Written by billythekid
With the AFC Bournemouth team and fans on a high after beating Aston Villa and now having two home Premier League wins on the trot and out of the relegation zone, the Cherries have a tough away encounter against sixth-placed Sheffield United (The Blades). At the beginning of the season
promoted United were the odds on favourites to go straight back down to the Championship, but they have proved to be the surprise team of the season so far. The team that finished above them last season as Champions of the Championship are bottom of the Premier League this season.
It will be the first visit for our team to Sheffield United’s ground since we last met them in League 1 back in September 2012. At the time Paul Groves was our manager, his record in the league that season DDDLWDDLLL. That last defeat away at Crawley was his last game in charge, AFCB were in 20th place on 8 points. The next game an away defeat at Coventry had first-team coach Dennis Rofe in charge. The following Monday Eddie Howe returned to our club as our manager, the club were promoted at the end of the season into the Championship, finishing on 83 points, 1 point behind the Champions Doncaster Rovers. From that day on Eddie Howe took us on a ride none of us believed would happen, up into the Premier League and we are still there.
Sheffield United play at Bramall Lane the oldest stadium in the world and was at one time the home of Sheffield Wednesday. Sheffield United was the first English football club with United in its name, they were founded in 1889. Sheffield also has the oldest football club in the world, but it’s neither United or Wednesday, but Sheffield FC. They were the first football team to play at Bramall Lane, but they are now based in Dronfield in Derbyshire.
In the January transfer window, they signed more players than any other Premier League club. Midfielder Sander Berge for a club-record £22 million. Defender Jack Robinson from Nottingham Forest for an undisclosed fee. Midfielder Jack Rodwell on a free transfer. They signed two players on loan, forward Richairo Zivkovic from Chinese side Changchun Yatai and defender Panos Retsos from Bayer Leverkusen.
Since the opening game of the season against Sheffield United at Dean Court, which finished 1-1, at home United have won 5, drawn 2 and lost 5, scoring 13 goals and conceding 11. In five of those games, the Blades have scored 1 goal. In four of them, they haven’t scored. In two games they have scored 3 goals and in one game 2.
Their results since the start of the new year lost 2-0 away at Liverpool, won at home against West Ham 1-0, drew away with Arsenal 1-1, lost 0-1 at home against Manchester City and in their last game won away 0-1 against Crystal Palace.
Our last meeting at Bramall Lane as mentioned above was in the 2012-13 season and we lost 5-3. AFCB scorers were Tommy Elphick, Lee Barnard and Marc Pugh. In our away games in the league, AFCB have W1, D 2, L 4. In all competitions, AFCB have W 1, D 5, L 10.
Sheffield United Team News
David McGoldrick with an ankle injury seems to be their only player out.
Sheffield United Player To Watch
They have some new signings, one of which Berge is a club record fee and a very pacy forward in Richairo Zivkovic. But they probably will have to adjust to the PL. So Lee Mousset our old player and their leading scorer with 5 goals and leading with 3 assists will be one to watch.
AFCB Team News
Injury news seems to be improving and we have players who have been out for a while getting close to returning, but maybe this game will be a game too early for them. Otherwise, on the injury front, no new injuries have been reported. One player who will be badly missed is Jefferson Lerma who is suspended for this game.
AFCB Player To Watch
Was impressed with Philip Billing against Aston Villa, be interesting if he can repeat the same at Bramall Lane.
Jonathan Moss is the referee, this will be the first time we have had him this season.
Last season we had him for two away games at Watford and Cardiff.
Your say…
Toronto John wrote…
Quite looking forward to this one.
They have had an awesome season, with a magnificent 23 GA. But only 26 GF. I could barely name three players if pushed, so it should be interesting watching.
We defend well with the right line-up, the midfield will be a challenge with Lerma absent but that was on the cards (bad pun alert) with him on 9 before last week – and I would almost prefer having him back against Burnley. I foresee 1-0 either way or maybe a 1-1 draw.
Our game is sandwiched between Brighton-Watford and Man City-West Ham …. this will be a very interesting weekend. – Join the conversation, click here.
