Written by billythekid
After a goalless draw at Peterborough, in a pretty boring and frustrating game, the Cherries are back home again at Dean Court on Saturday at 3pm with Sheffield United the visitors. Sheffield United will be the second team relegated from the Premier League last season to visit Dean Court this season. They parted ways with Chris Wilder in March this year, after being in charge for five years, he had been their longest-serving manager since Neil Warnock who was in charge for just under eight years (December 1999 until May 2007). AFCB have never beaten the Yorkshire team at home. This is our last game before the international break.
In July Sheffield United appointed their first manager from abroad, the Serbian, Slavisa Jokanovic as their new manager, he had previously had spells in this country at Watford and later Fulham. He was appointed the Watford manager on a short-term contract the season AFCB pipped them to the title and both clubs were promoted to the Premier League. At the end of the season, he parted ways with the club having failed to agree to a new deal. He had a short stint in Israel before joining Championship side Fulham in December 2015. In his first full season and second season in charge, he took Fulham to the play-offs, they lost to Reading. The next season his team again reached the play-offs and after beating Derby County they met Aston Villa in the final, Fulham won scoring the only goal of the game and were promoted to the Premier League. After some early poor results in the top league, he was sacked in the November.
Of the three teams relegated from the Premier League, The Blades have had the worst start. Losing three of their first four league games. They started the season with a 0-1 home defeat against Birmingham City. This was followed by two away games, 0-0 draw at Swansea and the heaviest defeat of the season so far, 4-0 against fellow relegated side West Brom. The next game was home against a team from the same county Huddersfield Town, it finished 0-1 in the visitor’s favour. Sheffield United after this spell had 1 point and were second bottom of the table. So things could only get better and they did. Their next five games produced three wins and two draws. First, a 0-0 draw at Luton, followed by two home games, their highest score and first league win so far, 6-2 against Peterborough United. Then a 2-2 draw with Preston. Then two more wins, away 1-3 against another Yorkshire club, Hull City and back home 1-0 against Derby County, Their position in the table was more healthy after 9 games, in 11th place on 12 points. Their most recent game was away at Middlesbrough, Sheffield United’s recent good form came to an end losing 2-0.
The last time AFCB played Sheffield United at Dean Court was the first game of the 2019-20 season, it finished in a 1-1 draw. Both goals came in the second half, Chris Mepham put the Cherries in the lead but near the end of the game, Billy Sharp equalised for the visitors.
In our league games against the Blades at home, the Cherries have Won 0, Drawn 3, Lost 5.
In all competitions, AFCB have W 1, D 5, L11.
AFCB v Sheffield United
AFCB Win
Draw
Sheff Utd Win
AFCB Team News
It seems like everyone came through the game without injury. So maybe Scott Parker will make changes to the starting lineup on Saturday.
AFCB Player To Watch
Dominic Solanke on home turf has scored 5 goals at Dean Court out of his total of 6.
Sheffield U Team News
Sander Berge in midfield has a hamstring injury and missed the game at Middlesbrough, but maybe available for Saturday.
Sheffield U Player To Watch
A player who was linked with us on transfer deadline day, Morgan Gibbs-White on loan from Wolves, has looked good for them so far this season, has scored 2, with 2 assists. Another player to watch, is their ‘old timer’ and local-born player, Billy Sharp, he is leading scorer with 3 goals, also leading with 3 assists (all in the Peterborough U game) this season.
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