermorgant had been sent off for his high kick! The second game in a row where AFCB had had a player sent off

The second half started with a bang as Callum Wilson raced through to put the Cherries 1-0 up but with six minutes Jay Spearing had hit a powerful equaliser from 25 yards out! Bolton looked to have found their stride and came close again when Craig Davies shot came off Elphick and hit the bar! Bolton continued to press with Lee-Chung Yong forcing a save from Boruc and corners followed as the momentum started to turn towards the home team. 

However, Harry Arter delivered a defence splitting pass for Callum Wilson and he finished to make it 1-2 to the Cherries on 68 minutes. Craig Davies was the most dangerous Bolton player but AFCB were keeping him out and he was finally subbed as the half drew near to the last 20 minutes. Francis was continuing to supply some great crosses and Ritchie was having a lot of joy as well on the right wing. Max Clayton came on for Neil Danns with 15 minutes remaining.

In the last 10 minutes it was nail biting time for AFCB fans. Chris Herd was booked for a foul on Pugh and the Cherries looked to keep going forward. They had to defend a corner that was conceded by Charlie Daniels but managed that safely. With two minutes of normal time to go Adam smith came on for Ritchie who was one of AFCB's star players on the day. Another corner saw danger averted again and Pitman replaced goal hero Callum Wilson.

The final score was 1-2 to AFCB but the second half had seen Bolton improve considerably with 14 shots in all during the match equalling AFCB and seven shots on target. AFCB only managed six shots on target but got the victory that takes them up to 11th in the table. I expect some lively discussion about the Yann Kermorgant sending off and AFCB's thoughts on the referee!

Official Tweets from AFC Bournemouth
01: Artur Boruc is called into action immediately as Craig Davies gets a shot in with seconds on the clock. Parried and cleared.

03: Matt Ritchie puts in a deep cross that Marc Pugh can't quite reach. Goal kick for the Trotters.

04: Kermorgant unleashes a shot from the edge of the area which Lonergan palms away for a corner.

11: Craig Davies sees another effort from inside the Cherries' box beaten away by Artur Boruc.

14: A super last ditch tackle from Steve Cook denies Craig Davies 18 yards out.

18: Wilson links with Andrew Surman, but the striker's shot is deflected away.

18: Moments later Matt Ritchie hits one from distance which the keeper has to parry low to his left. Good shot, great save.

22: Great ball from Ritchie sees Francis put through. His cutback is met by a first time effort by Kermorgant, but it's blocked.

25: Ritchie cuts back across the edge of the area. Arter can't reach it, but Pugh takes a touch before blasting over the bar.

27: Nice spell of possession but no killer pass. Arter sprays one over the bar from 30 yards

29: Wilson with a mazy run down the left but is put on his backside. Cherries want a penalty, but free kick awarded.

31: Off the line! Kermorgant nearly curls it into the top corner but Dervite is on the line to head clear! Very close

36: Yann Kermorgant is show a red card for a high foot!

37: It was an unnecessary challenge from Kermorgant on Mark Davies, and the Cherries are down to ten.

39: Bolton streaming forward trying to capitalise. Beckford flashes a volley just wide.

43: Ritchie lets one go from 30 yards and the keeper has to push it round his post. Great shot

45: There will be two minutes of added time here. Beckford crashes one into the side netting

Artur Boroc is booked.

HALF TIME: 0-0. Cherries down to 10 men (again) but still level on the scoreboard

Second Half

We're back underway here with one change for Wanderers, with Pratley replacing Mark Davies. (46) 0-0

46:GGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLL!!! Wilson scores! #bwfc 0-1 #afcb.

46: Wilson squeezes the ball between Lonergan's legs in the first attack of the second half.

GOAL: A rifled effort from Spearing levels the scores.

52: Goal for Bolton. Jay Spearing hits one from 25 yards and it fizzes past Boruc. #BWFC 1-1

57: Craig Davies' effort flicks off the outstretched leg of Tommy Elphick and onto the bar. A let off for the Cherries there.

61: Boruc spills a long range effort but recovers excellently to deny Beckford one on one. Offside anyway

62: The official attendance today is 13,033 with 390 making the long trip north. Thank you to every one of you.

68: GOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!! WILSON AGAIN!

68: Harry Arter's peach of a through ball is chested down by Wilson and guided past Lonergan. #BWFC1v3 #AFCB bit.ly/bwfcvafcb

76: Neil Danns hits the upright with an overhead kick, but the linesman already had his flag up for offside. Still #BWFC 1-2 #AFCB .

80: Chris Herd goes into the book for a foul on Marc Pugh.

85: Five minutes of normal time remaining here. Cherries soaking up pressure and trying to retain possession when they have it.

88: Adam Smith comes on for Matt Ritchie, who has had a fine game.

90: There will be three minutes added on.

90+2: Pitman is coming on for Wilson. Meanwhile, Bolton have a corner and the keeper is up.

90+3: The ball is cleared and Smith is fouled on the halfway line running full pelt.

That's it! Full time at the Macron Stadium. The Cherries win all three points! #BWFC 1-2 #AFCB.

AFCB Team

Boruc, Francis, Cook, Elphick, Daniels, Ritchie (Smith 88), Arter, Surman, Pugh, Kermorgant, Wilson (Pitman 92). 

AFCB Substitutes

Flahavan, Smith, Harte, Gosling, Fraser, Rantie, Pitman.

Bolton Wanderers

Lonergan, Herd, Mills, Dervite, Ream, Danns (Clayton 76), Spearing, M Davies (Pratley 45), Chung-Yong, C Davies (Mason 71), Beckford.

Bolton Substitutes 

Kenny, Clayton, Feeney, Medo, Mason, McNaughton, Pratley.