Battle Of The Seaside Towns

Written by billythekid

The Cherries are back home at Dean Court on Saturday at 3 pm after their two away trips and two wins. It was a goalless first half at St Andrew’s which didn’t see a shot on goal from the Cherries. But two well-timed substitutions by Scott Parker in the second half on the 60th and 69th minute bringing on Junior Stanislas back from injury and Ben Pearson from illness, their experience changed the game in AFCB’s favour. It was Ben Pearson’s 77th minute through ball that put Dominic Solanke away down the right, under pressure from a Birmingham player Solanke coolly slotted the ball into the far corner from an acute angle to give AFCB the lead. Then 10 minutes later it was the turn of two inexperienced younger players Ibsen Rossi and Jaidon Anthony to get our second goal and put the game to bed. Rossi’s knockdown was swept into the back of the net by Anthony.

Our next opponents are from another seaside resort, Blackpool. Blackpool’s manager is Neil Critchley, he took over from Simon Grayson in March 2020. Critchley had previously been in charge of the Liverpool Under 23’s. In Critchley’s first full season (20-21) in charge, Blackpool were promoted up into the Championship, when they beat Lincoln City in the League 1 play-off final. Critchley’s club have made a number of signings in the transfer window for this season.

The last time they were in the Championship was in AFCB’s Championship-winning season of 2014-15, as the Cherries went up, Blackpool went down into League 1 after finishing bottom, they had been in the Championship for four seasons. Ian Holloway was appointed manager for the 2009-10 season, in his first season in charge, he got Blackpool into the play-offs and into the final where they beat Cardiff City 3-2, to go up into the Premier League for the first time.

In their opening game, Blackpool drew 1-1 away at Bristol City. In their first home game, they lost 0-2 against Cardiff City.

We last played Blackpool at Dean Court in March 2015, AFCB won 4-0, this included a first-half hat-trick from Brett Pitman, in our previous away game at Fulham, he scored a brace. In the second half after Marc Pugh was brought down in the box, Callum Wilson converted from the spot.

In our home games in the league against Blackpool, AFCB have W 7, D 4, L 7.

All competitions, AFCB have W 14, D 10, L 17.

AFCB Team News
David Brooks will be available again after his one-match suspension. After the return of Ben Pearson and Junior Stanislas, our side could have one or two more senior players available after injury, plus one or two new faces.

AFCB Player To Watch
So far it has been about a team performance rather than individual performances. But again it was the younger players who caught my eye, especially Jordan Zemura. He worked tirelessly and made one great stop to avert a second-half Birmingham City goal. He also has a good understanding with Jaidon Anthony.

Blackpool Team News
Players who have been out injured. Daniel Gretarsson, Gary Madine, Kevin Stewart Matty Virtue and Demetri Mitchell.

Blackpool Player To Watch
Jerry Yates 20 league goals in 43 starts and 3 as a sub, helped his team win promotion via the play-offs, he also had 8 assists. Another player and what looks like could be an exciting prospect for them is 22-year-old Shayne Lavery their signing from Linfield of the Northern Irish Premier League where he was a prolific scorer. Last season in the league, he scored 23 goals in 17 games. In all for his old club over two seasons, he scored 33 goals in 27 league appearances.

Our referee is Stephen Martin.

He was the referee for only one of our games last season at home against Bristol City.

Your say…

GrahamH wrote…