As the transfer window flurry is beginning to draw to an end, I`ll remind everyone there is a rather tasty game on Saturday! After two wins on the bounce, AFCB were brought to an abrupt halt at Huddersfield on Tuesday, and they`ll be hoping they can up their game against one of the ‘big` teams in the 3rd tier of English football. A result and performance similar to at the City Ground on the opening day of the season will go down very well with The Cherries faithful. AFCB will go in buoyed by the fact that Sam Vokes rejected the chance to move to Crewe after the club accepted a £175,000 bid, hopefully, he`ll bag another goal to his collection on Saturday!
Forest are probably still looking to do some business in the transfer window as I write this, so by Saturday, their team could be totally different! The latest news from them was an accepted bid for Dundee United midfielder, Barry Robson, but a rejected bid for Leon Best, currently at Coventry. This year, the club is pushing for promotion back to The Championship and are sat in 3rd spot. Having said that, they were on course for promotion last season as well before spectacularly imploding. They will hope the experience stands them in good stead. They had a goalless drew with promotion rivals, Swansea on Tuesday.
Vital Quotes:
Russell Perrett spoke to The Daily Echo in the aftermath of Tuesday’s defeat at Huddersfield:
‘Regardless of who was to blame, we should have dealt with it and it was one of those poxy goals we seem to give away. We shot ourselves in the foot and it gave us a lot of hard work to do… felt we should have done a lot better with the ball. Our distribution all over the pitch wasn’t good enough. We kept giving the ball away and our play kept breaking down as a result. It was a shame because I didn’t feel Huddersfield were a massive threat.’
Forest boss, Colin Calderwood, spoke to the BBC after Tuesday’s draw with Swansea:
‘… we had the better chances and the keeper made three or four fine saves… We were second best in one or two areas in the second half and allowed them to be good with the ball… But a draw was probably a fair result. We warranted a point. It was a good game, it was well refereed and was a great advert for the league.’
AFC Bournemouth Team News:
Along with the four long-term absentees, Moss, Garry, Anderton, and Foley, The Cherries have doubts over Neil Young, Russell Perrett (both calf knocks) and Shaun Cooper (dead leg) who all sat out of training on Thursday and face a race against time to be fir for the Forest match. Max-Alain Gradel may return to the starting XI, having started on the bench against Huddersfield. Sam Vokes has decided to stay at Dean Court, whilst there will be no new signings because of the transfer embargo.
Player to watch: Shaun Cooper
Facing a race against time to be fit for the game, Cherries fans will hope the versatile youngster will make it after making some very impressive performances recently which have gone by quietly unnoticed. Having found the net twice this season for his first goals for the club, another effective midfield performance by the ex-Pompey lad will be required to keep Forest quiet.
Nottingham Forest Team News:
At the point of writing this, Forest still had no transfer signings. They have however sold Scott Dobie to Carlisle, whilst Dale Roberts, Tom Sharpe, Brendan Moloney, and Felix Bastians, Alan Power, and Hamza Bencherif have been sent out on loan. Lewis McGugan misses the game as he suffers a one-match suspension having accumulated five bookings this season. Chris Cohen is hoping to return from injury, creating an empty treatment room for Forest.
Player to watch: Kris Commons
This is Forest`s do-or-die season with Commons. If promotion isn`t achieved, he will leave at the end of the season on a free transfer, which might lead some to question his loyalty, but after staying with the club this long that would be harsh on the attacking midfielder. His left-foot has already struck 9 goals in 31 appearances already this season. A real danger.
Match Facts & Stats
Current Form:
AFCB – L L L W W L
Forest – L W W L D D
AFCB at Home:
Played 14, Won 3, Drawn 3, Lost 8, Scored 16, Conceded 29, Points 12
Forest Away from Home:
Played 13, Won 4, Drawn 5, Lost 4, Scored 17, Conceded 13, Points 17
Ref Watch:
Premiership referee, Steve Bennett is in charge, just as he was when The Cherries hosted Leeds back in November.
Referee: Mr S Bennett
Assistant Referees: Mr I Gosling & Mr S Tincknell
Fourth Official: Mr G Ward
Match Prediction:
Forest`s last win was 4 games ago now, but AFCB just don`t win really. I expect Forest will continue their promotion push here, in a game similar to the one when Leeds arrived earlier in the season. So a 3-1 Forest win for me.
Next Fixtures:
Luton Town v AFC Bournemouth (Coca Cola League 1, Saturday 9th February 2008, 3pm)
