Bournemouth - Colchester, English Division 2
2004-04-03 16.00 CET
Pick: Bournemouth
Stake: 3%
Odds: 1,79 (Note: Asian hcp -0,5; Bookmaker: Pinnacle)
Final reason for bet
· Bournemouth has many good results lately and is in top of the form table (10 matches).
· Bournemouth has put up some fine performances in their recent games.
· Bournemouth has an almost fully fit squad.
· Colchester will miss some important players.
General comment about the game
Playoff candidates Bournemouth welcomes mid table Colchester to a Saturday afternoon clash in the English division 1. Bournemouth is in really good form. They have eight victories from their last ten games and only two defeats. Furthermore they have played some very good football during this period. Since they are only one point behind and have one more game to play than Port Vale on sixth place their playoff hopes are very justified. Last game they played away against Rushden & Diamonds. Bournemouth bossed the proceedings during the whole game and created a lot of good chances. They were rightfully 1-0 up in halftime after a goal from midfielder Brian Stock. In second half Bournemouth continued to perform very good and scored two more goals through winger James Hayter and striker Warren Feeney. Manager Sean O’Driscoll was very happy after the game and thought they played terrific and passed the ball well. We totally agree with him! In their last home game they got defeated by Blackpool and that ended a row with six straight wins. The result was not fair against the Bournemouth players. They were 0-1 behind in halftime, despite the fact that they controlled the game and created chances they normally score from. Furthermore, Blackpool did not have a shot on goal before they scored from a penalty just before half time. Bournemouth started the second half in the same manner as in the first and they rightfully equalised after five minutes through a header from striker Steve Fletcher. Bournemouth continued to press but it was Blackpool that scored the winner in the end. Bournemouth also had three penalty claims denied, claims that O’Driscoll thought was “stonewall penalties”. The team will get a major boost on Saturday by the return of skipper Carl Fletcher (33 aps, 1 goal). Fletcher has missed the last two games through suspension. Bournemouth will sweat on the fitness of midfielder Marcus Browning (34 apps, 0 goals). He limped off before halftime against Blackpool and missed the following game against Rushden & Diamonds. He is however likely to be available be if he will miss out Brian Stock (7(8) apps, 3 goals) will most certainly deputise once again as he did successfully in the last game.
Colchester is currently in 13th place in the league. Since mid-December they have only managed to win on three occasions from 18 attempts. In the beginning of the year they were involved in many cup matches (eight) and that made a negative impact on their results in the league. Since they lost the area final in the LDV Cup in mid February they have been able to concentrate on the league. After the area final ten league matches have been played resulting in three wins and also only three more defeats. The defeats has come when playing against better opposition which also means that all points collected during this period has come when facing teams that resides in mid table or below. In last game they visited Blackpool in a match that ended goalless. Colchester was the better team in a non entertaining game but was unable to score from the chances they created. Colchester will miss defender Wayne Brown who is suspended on Saturday. Brown has been ever present in the starting line up since he joined on loan from first division Watford in February. Midfielder Bobby Bowry (11(6) apps) hopes to travel despite limping off in the midweek draw at Blackpool with calf and ankle problems. Colchester will definitely miss out on striker Scott McGleish (22(8) apps, 8 goals), midfielder Karl Duguid (30 apps, 2 goals) and goalkeeper Richard McKinney (5 apps). However midfielder Thomas Pinnault (31(3) apps) is expected to return after being rested in last game.
We believe that Bournemouth’s fine form will continue and that they will be able to get back on the winning track on home soil once again. If they can put up a performance as they have done lately it would be a big surprise if they go from home matches without a victory. However, considering Colchester’s recent persistence to loose we go for a medium stake, 3%.
Recent games for home team
|
2004-03-27 |
Rushden&Diamonds-Bournemouth |
0-2 |
|
2004-03-24 |
Bournemouth-Blackpool |
1-2 |
|
2004-03-17 |
Sheffield W- Bournemouth |
0-2 |
|
2004-03-13 |
Grimsby-Bournemouth |
1-1 |
|
2004-03-06 |
Bournemouth –Wycombe |
1-0 |
Recent games for away team
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2004-03-30 |
Blackpool-Colchester |
0-0 |
|
2004-03-27 |
Colchester-Peterborough |
0-0 |
|
2004-03-23 |
Chesterfield-Colchester |
1-2 |
|
2004-03-20 |
Brighton-Colchester |
2-1 |
|
2004-03-16 |
Colchester-Wycombe |
1-1 |
Home table
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Bournemouth |
19 |
11 |
5 |
3 |
31-17 |
38 |
Away table
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Colchester |
19 |
5 |
4 |
10 |
15-27 |
19 |
Links for this game
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// SportsObserver 040402
