AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth will be looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season when they face Championship rivals Birmingham City on Wednesday (7.45pm kick-off).
The Cherries have an impressive recent record at St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium having won their past five games in the league, FA Cup and League Cup.
Blues, who are managed by Scott Parker’s former West Ham and Newcastle team-mate Lee Bowyer, are one of ten teams to have taken four points from their first two games.
Maxime Colin’s goal earned them a 1-0 win at Sheffield United before Marcel Oakley was on target in their Carabao Cup victory against Colchester.
Blues played out a goalless draw against Stoke on Saturday as St Andrew’s welcomed back fans for a league game for the first time since March 2020, although numbers were restricted due to two stands being closed for repairs.
Ahead of the clash, afcb.co.uk caught up with Richard Wilford who covers the fortunes of Birmingham for BBC Radio West Midlands.
BIRMINGHAM CITY IN PROFILE
Ground: St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium
Nickname: Blues
Head coach: Lee Bowyer (appointed March 2021)
Club captain: Harlee Dean
League position 2021/22: 10th
Last season’s finishing position: 18th in Championship
Leading goalscorer 2020/21: Lukas Jutkiewicz (eight in Championship)
Last game: Birmingham City 0-0 Stoke City (Championship)
afcb.co.uk: How have Blues looked in their two Championship games?
RW: They have looked very solid. Getting a couple of clean sheets at the start of the season will go down well because that’s been a weakness in recent years.
Goalkeeper Matija Sarkic, on loan from Wolves, has grown in confidence over the course of the two games.
They maybe lack a little bit going forward but that’s a work in progress as they bring in a few new players and get them more used to being in the system. Overall, they have been solid.
afcb.co.uk: How has the transfer window gone for Blues?
RW: They did their business very early by and large which was interesting because it’s not the way they have done things in the past.
In Ryan Woods, they got the number four they had wanted for a long time, somebody who’s comfortable on the ball and a good passer. He was a key signing.
A lot of the others you would have to say are cover players and Chuks Aneke has been very effective off the bench.
We haven’t seen Jordan Graham in the league yet but, potentially, he has the exciting ability to break down teams which he did consistently for Gillingham in League One last season.
Dion Sanderson is on loan from Wolves but we haven’t seen him yet. We think he will become a regular in central defence.
Tahith Chong from Manchester United injured his hamstring against Sheffield United. He’s the guy they are going to rely on to break the lines defensively.
afcb.co.uk: What’s the goalkeeping situation at Blues?
RW: Neil Etheridge had a very bad case of Covid and was in intensive care for a while. He will be the number one once fully fit. He is back training now but I don’t think he’s going to be ready for this game.
As a result, Matija Sarkic (pictured above) was brought in on loan from Wolves. He played a couple of pre-season games and made a couple of mistakes which, hopefully, he’s got out of his system, that was Lee Bowyer’s point of view anyway.
He was very good against Sheffield United and Stoke. His handling in the final 20 minutes when Stoke were bombarding them with crosses was really secure so he’s done well.
Connal Trueman played the League Cup game but he’s very much number three at the moment once Etheridge is fit.
afcb.co.uk: Have there been any key departures?
RW: There have been no unexpected departures since last season. It's been a case of getting rid of those players who probably weren’t realising their potential at Blues and moving forward without them.
In terms of major players going, there will be disappointment among the fans that Alen Halilovic didn’t agree a new deal.
But in the sample size of games we had last season, his case was really unproven and he managed one goal and one assist in 17 appearances.
afcb.co.uk: Who is Blues’ one to watch?
RW: If Chong is fit to play then he absolutely will be the man to watch.
The other player who has started the season really well, albeit in an unfamiliar role of left wing-back, is Jeremie Bela who’s in his third season with the club.
He was really sharp during pre-season and has brought that into the games as well.
If he is playing well, the quality of ball into the box is a lot better. The quality of his delivery is excellent.
afcb.co.uk: Have there been any big changes under Lee Bowyer?
RW: There are two things. Psychologically, it’s a much more positive place to be around at the moment.
He is a positive coach. He wants to find ways to beat teams rather than just stopping teams from playing.
That’s something that rubbed off on the players as soon as he took over last season. They are a lot more organised and a lot better drilled.
He brought in Mark Kennedy from the Manchester City academy and he has put on a lot of positive attacking sessions among other things.
We’re seeing a team with more confidence about it and one which very much believes in the coaching staff.
They are getting better because they are better coached and that’s a real positive in the early part of the season.
afcb.co.uk: Are any key players either suspended or injured against the Cherries?
RW: Chong may well be out with his hamstring injury as he hasn’t featured since the opening day.
Neil Etheridge is still recovering from illness so I think this game will come too soon for him and Dion Sanderson is still a couple of weeks away with a leg injury. Those are likely to be the three main absentees.
afcb.co.uk: What’s your score prediction?
RW: I’m predicting a very tight game. I’ll go for a 1-1 draw.
You can follow Richard on Twitter – @wilfordwm
Officials: Andy Davies (referee), Mark Dwyer (assistant), Adrian Waters (assistant), Thomas Bramall (fourth official).
