Following another long trip north, AFCB play their FA Cup Round 1 Replay against Barrow, just 2 days after their live Sky game. A pleasing performance against Hartlepool where the club earned a deserved point, needs to be followed up with progression to the next round by overcoming the jinx they appear to have at home.
Barrow sacked their manager Phil Wilson following the first tie, citing the league position being a concern. Senior players Darren Sheridan, Dave Bayliss and Paul Jones are looking after the side, and have started well with a 7-6 penalty victory over Workington in the Setanta Shield and, at the weekend, a 4-0 demolition of promotion chasing Telford in the Conference North, taking them up to 18th in the league. Confidence will be high for the part-timers looking for a scalp.
The winners face Millwall in Round 2.
Vital Quotes:
Barrow haven`t given out any official quotes so I can only give you the thoughts of Kevin Bond after the game on Sunday:
“It was a terrific performance. We had set out to make ourselves difficult to beat and, by and large, we were. I thought we did a better job of that in the second half than we did in the first.”
AFC Bournemouth Team News:
Lee Bradbury returns from his three-match ban but Sam Vokes is still on international duty. Jem Karacan has returned for another loan spell and can play with Scott Golbourne. Alex Pearce and James Henry miss out after Reading`s refusal for them to play in FA Cup games. Cummings and Bartley may be given a run out to improve their fitness, but Neil Moss and Darren Anderton still miss out with their minor injuries, along with long-term absentees Garry, Perrett, Foley, and Christophe. Gradel is still on compassionate leave, and Young is at Weymouth.
Player to watch: Warren Cummings
The fans favourite is possibly tipped to a return to the starting XI following his injury. His exciting and penetrating runs up and down the left wing will hopefully be bringing joy to The Cherries and provide the lift they need in their current situation. How he will be accommodated with Golbourne would be interesting to see, as left-midfield is not his position!
Barrow Team News:
Having replaced Phil Wilson as manager, the new Barrow caretaker player-management trio of Darren Sheridan, Dave Bayliss and Paul Jones have just one injury worry. Midfielder Andrew Todd is rated 50-50 with an ankle injury, with Kevin Rapley and Ryan Elderton back in contention, giving the new boys a fully fit squad to select from.
Player to watch: Jason Walker
Like his strike partner, Nick Rogan, 23 year-old Walker has scored in both of Barrow`s games under the management regime. This has brought his total for the season up to four. Having initially started his career at Dundee the local Barrow boy failed to breakthrough and this has led to moves to Greenock Morton and Morecambe, before joining Barrow in March 2007.
The Road So Far:
AFCB:
R1 – Barrow (a) 1-1
Barrow
2QR – Colwyn Bay (h) 5-0
3QR – Fleetwood Town (h) 2-1
4QR – Farsley Celtic (a) 1-1
4QRr – Farsley Celtic (h) 2-1
R1 – AFCB (h) 1-1
Ref Watch:
No website seems to have published the referee appointments for the ties once again. So prepare for the surprise!
Match Prediction:
The FA Cup always throws up an upset, and with The Cherries poor home form, and Barrow revitalised with a new manager, the opportunity is there. But, I`m going to stick by my prediction made for the original game and say AFCB will reach Round 2: 2-0.
Next Fixture:
AFC Bournemouth v Oldham Athletic (Coca Cola League 1, Saturday 24th November 2007, 3pm)
