Written by billythekid
With AFCB convincingly winning 5-1 against Championship side West Brom in the FA Cup 3rd Round, the Cherries thoughts turn to the Premier League and our next game. On Tuesday night at Stamford Bridge at 7.30 pm, AFCB meet fourth-place Chelsea who are three places and three points above the Cherries, our team will be out to make it nine games unbeaten.
Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth
Chelsea Win
Draw
AFCB Win
Chelsea, after losing their first home game of the season, had a run of six games unbeaten home and away until they lost to the leaders Liverpool at Anfield. Then they had a nine game unbeaten run, until they lost two games, one home and one away. Their last game ended in a draw.
After their victory against the Cherries last September at Dean Court, at home at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have beaten Brighton 4-2, Newcastle United 2-1, Aston Villa 3-0 and Brentford. They have drawn 1-1 with Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Arsenal. Lost 0-2 against Manchester City and Fulham 1-2. Away from home they have won 4, drawn 3 and lost 2.
The last time AFCB visited Stamford Bridge was in May and it was the last game of the season. Going into that game Chelsea were unbeaten in five games home and away, winning four of them. As it turned out they ended the season winning five games in a row with goals from Moises Caicedo and Raheem Sterling, AFCB’s only goal came from an own goal from Benoit Badisahille.
AFCB league visits to Stamford Bridge, AFCB have W 4, D 0, L 4.
In all competitions, AFCB have W 5, D 2, L 14.
Chelsea Team News
Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badisahille, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Omari Kellyman have been out injured. Mykhailo Mudryk is suspended.
Chelsea Player To Watch
Cole Palmer, leading with both 13 goals scored and 6 assists. In his last eight league games he has scored 6 goals (2 penalties) and had 1 assist. Very strong all round player.
AFCB Team News
After the news that our two main strikers are out for a while through injuries, there has been no further news on other injuries or returns, though we may see one player back soon.
AFCB Player To Watch
With our two main strikers out injured, Dango Ouattara, Antoine Semenyo and Justin Kluivert are players that could temporary fill that role. Ouattara took his goals well against West Brom, as did Semenyo just after half-time. Kluivert looked very sharp during his time on the pitch. David Brooks another player really in form, providing two assists. They all linked up well in the win against West Brom.
The Referee
Rob Jones will be in charge for the third time for an AFCB game this season against a London club, the previous two games were at home against Arsenal and away at Fulham.
Matt Stevenson added
I’ve looked at the last 4 league games for Chelsea. Whilst three were away (Everton, Ipswich and C Palace) with Fulham at home Chelsea would have been targeting these games to keep them in the title hunt. It didn’t pan out like that at all with Chelsea gaining 2 points, drawing at Everton and Palace. This is a slight underachievement based on xG, where Chelsea were the slightly better team in all games, except Fulham at home. Chelsea have scored 2 goals and conceded 5 with xG estimating 5.53 goals with 5.47, indicating their finishing has been below average in the last 4 games.
Chelsea have had 1 goal scorer (Palmer with 2 goals). Assists have come from Sancho and Colwill
The average positions of the starting line-ups are below. There is no clear pattern apart from often having a player advanced on the right wing (Neto or Madueke) and with the majority of players in the opposition half.
The following plot compares summary stats of Chelsea and AFCB over the last 4 games.
AFCB have had more goal attempts per game, but fewer big chances, however we have scored many more goals from an xG that is 1.4 higher. Defensively, it is the reverse for attempts conceded and big chances conceded, with Chelsea having conceded more goals from an xGc that in 0.9 higher. s. Chelsea have had 5 errors leading to chances whilst AFCB have 4.
Chelsea have a higher possession percentage than AFCB who are approaching 50% over the last four games). Pass completion is in Chelsea’s favour. Chelsea have a higher percentage of chances created from open play whilst the proportions conceded from open play are similar.
Your say…
kirsikka said…
Travers / Dennis
Hill / Zabarnyi / Huijsen / Kerkez /
Cook / Adams / Christie
Brooks / Semenyo / Kluivert / Dango
13 available players… scary.
There are a couple of what you might call senior youth players in Jebbison and
Akinmboni available.
Given they were recalled and have actually played first-team football, even if it was in League 2, I expect we’ll see Sadi and Adu-Adjei on the bench. From what I read, it sounded like Sadi was the one who had the biggest impact at Carlisle and he’s a wide forward.
I guess the plan will be to try and get 75 minutes out of the main front four then bring on Jebbison. Then, in the last ten see who is flagging the most and bring on Sadi for a cameo.
With another game on Saturday at 12:30 we desperately need some of the walking wounded to be running wounded again.
I wonder if the Billing deal being signed and sealed might open us up to completing a deal in time for the Tuesday match? We must have stuff brewing. – To join the conversation, please click here.
