Setting The Scene
Wanderers will be looking to record their first league double of the campaign when AFC Bournemouth come to town on Saturday afternoon.
Having ran out 2-0 winners at the Goldsands Stadium back in November courtesy of goals from David Ngog and Jermaine Beckford, the Whites welcome the Cherries to the Reebok Stadium this weekend eager to secure their first maximum points of the calendar year.
With Eddie Howe’s side making the trip to BL6 on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Leicester on home soil last weekend and with Wanderers keen to avenge their narrow defeats to Queens Park Rangers and Ipswich Town in the past week, both sides will no doubt be going all out to secure victory come kick off.
Team News
Dougie Freedman could hand a full debut to midfielder Liam Trotter following the 25-year-old’s loan move to the club from Millwall last week.
Trotter came on as a second half substitute in last Saturday’s clash with Ipswich, but could secure starting berth against the Cherries.
Meanwhile, striker Lukas Jutkiewicz could again spearhead Wanderers’ attack with top scorer Jermaine Beckford potentially still sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Opposition Camp
Heading into Saturday’s clash residing in 15th position in the Championship league standings, the Bournemouth faithful will no doubt be pleased with the way their campaign has panned out so far.
After winning promotion to the second tier of English football as League One runners-up back in May – a feat which look near impossible with the Cherries languishing in the lowers reaches of the league at the time of Eddie Howe’s appointment in October 2012 – the south-coast outfit have surprised many this term.
With 34 points accumulated from their 28 league games, Bournemouth have enjoyed a steady start to their first season in the second tier since 1990 by winning nine, drawing seven and losing 12 of their matches so far.
A season which the Cherries faithful will no doubt have entered with hopes of securing survival come May, their side’s efforts during the opening months of the campaign have certainly done their chances of remaining a Championship side for a second successive year no harm.
One To Watch
A key man for the Cherries so far this term with 12 goals to his name in all competitions, Lewis Grabban is undoubtedly one that Wanderers will have to keep their eye on come kick-off on Saturday afternoon.
Now in his second season with the Cherries, the frontman started out his career with Crystal Palace as a youngster, enjoying spells on loan at both Oldham Athletic and Motherwell before a move to Millwall in 2008.
Three years at The Den followed for the London-born forward where he developed a lethal reputation in front of goal, with Brentford spotting his talents and signing him up in 2011.
A brief stint with Rotherham United followed a year later with the youngster averaging almost a goal every two games – a statistic which convinced Bournemouth to secure his services in May 2012.
A move which has certainly been vindicated given the striker’s goalscoring exploits, Bournemouth will be hoping that the 26-year-old can carry on his fine form for the remainder of the campaign.
Wanderers will be looking to record their first league double of the campaign when AFC Bournemouth come to town on Saturday afternoon.
Having ran out 2-0 winners at the Goldsands Stadium back in November courtesy of goals from David Ngog and Jermaine Beckford, the Whites welcome the Cherries to the Reebok Stadium this weekend eager to secure their first maximum points of the calendar year.
With Eddie Howe’s side making the trip to BL6 on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Leicester on home soil last weekend and with Wanderers keen to avenge their narrow defeats to Queens Park Rangers and Ipswich Town in the past week, both sides will no doubt be going all out to secure victory come kick off.
Team News
Dougie Freedman could hand a full debut to midfielder Liam Trotter following the 25-year-old’s loan move to the club from Millwall last week.
Trotter came on as a second half substitute in last Saturday’s clash with Ipswich, but could secure starting berth against the Cherries.
Meanwhile, striker Lukas Jutkiewicz could again spearhead Wanderers’ attack with top scorer Jermaine Beckford potentially still sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Opposition Camp
Heading into Saturday’s clash residing in 15th position in the Championship league standings, the Bournemouth faithful will no doubt be pleased with the way their campaign has panned out so far.
After winning promotion to the second tier of English football as League One runners-up back in May – a feat which look near impossible with the Cherries languishing in the lowers reaches of the league at the time of Eddie Howe’s appointment in October 2012 – the south-coast outfit have surprised many this term.
With 34 points accumulated from their 28 league games, Bournemouth have enjoyed a steady start to their first season in the second tier since 1990 by winning nine, drawing seven and losing 12 of their matches so far.
A season which the Cherries faithful will no doubt have entered with hopes of securing survival come May, their side’s efforts during the opening months of the campaign have certainly done their chances of remaining a Championship side for a second successive year no harm.
One To Watch
A key man for the Cherries so far this term with 12 goals to his name in all competitions, Lewis Grabban is undoubtedly one that Wanderers will have to keep their eye on come kick-off on Saturday afternoon.
Now in his second season with the Cherries, the frontman started out his career with Crystal Palace as a youngster, enjoying spells on loan at both Oldham Athletic and Motherwell before a move to Millwall in 2008.
Three years at The Den followed for the London-born forward where he developed a lethal reputation in front of goal, with Brentford spotting his talents and signing him up in 2011.
A brief stint with Rotherham United followed a year later with the youngster averaging almost a goal every two games – a statistic which convinced Bournemouth to secure his services in May 2012.
A move which has certainly been vindicated given the striker’s goalscoring exploits, Bournemouth will be hoping that the 26-year-old can carry on his fine form for the remainder of the campaign.
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