3rd in the Premier League AFC Bournemouth host 18th placed Nottingham Forest on Sunday – yet you could forgive any sense of pessimism coming from Bournemouth fans. Sean Dyche has been appointed Forest manager, someone who has had typically good results against The Cherries over the years. And life at the City Ground started well for him, beating Porto 2-0 in the Europa League on Thursday. But let’s not ignore the flying start made by Andoni Iraola’s side – here is my predicted XI, followed by a match preview and score prediction:
GK: Djordje Petrovic
There was little Petrovic could have done about conceding three goals last weekend, his defence not helping him out after making a brilliant save from Daniel Munoz, with Jean-Phillipe Mateta tapping home. Petrovic will start again here.
RB: Alex Jimenez
Jimenez put in his best display so far in a Bournemouth shirt last weekend, good timing for the Spanish full-back with Adam Smith returning to the squad. Jimenez has all the qualities Iraola craves in a full-back and will look to build on his impressive performance against Palace.
CBs: Bafode Diakite + Marcos Senesi
After superb starts to the season, both will likely have felt disappointed with their respective performances last weekend. Mateta undoubtedly got the best of both – but I don’t see either getting dropped, and I would expect a very different challenge against Igor Jesus, with Christ Wood unlikely to be fit to start.
LB: Adrien Truffert
Like his CB’s, Truffert might have been a bit disappointed with his display last weekend, unable to stop Munoz on the right hand side. But again, he has made a brilliant start to the season, and despite Julio Soler now returning from the U-20 World Cup, there is no chance of him losing his place here.
DM (‘6’): Tyler Adams
Adams is now one booking away from a suspension, sitting on four yellow cards, so I expect him to continue to get the nod until that booking, when he can have a rest. Adams did well in keeping the imperious Adam Wharton quiet last weekend, but will have another tough battle against a quality Forest midfield this weekend.
CM (‘8’): Alex Scott
It could be tempting to throw Ryan Christie into the XI after his goal from the bench last weekend, but I would be very surprised to see that happen. It was another solid performance from Scott against Palace, against a strong midfield duo of Daichi Kamada and Wharton. Him and Adams look like the go to partnership right now.
AM (’10’): Justin Kluivert
Kluivert might not have had the impact from the off he would’ve hoped for against Palace, but there were some bright touches and link-up play, especially in the first half. He played very well against Forest at Dean Court last year, and will be hoping for a repeat this weekend.
WINGERS: Marcus Tavernier + Antoine Semenyo
Some were surprised to see Tavernier on the wing, but it was predicted here. Iraola loves Tavernier, giving him the responsibility of the captain’s armband at Selhurst Park. With wingers playing a key role in Forest’s win against Porto, Iraola’s wide men will have to work hard both ways, and he trusts Tavernier implicitly with that work. Obviously, Semenyo will start again. Little needs to be said about him.
ST: Junior Kroupi
No one expected to see Kroupi start at Selhurst Park, never mind him bagging a brace. But that’s football, and with Evanilson injured the teenage sensation grasped that opportunity with both hands. Evanilson is set to miss this one, so Kroupi will start again – but Enes Unal could make the bench for the first time in over nine months after returning from his ACL rupture in an U-21 game this week.
MATCH PREVIEW
It really does feel slightly unfortunate to be playing Forest at this time. There now feels an immediate sense of unity and a real buzz around the club since Dyche was appointed, especially helped by winning just their second game of the season on Thursday night.
Dyche has typically got the better of The Cherries – he had won six in a row against the club until last season, when Iraola managed to beat him three times against Everton. Iraola might take some comfort from those results, knowing that we can beat a Sean Dyche team – but it feels different coming up against a team with the ‘new manager bounce’.
We know to expect a very frustrating game against what will already be a very well organised, tough to break down outfit. Dyche knows how to nullify teams, and that is never fun to watch, so getting an early goal to put them on the back foot will be key.
Forest are going back to their pragmatic ways that saw them do so well under Nuno Espirito Santo – and you can’t blame them for that. It involves good structure defensively, a strong base in midfield and quick outlets in attack to hit you on the counter.
If Chris Wood is fit, it could be even more ‘Dyche-ball’, given Wood’s previous success under his manager. But Wood wasn’t in the squad for their win against Porto, and they are still awaiting news on whether he will be fit enough for this one. They will also be waiting on the fitness of Oleksandr Zinchenko, who was forced off in that Europa League game. Summer signing Dilane Bakwa will definitely miss out.
No one expected such a goal-fest last week, proving that you truly never know in football. But I would be surprised if that was the case again here. AFCB will have to be brave and show more urgency than they have done against low blocks in the past, but on the other hand they will have to choose the right moments to do that, in order not to get caught out on the counter. As previously mentioned, an early goal would do them the world of good, like in last season’s 5-0 thumping of the same team.
It sure will be an intriguing tactical battle, that is hard to predict given the circumstances.
Greg Masding Sports 
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