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Bournemouth Fan View: Why Cherries must beat West Brom

Simon Reed
Eddie Howe must make sure we don’t underestimate WBA this weekend.
Eddie Howe must make sure we don’t underestimate WBA this weekend.

West Bromwich Albion are on an impressively shambolic spiral towards relegation from the Premier League. They’ve lost seven games in a row in all competitions.

Manager Alan Pardew is increasingly looking like the owner of nightclub that’s gone down the tubes. His regime has even got solid pros like Gareth Barry and Jonny Evans allegedly stealing cabs in Spain. It’s pandemonium over there.

So it’s imperative that my AFC Bournemouth side beat the Baggies this weekend to hasten their fall into the Championship. Anything other than a win will, quite simply, not be good enough.

Alan Pardew has further tarnished his managerial reputation after overseeing a torrid few months as WBA boss.
Alan Pardew has further tarnished his managerial reputation after overseeing a torrid few months as WBA boss.

Now I know what you’re thinking. “You’re are miles from the relegation dogfight, this weekend’s game is hardly a must win.” Be honest, that’s what you’re thinking isn’t it? Don’t lie, I can see it in your eyes.

In any case I would see your point. But the pessimist in me – okay, the pessimist that I am – is very keen to accumulate the 40 points you need to cement safety as quickly as possible.

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Winning this weekend would take us tantalisingly close to that, too. On paper this is the most winnable game we have remaining, but make no mistake: this is not a match that we just have to turn up to get all three points.

It may be a cliché, but there are no easy games at this level. As someone who saw us lose to a 10-man Sunderland side last season, I know that better than anyone.

Do not underestimate

WBA have several good players, so we must be wary that they could pose a considerable threat this weekend.
WBA have several good players, so we must be wary that they could pose a considerable threat this weekend.

Despite the midlands side’s emphatically dire plight, they are not to be underestimated. Even under Pardew’s chaotic reign they’ve grabbed some impressive results away from home, including draws at both Liverpool and Everton.

There’s also the fact that one of West Bromich’s three league wins was against us – in the very first game of the season. In fact, they’ve beaten us the last twice we’ve faced them.

I made the mistake of thinking we could win our game against them earlier this season fairly comfortably (I was even yammering on about European football, for heaven’s sake), so I definitely won’t be making the same error in judgement this time. I can only hope Eddie Howe makes sure the team doesn’t either.

Remaining fixtures

Nathan Aké looking down, possibly because he’s worried about our remaining fixtures.
Nathan Aké looking down, possibly because he’s worried about our remaining fixtures.

There’s also the fact that although our remaining fixtures aren’t entirely unpleasant, they’re not the nicest either.

Yes, home games against Crystal Palace and Swansea look okay, but the fact that the former are now recovering from their terrible injury crisis and the latter are in superb form doesn’t reassure me in the slightest.

Now I know I’m being a tad over-dramatic in thinking this weekend’s game is a must-win. I know a million times over. But I still can’t help but feel that not getting all three points will have us nervously looking over our shoulders, regardless of the gap between us and the dreaded relegation zone.

So go on lads, go out there and help us to take a huge stride towards another season in the top flight. It would help put my mind at ease significantly.

Can’t get enough of me? Then watch me vlog about AFC Bournemouth at AFCB Analysis!