Written by billythekid
What a game of two halves against Leicester City on Sunday at Dean Court. The Cherries fell behind to an early goal scored after losing the ball in midfield and then a defensive error led to a gift for Jamie Vardy who put the ball in the net to give Leicester the lead and that was how it remained at half-time with Leicester dominating the game. Nobody was expecting what was to happen in the second half, Eddie Howe made two substitutions and they changed the game for the Cherries who as we know finally got that win they desperately needed after other results that weekend. There was good and bad news came from this game. The good news was Dominic Solanke not only scored his first goal for the club in the Premier League but followed it up with a brilliant bit of skill for his second. The bad news was the loss of our influential central defender Nathan Ake who limped off with what looked a bad injury just before the half-time and looks like he will miss our remaining games.
The next game couldn’t be harder, as AFCB are back in Manchester again for their next game, only this time to face the blue side, Manchester City. Even though the title winners have been decided, Manchester City have not eased up and since the lifting of lockdown on football have been in devastating form at home, in their four games played have scored 17 goals and conceding 0. Amongst them was a 4-0 win against the new Champions in Liverpool, Arsenal 3-0, Burnley 5-0 and Newcastle 5-0. At home this season, they have W 13, D 2, L 2. Away from home they lost against both Chelsea 2-1and Southampton 1-0 and in their last game beat Brighton 0-5. Away this season they have W 10, D 1, L 7.
When the Cherries last visited Manchester to play City last season, the home side won 3-1. This season in the game at Dean Court, City won 1-3.
In all the away league games against City, AFCB W 0, D 1, L 7. We have never met Manchester C in the Cup. In all league games, AFCB have W 0, D 2, L 13.
Man City v AFCB
Man City win
Draw
AFCB Win
Manchester C Team News
Sergio Aguero has a knee injury. Pep Guardiola has hinted there will be changes for the game against AFCB, with other important games coming up.
Manchester C Player To Watch
Raheem Sterling has to be one, in great form in their last game at Brighton scoring a hat-trick, to take his tally 17 goals so far this season in the league. The main reason he just likes scoring against the Cherries. City have several players who could cause your team problems, but one player for me is Kevin De Bruyne a great all-round footballer. This season from midfield he has scored 11 goals and has 18 assists in the Premier League.
AFCB Team News
The usual three have been out with knee injuries, Charlie Daniels, Chris Mepham and Simon Francis. Nathan Ake looks like he will miss the rest of the season. Josh King missed the Sunday game with a hamstring strain. Adam Smith was also missing with a head/facial injury but should be available for the next game.
AFCB Player To Watch
After his brace against Leicester and a player who must now be confident, Dominic Solanke will be one to watch to see if he can now add to his two-goal tally. But if Josh King is fit will Solanke play? Another player if he starts must be Junior Stanislas who when coming on as a substitute against Leicester, helped change the game.
The referee is Lee Mason and for those interested Simon Hooper is on VAR.
Mason was our referee for the Norwich home game and Spurs away. – Join the conversation, click here.
Your say…
kirsikka wrote…
I’m going to assume King and Smith will be available but Ake won’t. However, after his brace, I don’t think you can drop Solanke from the starting XI. That’s something I didn’t think I’d be saying this season. It’s a happy moment to be able to though!
As far as we can, I guess we should start with the team that finished. Although that didn’t work out so well this time around hopefully we might cause Man City some problems. On paper, they should brush us aside without much effort but you never know. There should be a kernel of belief in the squad now and this end of season games sometimes throw up bizarre results.
Ramsdale
Stacey S Cook Kelly Rico
Stanislas Billing Lerma Brooks
Solanke Wilson
I’ll be honest, I haven’t got much of a Scooby what our formation was there at the end. I know it wasn’t really 4-4-2 (or 4-4-1-1) but whatever it was, let’s give that whirl. It was fun! – Join the conversation, click here.
