West Brom v AFC Bournemouth - 9 Games To Go

billythekid

billythekid

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Our last two games have seen our side playing promotion winning football. The most recent game against Bristol City, the scoreline didn’t reflect the difference between the two teams over the full 90 + minutes, with the Cherries having their most number of shots 25 and on target 9 this season, against the Robins 6 shots with 3 on target. AFCB now have 9 games to go and need 17 points to clinch automatic promotion, but with our GD at the moment 16 points may be enough. This is if Nottingham Forest win their remaining 9 games. At this stage our present team have 72 points after 37 games, whereas our promotion team in 2014-15 had 69 points and in their last 9 games took 21 points, finishing the season with 90 points.

Our next game is away against a side that was relegated from the Premier League last season and were one of the favourites for automatic promotion back up into the top league this season. The Cherries visit the Hawthorns the home of West Brom on Wednesday night at 8 pm. The Baggies manager at the start of the season was Valerian Ismael who did well last season with Barnsley but after a good start this season with a 10 game unbeaten run including the opening game at Dean Court, failed to maintain those results and their form tailed off with a number of mixed results. He was sacked at the beginning of February after their defeat at Millwall towards the end of January, with West Brom after 29 games in 5th place on 45 points.

His successor in the Baggies ‘hot seat’ was the former Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce. His first game in charge was an away defeat against another side relegated from the Premier League last season, Sheffield United who won 2-0. His first game at the Hawthorns finished in a 0-0 draw against Blackburn Rovers. Bruce in the home games has so far seen his team win one game and that was against leaders Fulham who were also relegated from the top league last season. Since his first home game, Bruce’s side also drew with Huddersfield Town and lost against Swansea City at the Hawthorns. His record away so far has been one win and draw, plus three defeats. Going into our game West Brom after 39 games are 12th in the table with 54 points. The most recent game was away against Birmingham City on Sunday which finished in a 1-0 defeat and ended their 4 game unbeaten run. We are still looking for our first win against a side with Steve Bruce as manager, two defeats against Newcastle United.

The last time we met at the Hawthorns was the first game of the Premier League 2017-18 season. It ended with the Baggies winning with the only goal of the game.

Only been a few league visits to the Hawthorns to play West Brom, AFCB have W 1, D 2, L 5.
In all competitions, AFCB have W 8, D 5, L 9.

West Brom Team News
Players who missed the recent Birmingham City game through injuries, Daryl Dike, Marty Phillips and Kenneth Zohore are doubtful for Wednesday.

West Brom Player To Watch
Karlan Grant leading scorer with 14 league goals and has 5 assists. Scored 4 goals (3 pens) in his last 5 games. Andy Carroll could be dangerous, especially from set pieces and long throws into the box.

AFCB Team News
No news of any new injuries after the Bristol City game.

AFCB Player To Watch
Basically in our last two games it has been about the team performing as a team and getting the results. Apart from Solanke with 24 league goals and 4 in the last 4 games, Lewis Cooke has been outstanding and really buzzing in midfield and capped it with a rare goal last Saturday.

The Referee
Keith Stroud is in charge of this game.
Twice this season he has had our games, home and away against QPR.
At Dean Court he issued 8 yellow cards.
At Loftus Road he issued 7 yellow cards and 1 red.
 
Strange one. Even with an amazing run of results West Brom would still be rank outsiders to even make the playoffs. Nothing less than a win will do so they may as well throw caution to the wind.

Although, in the case of Steve Bruce that may mean he allows one midfielder to cross the halfway line.
 
I used to like Keith Stroud but I believe he had a bad game last time he ref'd us (can't remember the game tbh).

Famous last words but WBA are in a bit of disarray. So (big) if we can get a win there, a draw at Sheff. Utd and a win vs Middleborough that would be 7 points giving us 79 in total - almost there.
 
TCherry said:
I used to like Keith Stroud but I believe he had a bad game last time he ref'd us (can't remember the game tbh).

Famous last words but WBA are in a bit of disarray. So (big) if we can get a win there, a draw at Sheff. Utd and a win vs Middleborough that would be 7 points giving us 79 in total - almost there.
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Would be a huge boost if we can win there. One of our games in hand so even a point stretches the gap. Can't see much of a turnout or enthusiasm amongst their fans - been a disaster this season for them, and losing to Brum just about caps it all.
 
redharry said:
Would be a huge boost if we can win there. One of our games in hand so even a point stretches the gap. Can't see much of a turnout or enthusiasm amongst their fans - been a disaster this season for them, and losing to Brum just about caps it all.
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There's also Sheffield Utd, Forest, and Boro v Fulham playing catchup games this midweek, so lots to keep an eye on.
 
kirsikka said:
Strange one. Even with an amazing run of results West Brom would still be rank outsiders to even make the playoffs. Nothing less than a win will do so they may as well throw caution to the wind.

Although, in the case of Steve Bruce that may mean he allows one midfielder to cross the halfway line.
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That’s my feeling. That said, I reckon we’ll beat them!
 
redharry said:
Would be a huge boost if we can win there. One of our games in hand so even a point stretches the gap. Can't see much of a turnout or enthusiasm amongst their fans - been a disaster this season for them, and losing to Brum just about caps it all.
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Is it one of our games in hand, maybe to a few clubs, but there's 7 other games this week
 
TCherry said:
I used to like Keith Stroud but I believe he had a bad game last time he ref'd us (can't remember the game tbh).

Famous last words but WBA are in a bit of disarray. So (big) if we can get a win there, a draw at Sheff. Utd and a win vs Middleborough that would be 7 points giving us 79 in total - almost there.
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The last game was away to QPR with the melee at the end. The 4th official advised him on the last yellow and subsequent red.
 
Be happy with a point to be honest . Baggies deserve nothing this season after being stupid enough to allow Steve Bruce to steal another living .
 
QUOTE="CherryBare, post: 618143, member: 1612"]Is it one of our games in hand, maybe to a few clubs, but there's 7 other games this week[/QUOTE]
Well yes it is a game that was postponed from earlier this season. All teams should be on 40 games now.
 
Monmouthred said:
WBA third from bottom over 10 games, and despite the way some people suggest how **************** we have been, guess who's top?
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Yep, we seem to be coming back into top form at exactly the right time ( following a very good start to the season and having managed to keep our heads just about above water during a prolonged injury crisis ).
Absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t come home with the three points if we keep our recent form going !

:utc:
 
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