Written by billythekid
After the 2-1 defeat at Brentford, AFCB are away again, this time against Stoke City on Saturday at 7.45 pm being the featured game shown again Live on Sky TV. This will be the Cherries third game in a row away from home and their first game of 2021. This will be another hard game but hopefully, our side can get back on winning ways again. At home against the teams in the top six spots, Stoke City beat Brentford 3-2 and lost by the odd goal against Norwich City 2-3. Stoke are in seventh place.
The Stoke City manager is the former Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neil. O’Neil left the Northern Ireland job earlier this year after being in charge for eight years to concentrate on his role at Stoke City. O’Neil joined Stoke City on the 8th November 2019, he replaced Nathan Jones who later became Luton Town manager in May of 2020.
In the Summer Stoke City signed midfielder Jacob Brown from Barnsley for an undisclosed fee. They also signed six players on free transfers. Two players from Sheffield Wednesday, the very experienced Scotland striker Steve Fletcher and defender Morgan Fox. Defender James Chester from Aston Villa, midfielder John Obi Mikel from Trabzonspor, goalkeepers Nikki Maenpaa from Bristol City and Andy Lonergan from Liverpool. On loan another goalkeeper Angus Gunn from Southampton.
At home Stoke City have beaten Brentford 3-2, Rotherham United 1-0, Huddersfield Town 4-3, Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers 1-0. They have drawn 1-1 with Birmingham City, 2-2 with Barnsley and in their most recent game 1-1 with Nottingham Forest. Lost 0-2 against Bristol City, 2-3 to Norwich City and Cardiff City 1-2. Away from home, they have W 4, D 5, L 2.
The last time AFCB played Stoke City at their ground was in the Premier League in October 2017. The Cherries won 1-2, with two early goals in the game during a two-minute spell. The first was scored by Andrew Surman after 16 minutes and the second came from the penalty spot from Junior Stanislas. Mark Hughes was their manager at the time and after just under five years in charge he was sacked in the following January and at the end of that season, Stoke City were relegated.
In league games played away against Stoke City, AFCB have W 3, D 2, L 8.
Games home and away, league and cup, AFCB have W 8, D 7, L 11.
Stoke v AFCB
Stoke Win
Draw
AFCB Win
Stoke City Team News
One very important player that is missing for them is Tyrese Campbell, he suffered a bad injury against Cardiff City and looks like he could miss the rest of the season. He is still the leading scorer with 6 goals and also has the most assists with 5. Other players missing from their last game were Steve Fletcher who has scored 4 goals so far, Lee Gregory and Morgan Fox.
Stoke City Player To Watch
Nick Powell in midfield is one we need to keep quiet and he has contributed with 5 goals and is their second-highest scorer this season. Against Nottingham Forest, Sam Vokes in one of his rare starts this season was one of their better players.
AFCB Team News
Jack Stacey, Chris Mepham and Arnaut Danjuma look like they will again miss this game. No new injury reports after the Brentford game.
AFCB Player To Watch
Dominic Solanke looked sharp and lively against Brentford, especially in the first half and was unlucky not to finish the game with a brace of goals, rather than the one he scored which gives him nine league goals for the season so far.
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