- W
- /
- L
- /
- W
- /
- W
- /
- D
- /
- Position
- 12th
- Played
- 38
- Points
- 44
- L
- /
- W
- /
- W
- /
- W
- /
- L
- /
- Position
- 7th
- Played
- 38
- Points
- 54
Five Point Preview: Burnley
AFC Bournemouth host Burnley on Wednesday evening, with the two sides facing off for the first time this season.
The Clarets have started the campaign well, but can they get past the Cherries? Here are five points to look out for ahead of the clash...
Recent form…
Burnley have been firing on all cylinders so far this season, kickstarting their campaign with an excellent 3-2 win over champions Chelsea on the opening day.
Ever since, they’ve recorded draws against the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool, with Arsenal the only side to beat them since August.
They’ll be hoping to add to their points tally and stay within touching distance of the top six, as they travel to Vitality Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Between the sticks…
Following an injury to Tom Heaton, it was Nick Pope that stepped into the limelight. The youngster arrived at Turf Moor from Charlton Athletic in the summer of 2016, having made 24 Championship appearances for the Addicks that year.
During his first season under Sean Dyche, the shot-stopper was mainly used as a cup ‘keeper, maintaining clean sheets against the likes of Sunderland and Bristol City.
However, Pope now finds himself featuring week in, week out, with his form being noticed by national team manager Gareth Southgate. Despite still waiting for that international debut, he continues to be influential between the sticks for Burnley.
The boss…
Sean Dyche was Eddie Howe’s successor at Turf Moor, as the Cherries boss returned down south in 2012 after almost two years in charge of the Clarets.
Since 2012, Dyche has helped his side win two promotions to the Premier League and last season kept them in the top flight, not to mention their excellent start to the 2017/18 campaign where they’ve already amassed 22 points.
Head to head…
The two sides have faced off plenty of times across the top three divisions of English football. Wednesday evening will be the 27th time that AFC Bournemouth and Burnley have played one another, with it being just the third Premier League encounter.
Last season saw a share of the spoils between the two clubs, with Burnley running out 3-2 winners at Turf Moor, but strikes from Junior Stanislas and Joshua King ensuring the Cherries got their revenge in a 2-1 win down south.
A big birthday…
There will be a big birthday at Vitality Stadium tomorrow evening, as Cherries manager Eddie Howe turns 40! The former Burnley boss, who returned from Turf Moor in 2012, will be hoping to mark the occasion with three points.
However, in his pre-match press conference, Howe stated that he hasn’t even thought about it and admitted that the focus must remain on Burnley.
“It is my birthday but I've not been able to give it a minute's thought. It is a big one, turning 40, so I'm not looking forward to that to be honest,” claimed the Cherries manager.
Team news: Defoe could return, Stanislas doubtful
AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has revealed there will be a late call on Jermain Defoe ahead of the Burnley game.
Defoe hasn’t played since coming off the bench against Newcastle United at the beginning of the month.
The manager thinks he could be back in contention but will consult the medical team ahead of the game.
Elsewhere, Junior Stanislas, who has been injured since the Chelsea game last month, is set to miss the Burnley game.
The manager wants to ensure that Stanislas stays fit and the Southampton fixture could be a more realistic return date.
Elsewhere, captain Simon Francis returns from suspension – he missed the Swansea City game at the weekend after picking up two yellow cards against Huddersfield Town.
Tyrone Mings is back on the grass working with the sports science team as he continues to recover from a back injury.
Howe gives pre-match thoughts on Burnley and birthdays
On a special day for the Cherries' manager...
It is my birthday but I've not been able to give it a minute's thought. It is a big one, turning 40, so I'm not looking forward to that to be honest.
I've not been called a spring chicken for a while but I suppose in management terms I am still quite young. Hopefully I have many more games left in me!
On the positive recent run of form...
We're in good shape, the players are in a good frame of mind, playing with confidence and we love playing here at home and under the lights. We want to give a good account of ourselves and build on the good result we had here against Huddersfield in our last home game.
On Burnley's good season so far...
I'm not surprised, and you can never be surprised by what Burnley do. They've continually overachieved and this season when I've watched them I've been impressed with the style of how they going about playing.
You know what they're going to do but it's difficult to beat that. The confidence they got from the likes of the good Chelsea and Tottenham results early on gave them a great start and they now rightly sit in the top half of the table.
On his tenure in charge of the Clarets...
They were good times. It was a tough challenge but something that I needed. I have no regrets and the people around the club were only ever supportive to me. I'm so happy to see them doing so well now in the Premier League.
We tried to do the best job we could and leave a solid foundation behind us for the next generation of players and managers, we tried to do that but it's the players and the manager there now who deserve all the credit for getting the club to where they are now.
On the return of Sam Vokes to Dorset...
Sam got his opportunity here because we were really stretched, Kevin Bond was well aware of the financial problems we had and that meant we only 16 or 17 players. We saw a big lad in the youth team and we felt he could handle the physicality of the league.
We were really surprised with how well he did. What a great lad, really enthusiastic and wanting to learn. He's gone on to have a great career and is doing really well this season.
On Harry Arter potentially making his 250th Cherries appearance...
It's another really good milestone from a player who deserves all the credit he gets.
I can't speak highly enough about Harry, when we signed him for £4,000 it was a risk then because we had nothing. You never quite know how a player will develop, he had to be patient for his chance in the team, but his journey has echoed that of the team and he's gone from League One into the Championship and onto the Premier League.
He has been a key cornerstone of the team throughout that time, so you have to give him full credit for what he's achieved.
Ref watch: East in charge
Referee Roger East will be in charge of AFC Bournemouth's Wednesday night game against Burnley.
It's the second time this season that East will referee a game at Vitality Stadium, with his first trip this season the Cherries' home defeat against Watford.
The Wiltshire-born official has officiated five top flight games this campaign, his most recent being on Saturday 4th November, Huddersfield's 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.
In his ten total games this season, he has dished out 41 yellow cards and two red cards.
Last season, East reffed the Cherries just once, the 1-0 win over Stoke City in November 2016.
Matchday schedule: Burnley
Our latest Premier League game sees us play Burnley under the lights at Vitality Stadium.
With the altered kick-off time of 7.45pm there are some amendments to our usual opening hours and as usual we encourage supporters to arrive to the ground early.
9am SUPERSTORE OPEN
Our Superstore will be open from 9am as usual, all the way until kick-off.
The store is also open for 20 minutes after the final whistle and we’ve got plenty of new merchandise in store ahead of Christmas.
9am TICKET OFFICE OPEN
Tickets for our upcoming away games at Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City are available to purchase before the Burnley game and the ticket office will also be open for 20 minutes after the game.
5pm SOUTH STAND CAR PARK OPEN
Just behind the stadium, the South Stand car park is open for just £1 to all supporters.
It does tend to fill up approximately 75 minutes before kick-off and there may be delays in excess of half an hour leaving post-match. Please be aware, you can turn left out of this car park and right at the roundabout, which will bring you out via Gloucester Road in Boscombe.
Alternatively, the Sovereign Centre on Christchurch Road, which is also approximately 10 minutes’ walk from the ground, is available for matchday parking for both Saturday and week night games. Parking fees cost just £2 for 4 hours and £4 for 24 hours.
Unfortunately, Harewood College parking is not available for evening games.
Several residential roads adjacent to the ground have parking restrictions which the club asks supporters to adhere to. Where these do not exist, please be mindful of existing drive entrances and avoid parking illegally or unsafely.
Residents have direct access to parking enforcement officers on a matchday and so to avoid any issues please respect their access.
5pm RETAIL POD OPEN
Our retail pod behind the Colmar Construction Ted MacDougall South Stand is open from 5pm and you can get your home and away shirts and plenty more!
It's also opens 20 minutes after the final whistle.
5pm 1910 BAR OPEN
Want a drink before the game? The 1910 bar is open for home supporters and is located next to the press entrance in the Vitality Main Stand.
Supporters are required to show their home ticket on entry.
Hot food is available in the bistro section of the 1910 and bar does get busy, but below is an alternative…
5pm THE GREAT ESCAPE OPEN
Our outside bar is open for business from 5pm, with last orders at 7pm and closing at 7.15pm. Situated between the Thistlebarrow Road entrance and the Superstore, it’s a great place to meet friends before entering the ground for a drink and a hot snack.
5.30pm DC LOUNGE OPEN
The DC Lounge is open to both home and away disabled supporters pre-match.
It is based on the ground floor and first floor in the East Stand for the use of disabled supporters only.
This offers Sky/BT Sport TV and a refreshment service, and a great opportunity for supporters to socialise before the match. There is a lift available for supporters using the platform and two accessible toilets. The matchday quiz is a highlight too.
6.15pm TURNSTILES OPEN
Supporters can take their seats from 6.15pm and make the most of our pre-match combo. Choose from either a pie & pint for £5 or a pie & soft/hot drink for £4, both available up to half an hour before kick-off. The Junior Cherries meal deal remains fantastic value at just £2.50 – just show your JC card at the food counter when ordering, and then enjoy!
Supporters who have entered the ground up to 45 minutes before kick-off will be entered into a draw to win the previous game’s man of the match signed by the player. This week, a signed Callum Wilson shirt is up for grabs.
6.45pm PRE-MATCH ENTERTAINMENT BEGINS
We’ve revamped our big screen so there’s plenty of new entertainment on offer this season.
See previous goals against Burnley, the community draw and plenty more.
Make sure you are in your seats to see our latest Fans’ Champion place the matchball on the Premier League plinth just before kick-off.
Fan Champion is new this season and gives supporters the chance to nominate for selected games a fellow Cherries fan they think deserves a special matchday. Just email [email protected] with your nominee’s name and why you think they should be a Fans’ Champion.
7.45pm KICK-OFF
We get underway for a big game against Burnley under the lights!
Supporters are reminded that AFC Bournemouth does not tolerate any abusive or discriminatory language or behaviour and fans are encouraged to contact a steward should they witness this. Alternatively, supporters can confidentially text the support number on 07968 980580 with details.
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