#afcb 0 v 1 #dcfc

My pre-match ritual was boosted today by meeting Blandford Phil and Posh Amy, one telling of their being violently ill and hung over and the other their sporting prowess – not the way round I was expecting…..

Wrapped in 12 thermal layers the game started with O’Kane rushing at the Derby defence.

As the back four opened, he tore through and as he reached the penalty he unleashed the expected shot passed it wide and lost the ball

I would say that this was to become a theme – getting a chance and not shooting. But I’d be lying. The theme was actually established last game, or was the game before, or the one….

Those first few minutes were very much the exception for the first half as we were transported 200 miles or so away to play at Pride Park and Derby assumed their position of the home team, with AFCB playing very much on the break

Derby had read the “Beat Bournemouth” manual and pressed all over the pitch which we coped with poorly.

Lots of hurried passes at the back resulted in lost ball in dangerous areas, constantly putting us under pressure.

In Ward, Derby possessed their equivalent of Fraser, as he was BEFORE his injury, and his speed and trickery caused no end of problems.

Their midfield, led by the young Scandinavian looking Hughes were quicker, cleverer and most importantly stronger than our pairing of MacDonald and O’Kane which meant that the ball was often quickly robbed by Derby and then moved so quickly there was a lot of shadow chasing

Both Martin and Ward had chances having been put through the slow-turning defence before Rantie had Bournemouth’s best chance on 18 minutes.

A long clearance from the Ward chance had Rantie sprinting past their defence and hammering a low shot at the near post, which their keeper did well to parry.

Hitting on the break as we were, when we weren’t getting bumped off the ball, we did get the ball wide and put in some great crosses – but we just never seemed to have anyone in the box to put the final touch to it

I would say that this was to become a theme …. Oh well, you get the point

I don’t normally give ANY praise to opposition teams but I have to today. For me, this was the best team I’ve seen at Dean Court. Tireless with and without the ball, clever passing and full of attacking options – it would be a team I’d happily pay to watch

With Bournemouth under a lot of pressure, mostly brought on themselves by being so well pressed while sitting back and not pressing AT ALL, it was Bournemouth that could have gone in 1 up

In the 45^th minute a long Cook throw in caused panic and as the ball fell to MacDonald, he crashed the ball at goal and while I was about to cheer the net billowing, a last ditch defensive block set the ball wide

Half Time 0-0

At the beginning of the second half, Camp showed the benefit of his Jalal like (haha) good distribution as his throw out (NOT the blinking awful tactic of whacking it wide for a flick on to no-one) had Grabban scampering down the right and his cross was met by Pitman on the half volley but he blazed over

On the hour mark, though, Derby showed how good play SHOULD be finished off

Impressive one touch football down the left had the ball fired in across the 6 yard box and the very impressive Ward was there to shoot in off the post

Derby were 0-1 up and thoroughly deserved it

A few minutes later Pugh and Rantie were off and Fraser and the Scarlet Pimpernel, Ritchie, came on

How can one player, sidelined for the whole season through injury, come on to the pitch of players who’ve had 15 games on the “learning curve”, and be the best player we’ve got?

The crowd sensed it immediately and upped their game, to be rewarded by him (and Fraser, truth be told) actually making runs up front and being able to keep the ball.

All, I repeat All other clubs have players that when the ball is cleared, will get to the ball first AND KEEP IT but in Ritchie, maybe we can start to compete

His footwork and work rate were exemplary and had he been passed in on 77 minutes, which was the obvious ball completely missed by O’Kane I am convinced that we would have actually worked the keeper

This was shown just 2 minutes later as he took things into his own hands, cut in from the right and instantly smashed the ball at goal.

Yes, it did get deflected wide, but he took the responsibility of having a go – something that a few of our other players need to look inside themselves and ask – am I stepping up to the plate?

Derby then professionally saw the game out and it went from bad to much, much worse for Bournemouth as Cook was badly injured in a “kitchen sink” moment as he span and clashed totally accidentally with a defender

It was his leg and it looked bad

Next week the CB partnership could be Elphick and Addison – I’ve got my tin hat on order already…

Final Score 0 - 1

Summary – Derby were just better than us – simple as that. Better pressing, passing and ideas. We weren’t awful – just not good enough on the day.

The huge positive that is having Ritchie back (and it is huge) for me has been more than wiped away with the injury to Cook.

We all knew it was going to be a long, hard winter and right now I’d still settle for survival in this league.

Derby are one of the teams  that will be right up there at the end and there’s no disgrace in this loss – but 0 goals in the last 2 home games and very few shots on target tell its own story – all need to be improved – and quickly

Star Man – Ritchie – showed more intent, skill and passion in those 20 minutes or so than we showed in the previous 70

Amazing Away Support

East Stand

Main Stand

South Stand

North Stand

 

 

#afcb 0 v 2 #bwfc

So it was true – the ironically named Legends was gone. More importantly to me, a pre-match routine I’d developed with my autistic lad was gone forever.

Thanks for the consultation – thanks for the notice – thanks for nothing!!!

A new routine was needed and so the bar at Fitness First was the destination. Apart from the fact they don’t serve diet coke (I did confirm they were actually a gym) – it doesn’t seem too bad a switch.

The beer was cheap(ish), the footy was on and the toilets clean – it could never have the atmosphere but the rest was good enough

I was looking forward to seeing our loanee keeper Camp but I couldn’t take my eyes off the Bolton keeper as they came out. Was there one person sitting on another’s shoulders or was he really that freakishly tall?

Let’s hope we test him, I thought……..

The game kicked off and it was clear that Francis was still on the spin cycle of getting rinsed against Leicester’s Dyer as he came up against Bolton’s side-show Bob (Lee).

Within the first minute Francis was turned inside out and back again but fortunately for him Lee was so weedy that a strong round of applause sent him sprawling – so started the battle of the fast against the strong

Bournemouth had the first chance as a pass to Rantie’s feet saw him turn smartly, move past one defender and smash his shot goalwards only to be blocked by the covering defender

Three minutes later, Danns was sent through a static defence and with Camp rooted to the spot, we all watched as the shot luckily was dragged wide

On 11 minutes Camp was called upon properly for the first time as a stinging shot from Ream was arrowing into the top right corner and it was only Camp’s strong hand that kept the ball out – a great save

Bournemouth then had 5 or so minutes of pressure which resulted in a couple of long throw opportunities – but I ask you – what is the point?

So often we didn’t even challenge for the ball being thrown in, we might as well have just given the ball back. I’m not sure what we need to do to make people put their head in where it hurts but the formula needs to be found soon as these long balls and crosses are just a waste of time without someone trying to get on the end of them

Fifteen minutes of very frustrating play came next as Bournemouth decided that tippy tapping the ball at the back was entertainment enough until it was time to either launch a 40 yard ball, in the swirling wind, to the crowd (normally) OR try to thread the ball through the eye of a needle which Messi couldn’t have made

A time in which the only highlight was a massive Arter block on 27 minutes after Francis was bemused again and the ball crossed from the left as the Bolton midfielder strolled forward and crashed the ball at the goal from 20 yards

Both Grabban and Rantie then had shots, but both were blocked without the keeper having to make a save

This was to be a theme – say what you like about Bolton, they defended like their lives depended on it – whereas, Arter and Cook aside, we looked like losing would mean they’d be limited to just one all-expenses VIP trip to the Rome health clinic.

Why is it every team look fitter than us? I know it’s a harder league – but surely we are all eating the same things and all have the opportunity to go to the gym etc? – I just don’t understand

Then it happened. On 36 minutes N’Gog went through with Camp again rooted to the spot. This time, Camp was rounded and as N’Gog sliced the ball towards goal, Cook came sliding in but overestimated the speed of the ball – hitting the back of the net himself before the ball did

Half Time 0-1

The words from “Confused Rich” were “command your box” – and how true these words were. How are we coaching our keepers? Camp has only been with us for a few days and yet he’s already followed Jalal and Allsop in the “nothing shall move us from our line” mode.

Second half and I’ve got fewer notes than the minute waltz

Bolton backed off. We huffed and we puffed but ultimately we could have played for the next month non-stop and we wouldn’t have scored.

Bolton closed down so well and just defended their 18 yard box and we had so little movement that even Arter’s guile could not figure out a way through. Without people actually moving, Bolton’s job was made a lot easier

Even Camp was getting frustrated when he got the ball that he had no-one to pass to – you can kind of see why Allsop looked so indecisive with his distribution.

When we did have a chance, we simply wouldn’t shoot but instead look to the next pass, which inevitably went awry.

We are not Arsenal, We cannot just walk through a championship side and walk the ball into the net. Our last 2 goals, from our winger, not striker, have been where the boot has been put through the ball – why our strikers are so shy baffles me.

Even when Pitman and Thomas were brought on for Fraser and Rantie, although our ball retention did improve, our shot to possession ratio was just awful

Our 2 best chances came from free kicks earned around the box but with Pitman insisting on taking them all, even when a left foot from Daniels would have suited the chance better, the keeper still wasn’t worked

Then, deep into injury time, a long clearance punted the ball up to Beckford, who, under pressure from TWO defenders, shrugged them both off and smashed the ball past Camp – very reminiscent of the Clarke goal against us for Coventry last season

That’s what we are missing. Someone fast, strong who knows where the goal is. He didn’t need anyone else – he just believed in himself, backed himself, shot and scored

Full Time 0-2

Summary – A disappointing game but I was left more than disappointed to have Willo’s words echoing in my ears that AFCB fans have their expectations set too high.

If, by expecting professional players to run to make space, be able to pass the ball simply between them and having the occasional shot on goal when the chance presents itself, I am expecting too much – then I plead guilty

I’m not looking for Bournemouth to get promoted, I’m looking for us to survive in this league and while I’m paying money and giving my time to travel all over the country, I want to see us at least do the basics

Is that really too much to hope for?

Star Player – Arter – A surprise choice I’m sure as some (only some, mind you) of his passing had to be seen to be laughed at – but the passion that he showed in BOTH defence AND attack showed me that above all, he really WANTS this opportunity and with better choices, will succeed

East Stand

Main Stand

 

North Stand

 

South Stand

 

Amazing Away Support