Bournemouth v Watford

[AFCB_Mark]

Friday night football live on Sky - and a huge huge game, for both sides given how tight it is in the top 6. I know there's several games tomorrow night including Derby to get out the way first, but already feeling nervy for Friday and it's Monday morning FFS. I think that's just because we basically took lightly a big cup day out yesterday, in order to give our strongest 11 a rest and get them fresh for Watford. And if we perform poorly, then it'll have been for nothing.

We've been in a little mini blip just recently. Beaten by an excellent Norwich, missed a host of chances and lost up at Leeds, and between that won at Rotherham in an average performance in which the opposition were clearly low on confidence. Now we can't expect to be superb all season, of course there's going to be ups and down, especially in this mad-cap league of the Championship.

We know we can be a match for Watford, we should have won at Vicarage Road earlier in the season but drew instead. Watford have just battered Blackpool and Charlton at home and will be flying on confidence, and although you'd like to think we'll be somewhat tougher opposition you don't like to see your next opponents scoring goals for fun! Guess we now know what it's been like for everyone else about to face us

 

[Super_horns]

2 teams who love to attack and score goals..

So 0-0 it is then and I'd take a draw.

 

[You Orns]

Absolutely massive game.

We haven't really performed against the top teams this season but hopefully that will change on Friday, like superhorns though I would be more than happy with a draw.

 

[PDS]

We've not been playing well lately, even the wins against Rotheram & Milwall we weren't at our free flowing best (Other than the cup game with a changed team). I'm extremely confident that we will lose here, we seem to prefer playing away and there is a large contingent of the 'new fans' who get very impatient if we don't start like a train and it often makes things worse.

I expect us to revert back to our first XI after the game, although players like MacDonald & Smith may well have played themselves into contention, albeit it's harsh on whomever would be dropped with everyone playing out their skin this season. Can't see Eddie risking disrupting the Arter/ Surman partnership in such a big game.

As I say, I think we'll lose this one, we have a tough month coming up, if we're still in the top 6 after this month then we could really make a push this season but it's so tight more a couple of defeats could knock us into mid table.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

At this stage of the season, a draw and a decent performance wouldn't be a bad evening, an improvement in performance would be welcome. A defeat would be a real blow, a win massive. It's just so tight!

I'm generally slightly more down-beat about home games this season just because we're so deverstating away yet a bit ponderous when forced to break sides down. However I don't think it'll be a case of breaking Watford down, they attack just as much as us. This won't be like most of our home games. It'll be end to end and a case of who actually takes the most chances.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Nervous isn't the word...

I've got precisely £7 on both teams to score. Drinks are on me lads.

 

[Rammy]

Draw please!

 

[You Orns]

Terrified, we really need a performance tonight, it's fine thrashing the teams at the bottom but of we don't get anything from the teams at the top we have no chance of going up.

 

[You Orns]

They can just fuck off, he was no way the last man

 

[mpmbee]

Never a red card, what a joke.

 

[You Orns]

2nd season running with a reffing cock-up away at bournemouth.

 

[Dazza]

Very harsh red card.

 

[Rammy]

We're not going top this weekend then.

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

Turned on after 5 minutes and was shocked to see there had been a red card. Saw the ref was Lee Probert and everything suddenly became clear. Having seen it now it is a ridiculous decision.

 

[You Orns]

Shite atmosphere from the bournemouth fans considering their top



I'm a bit pissed off in case you haven't guessed

 

[You Orns]

Mind you we can't really complain about that

 

[You Orns]

Game over, oh well,

The referees corrupt.

 

[Rammy]

Reminds me of our game at Turf Moor last season. Completely ruined by a ridiculous refereeing decision.

 

[You Orns]

That challenge was a red though and he didn't get booked

 

[Dazza]

Sums up the the ref tonight.Does not even give a booking for that challenge.

 

[Madejski]

That's the problem with the Championship, end up with all the referees that failed in the Prem. There are reasons they failed at that level and they probably won't change by going down a step.

 

[Dazza]

No doubt Probert will be ref for a Premier League game next week.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Fantastic, scrappy when needed and in our pomp when given the chance. crucial result.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Watford kicking off... Police running around... Don't see this in Bournemouth often.

 

[You Orns]

Don't see that with Watford often either, Bournemouth away seems to bring out the worst in our fans

 

[Saddlerrad]

Good with for Bournemouth, thought they played okay and could have gone through the gears if needed. Watford started well with 10 men, but they tired and lost any threat once Deeney couldn't hold the ball up. Bournemouth will finish in the top 4 I think, just not sure about the top 2. You fancy a couple of teams to hold their breath right over the line that may have experienced the PL before.

 

[PDS]

Because of bloody trains I missed the red card, haven't even seen it yet- but makes up for the blatant red we didn't get at Vicarage Road in September (I think that was Angella too?). They say it evens itself out over a season after all

We were actually quite poor until the penalty, after that though we controlled the game and absolutely passed them to death second half, finished with 70% possession I think and in truth it looked like we could have turned the screw a bit more and pushed for a 3rd, but a clean sheet needed to be the priority today... With our form and performance levels being a bit patchy lately, it was good to see us looking relatively comfortable- some of the quick interchanges, notably between the wide men and fullbacks was superb. I think Francis, Ritchie & Pugh were near faultless today.

Did enjoy the Watford fans throwing the ball amongst themselves at 0-0 to stop us taking a throw-in, isn't that something you do when winning the game? Think we missed a trick by not doing it them at 1-0 but I think the 14 year olds over there would have kicked off.

 

[PDS]

Also as someone who sits directly behind the goal, the Gomes save from Kermorgant second half was absolutely sensational, one of the best I've seen for a long, long time

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Gomes was immense for Watford. Would have been a rout but for him.

 

[yellow]

Did Eunan get crunched or something?