It’s the final countdown for Bournemouth

Written by billythekid

After the international break, the battle for automatic promotion out of the Championship hots up and our club have a strong hand going into these games, sitting in second place with a 6 point lead and with two/three games in hand over the other sides just below us in the top six. In our previous 10 games, the Cherries won 6, drew 2 and lost 2, gaining 20 points out of a possible 30 points. So if we can continue winning 2 points a game, this will give our club a final total of 89 points which will be enough for automatic promotion back into the Premier League after a two-season absence.

The first of the countdown of our final 10 games for the Cherries is at home at Dean Court on Saturday at 3 pm, when our visitors are Bristol City. City manager Nigel Pearson will be wanting to have a higher finish this season than last where City finished in 19th place with 51 points. After 39 games City are sitting in 18th position with 44 points.

In their away games since our visit and 0-2 victory at Ashton Gate, Bristol City beat Blackburn Rovers in March, that was their first away win in the league since October. They have drawn with Hull City, Preston and West Brom. Then City lost ten games, including against Midland sides, West Brom, Coventry City and Birmingham City. Followed by further defeats at Sheffield United, Fulham, Luton Town, Blackpool, Swansea City, Nottingham Forest and Barnsley. At home since our October game, City have W 7, D 2, L 5.

The last time the two sides met at Dean Court was in October 2020, a goal on 81 minutes from Arnaut Danjuma was enough for 3 points in a 1-0 Cherries win.

AFCB home league record against Bristol City, W 18, D 12, L 8.
In all competitions, AFCB W 29, D 24, L 37.

AFCB Team News
It was reported that Mark Travers returned early from international duty due to injury, just hope it’s not serious and he can continue in goal. No news of any other new injuries or on players who have been on international duty.

AFCB Player To Watch
Dominic Solanke with his consistency this season of finding the back of the net in every other or two games. His longest gap between not scoring in the league was a three game gap in January. Going into this game he has scored in his last three games. The other player is our goalkeeper Mark Travers who has been so consistent in games this season and has stopped the ball ending up in our net earning our side valuable points. These two players for me are key in our next ten games as our club look for automatic promotion.

Bristol City Team News
Joe Williams and Andy King are out with hamstring injuries, Callum O’Dowda and Tomas Kalas with knee injuries. Antoine Semenyo was substituted after 6 minutes against West Brom in their last match with a knee injury and wasn’t fit enough to join his country Ghana for the World Cup qualifiers and will not be available for Saturday.

Bristol City Player To Watch
Andreas Weimann has scored 18 goals this season and has 9 assists. He is the fourth-highest scorer in the Championship this season, not bad for a side in 18th place.

The Referee
Stephen Martin is the man in charge of this game.
Was the referee for our home game earlier this season against Blackpool.

Your say…

AFCBade wrote…

At this stage of the season all about the results now. Doubt Bristol will be as obliging as Huddersfield last time out so this may be a tricky game. Quite a few interesting games on Saturday in the champ. – Join the conversation, click here.