AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth will be hoping to reclaim a place in the top six when they host in-form Championship rivals Barnsley on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
The Cherries face the team directly above them in the table on the back of a three-match unbeaten run which included wins over Watford and Bristol City as well as a draw at Preston.
Barnsley arrive at Vitality Stadium having not lost in the league for ten games, a sequence which included a club record seven wins in succession in the second tier.
Valerien Ismael’s team climbed into the play-off places thanks to wins over Brentford, Blackburn, Bristol City, Stoke, Millwall, QPR and Birmingham.
Ahead of the clash, afcb.co.uk caught up with Doug O’Kane who covers the fortunes of the Tykes in his capacity as sports editor for the Barnsley Chronicle.
BARNSLEY IN PROFILE
Head coach: Valerien Ismael (appointed October 2020)
Club captain: Alex Mowatt (pictured below)
Last game: Barnsley 0-0 Derby County (Championship)
Leading league goalscorer 2020/21: Cauley Woodrow (12 in all competitions)
League position: Sixth
Past six league results: WWWWWD
afcb.co.uk: The seven-match winning run may have come to an end but the ten-game unbeaten run goes on – what’s been behind the turnaround?
DOK: The Reds have been playing consistently well and picking up decent results ever since Valerien Ismael took over, but they have been almost unstoppable since the start of February.
They had been unlucky in January, with a tough run of games against the top three and also some controversial refereeing decisions going against them.
They had 12 days without a game at the start of February and looked much fresher when they gave Chelsea a big scare in the FA Cup then ended Brentford’s 21-game unbeaten run.
That gave them a lot of confidence and, with fewer mistakes at the back and some important January signings, they have been able to create some real momentum and maintain it.
afcb.co.uk: Considering Valerien Ismael (pictured below) had no experience of managing in England before this season, what does it say about him?
DOK: He’s an excellent manager. He commands respect with his record as a player at Bayern Munich and elsewhere as well as his aura which every player mentions.
He has an absolute belief in how he wants his team to play and total confidence that it will work.
He has communicated that very well to the players, who have completely bought into it.
afcb.co.uk: When Clark Odour scored that dramatic late winner to keep the Tykes up on the final day of last season at Brentford, could you have predicted a promotion push a year later?
DOK: Only the really optimistic fans would have expected this, but I think most supporters would have hoped for a season of moving into mid-table rather than another relegation scrap.
I predicted that they would add ten points to their tally from last season and finish with 59, which would be their best total since 2000. But they are only one point away from that with 11 games to play.
It’s been remarkable, especially considering they had the joint longest wait for a first win of the season (seven games) in a century and their hero manager from last season Gerhard Struber left three weeks into the campaign.
afcb.co.uk: Who is Barnsley’s one to watch?
DOK: Their best player is the captain Alex Mowatt, in my opinion. He made his 150th appearance for the club on Wednesday and has six goals – mainly long-range stunners – and six assists from central midfield this season.
With Romal Palmer playing a more defensive role alongside him, he can drift out to the flanks to put crosses in and also break forward on the attack.
afcb.co.uk: What was behind changing goalkeepers?
DOK: Jack Walton did well in the first half of the season and I was surprised when he was dropped for Brad Collins (pictured above) in January.
But Barnsley have conceded the fewest shots in the division this season but are being peppered by long balls as teams go direct against them, so it makes sense to pick the goalkeeper who is best at coming off his line and sweeping up.
At the moment, that is Collins who has been excellent with six clean sheets in nine games.
afcb.co.uk: January signings Daryl Dike (pictured below) and Carlton Morris have been key to the revival – give us your thoughts on them?
DOK: Barnsley had lacked a physical, muscular presence up front all season but those two have added that, as well as seven goals between them so far.
Morris has never been a regular scorer but has already netted four times despite starting just three games.
Dike is the targetman the Reds have been missing since selling Kieffer Moore in 2019 and he has done remarkably well for a 20-year-old moving from the MLS to the Championship, scoring three goals including an astonishing strike on Saturday against Birmingham.
afcb.co.uk: Are any first-choice players either injured or suspended against the Cherries?
DOK: Aapo Halme is a doubt with a groin problem but he has been mainly a substitute anyway.
Liam Kitching and Ben Williams have long-term injuries and they have not played this season.
afcb.co.uk: What’s your score prediction?
DOK: I'm going for a 2-1 away win. The big factors will be whether Bournemouth go long or play out from the back, and how much fresher they are without a midweek match.
But Barnsley have surprised us pretty much every time we’ve doubted them in the last year, so why not again?
You can follow Doug on Twitter – @dougokane88
Officials: John Brooks (referee), Nick Greenhalgh (assistant), Akil Howson (assistant), David Rock (fourth official).
