AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth will be hoping to register their first league double of the season when they host Championship rivals Birmingham City at Vitality Stadium on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
David Brooks’s double and a goal from Arnaut Danjuma earned the Cherries a 3-1 win at St Andrew’s in arguably their most impressive display of the season in November.
Since then, the Blues have won three times in the Championship, lowering the colours of Bristol City (1-0), Reading (2-1) and Middlesbrough (1-0).
All three wins came on their travels with Aitor Karanka’s team having endured a wretched run of results on home soil which has seen them collect just two points from their past eight games.
Ahead of the clash, afcb.co.uk caught up with Richard Wilford who covers the fortunes of Birmingham for BBC West Midlands.
BIRMINGHAM CITY IN PROFILE
Manager: Aitor Karanka (appointed July 2020)
Club captain: Harlee Dean (pictured below)
Last game: Wycombe Wanderers 0-0 Birmingham City (Championship)
Leading league goalscorer 2020/21: Scott Hogan and Jeremie Bela (three in all competitions)
League position: 21st
Past six league results: LLWLDD
afcb.co.uk: Is one win in ten league games a fair reflection of Birmingham’s current form?
RW: Not entirely. Their form, particularly at home, has been really poor this season but they have also had quite a lot of bad luck.
They have drawn their past two games and could have won them both.
They gave away an awful equaliser against Coventry and had so many chances against Wycombe in midweek. Had it not been for two astonishing saves from Ryan Allsop, they would have beaten them.
Their overall form is certainly a little better than one win in ten suggests and their away form is really good.
They have only conceded eight goals on their travels. It’s an interesting one. It’s more at St Andrew’s where they are having real problems.
afcb.co.uk: What’s your assessment of Aitor Karanka’s tenure?
RW: It will have been a disappointment to him as much as anything in that the whole desire for the club is to have a three-year plan and build and get out of the cycle of hiring and firing.
A lot of players have come in but very few have hit the ground running. Having initially made the team hard to beat, Aitor has found the past few weeks really difficult and is clearly frustrated.
My feeling is that he is probably the right man for the job but things have just not gone well so far.
afcb.co.uk: How was the transfer window for the Blues?
RW: It was okay. It could have been really good. They missed out over the final few days on Kevin Nesbit who they were trying to sign from Hibs but they didn’t want to sell him.
They improved their striking options with big Sam Cosgrove (pictured above) from Aberdeen and I’m looking forward to seeing him play.
They signed Yan Valery on loan from Southampton who will add a bit of pace and some Premier League knowledge on the right-hand side when he gets an opportunity.
In Rekeem Harper on loan from local rivals West Brom, they have somebody who brings greater energy to the midfield than what they had before.
In theory, those three players should have an impact on the remaining part of the season.
afcb.co.uk: Kristian Pedersen (pictured above) made his 100th league appearance for the club in midweek – give us a word on him?
RW: He did very well in his first couple of seasons and attracted a lot of interest, particularly from Premier League clubs.
This season has been a lot more up and down. He’s a whole-hearted character but one or two more errors have crept into his game and he’s also got more competition with George Friend having played quite a few games at left-back.
Overall, he’s the sort of player Birmingham City fans love because he wears his heart on his sleeve but he hasn’t been in the best flush of form though.
afcb.co.uk: Who makes Birmingham tick?
RW: In terms of who the key players and the threat are, it’s the two wide players going forward.
Ivan Sanchez, who was signed on a free from Spanish club Elche, has been outstanding this season. He needs to add more goals and assists to his game. He’s one of the most-fouled players in the Championship and has plenty of tricks in him.
In the past month, Jeremie Bela (pictured above) has probably been the most consistent that I have ever seen him. Nobody doubts his ability to beat players and get in a good cross. He also has a goal in him.
Doing it over 90 minutes in the past month has probably been one of the most encouraging things for Birmingham.
afcb.co.uk: Are any players either injured or suspended against the Cherries?
RW: Marc Roberts will serve the first of a three-match suspension after getting a straight red in the game against Wycombe.
They are still going to be without Alen Halilovic who has a knock. The hope was that he could have a real impact playing in the number-ten role but we have rarely seen him on the pitch.
afcb.co.uk: What’s your score prediction?
RW: Birmingham don’t have a great track record against Bournemouth so it will be a really tricky game for Blues. I’d snap off your hand for a 1-1 draw!
You can follow Richard on Twitter – @wilfordwm
Officials: Jeremy Simpson (referee), Lee Venamore (assistant), Sam Lewis (assistant), Lloyd Wood (fourth official).
