AFC Bournemouth look to return to winning ways as they host bottom of the table Peterborough United this evening in the EFL Championship.
After a disappointing result away to Preston United on Saturday, AFC Bournemouth will be wanting to return to winning ways as Peterborough make the 180-mile trip to the Vitality Stadium.
Prior to the 2-1 loss on Saturday the Cherries had accumulated a four-win streak and had strengthened their automatic promotion charge. Tough games against Blackpool and Stoke had seen Scott Parker’s side clinch three points in the dying embers of the matches, but they were unable to find the solution against a Preston side who have now taken all six points from the Cherries this season.
With the squad revitalised after January and the list of injuries reduced, Bournemouth looked in a good position to chase down leaders Fulham but the result may have brought back the realities and expectations of the squad.
However with three home games in the space of seven days against sides in the bottom four, there will be an expectation for three wins out of three. With Fulham having three away fixtures in the same period of time, it would seem a good opportunity to run the gap down but only if nine points are taken.
The Cherries currently sit in third place behind Huddersfield in second but with a four-game advantage on the Terriers. They also hold three games in hand on third and fourth placed Blackburn and Queens Park Rangers.
The first and foremost focus for the squad will be securing automatic promotion and despite Parker declaring a lack of interest in the games of other teams, there will be no doubt the club will be looking over their shoulders.
Bournemouth endured a very tough winter period and consequently only recorded four wins from 13 in the league. If such form is replicated going into the last two months of the season, then the Cherries could see themselves into a dreaded play-off situation in which memories from last season will daunt fans and the club.
The coming seven days and future pivotal fixtures against Huddersfield, Middlesborough, Fulham, Blackburn and Nottingham Forest will prove if Bournemouth have the necessary quality to earn an automatic spot into the Premier League.
For a 7.45 kick-off, they this evening come against a Peterborough side who currently sit bottom of the table as they continue to fight in the relegation battle. It should not be mistaken that at this point in a season, such a team can be a dangerous opponent to come against.
It is fair to say the Cambridgeshire based club have struggled to adapt to life in the Championship having secured automatic promotion from League One last season. The Posh are currently without a win in 12 league matches, with their last coming on the 11th of December in a 2-1 home win to Millwall.
Manager Grant McCann will be desperate to improve in the attacking areas with only one goal in eight matches leaving them little opportunity to push themselves out of the relegation zone.
The Cherries can take some credit for their lack of attacking quality recently having secured the signing of Siriki Dembele on deadline day in January from the Posh. The Ivorian born attacker left the club as the joint goal scorer and still remains so despite completing his first month on the South Coast. After a positive start, he now looks to play an important role in Parker’s plans and ambitions.
Having lost 16 out of their last 18 away fixtures and considering their goalscoring form, it would be a huge surprise if the visitors were to come away the Vitality with additonal points to their name.
TEAM NEWS
Bournemouth will be without the services of Adam Smith after receiving a red card following Preston’s last gasp winner on Saturday. Smith has been handed a three-game suspension so will miss out on the trio of home games.
Jefferson Lerma will serve the last of his four-game suspension this evening following his red card against Birmingham last month.
Jaidon Anthony, Ryan Christie, and Nathaniel Phillips all returned to the squad versus Preston following absence and remain in contention this evening.
Peterborough will be happy to welcome back midfielder Jack Taylor to the squad for the first time since the end of January, but McCann confirmed his minutes will still have to be managed.
Centre back Frankie Kent will also return to the squad after recovering from illness in which he was forced out of the recent Huddersfield fixture.
The Posh will be disappointed that goalkeeper Steven Benda has now been ruled out with a back injury having only initially missed the Huddersfield fixture through illness.
McCann further confirmed the absence of key player Nathan Thompson with the defender looking likely to miss the remainder of the season through a shoulder injury.