Wednesday night, live on Sky Sports Football red button service, is AFC Bournemouth versus Bristol City at Dean Court.
It’s the first fixture between the two for almost 14 years despite being virtually inseparable over the 11 years preceding.
During those 11 years between 1995 and 2006, AFC Bournemouth and Bristol City met 27 times across the third tier of English football, the FA Cup and the Football League Trophy.
The last time the two sides met at Dean Court finished 1-0 to the visitors with Phil Jevons getting taking the points with a 70th minute goal. AFC Bournemouth’s starting line-up that day included current Cherries assistant manager Stephen Purches, whilst in the Bristol City side was Lee Johnson, who recently managed the team until his recent sacking.
The landscape for the two sides has changed somewhat over the past 14 years, AFC Bournemouth would drop down to the fourth tier of English football, almost drop into non-league and financial oblivion, before winning three promotions and spending 5 seasons in the Premier League.
Bristol City have meanwhile bounced around the second and third tiers of English football, dropping out of the Championship in 2013 just as AFC Bournemouth were promoted into it and then returning to the Championship just as AFC Bournemouth were promoted to the Premier League.
Both sides now have genuine ambitions of winning promotion to the top tier of English football, with Bristol City holding a legitimate claim to being the biggest club to have never featured in the Premier League.
They travel to Dean Court on Wednesday evening in second place in the Championship, having won 4 of their opening 7 games, scoring 11 times and conceding 6.
AFC Bournemouth are fourth, unbeaten in their opening 7 games with 3 wins, 10 goals scored and conceding 6.
Head-to-Head
| Games won: | 26 |
| Games drawn: | 23 |
| Games lost: | 38 |
AFCB v Bristol City
AFCB Win
Draw
Bristol City Win
Team News
David Brooks and Adam Smith both missed the recent game against Watford. Brooks was keen to play but AFC Bournemouth manager Jason Tindall revealed that he just wanted to look after the Wales international after such a troublesome injury period for the play-maker. Adam Smith was listed as 50-50 so with the additional days he could potentially be involved.
Jefferson Lerma was withdrawn during the first half with a hamstring problem that Tindall revealed had been a concern before the game so the Colombia international could miss out.
Meanwhile, Bristol City head coach Dean Holden has a whole host of injury concerns going into the game. Liam Walsh and Joe Williams have been in the treatment room for the long-term and are expected to stay there, whilst Nathan Baker and Alfie Mawson have missed their last few games.
Steven Sessegnon and Andi Weimann both picked up injuries against Swansea City.
Holden is expected, like Tindall to pick a back three for this game, so the battle will have to be won in midfield for whoever wants to control possession.
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