Our prediction for this Championship match:
After playing out a goalless draw with Stoke City, Birmingham City will be looking to return to winning ways in the Championship when they take on Bournemouth on Wednesday evening. The Blues have been impressive at the back at the start of the season, and they are likely to rely on their rock-solid defence in the St. Andrew’s Stadium clash. Philippines international Neil Etheridge has been tested positive for coronavirus, while both Chong and Sanderson are likely to miss the game with injuries.
The Cherries, on the other hand, did well to beating Nottingham Forest at the City Ground in their second game of the season. Considering that Bournemouth have been impressive in front of goal of late, we do not believe that Birmingham City are capable of keeping their third consecutive clean sheet. Midfielder David Brooks is banned for the visiting team.
Highlighted Player (George Friend):
George Friend has played for no less than nine English clubs so far in his career. Friend made his first-team debut for non-League club Exeter City on April 17, 2006 in a goalless draw with Forest Green Rovers and he stayed at St James Park until 2008. After ending his loan spells with Tiverton Town and Team Bath he joined Wolverhampton, but he made no more than seven appearances for the Wolves in the league.
The 188-cm-tall left-back, who is capable of playing as a centre-back as well, played for the likes of Millwall, Southend, Scunthorpe United and Exeter City on loan during his spell with Wolverhampton and at the end of the 2009/2010 season he signed a two-year deal with Doncaster Rovers. Friend made his Doncaster debut on August 7, 2010 in a 2-0 win over Preston and after three years at the club he was sold to Middlesbrough for a fee of £100,000.
The left-footed defender has been playing for Boro ever since and you should know that he made 24 appearances for the club in the 2016/2017 Premier League campaign.
Highlighted Team (Bournemouth):
Bournemouth are a professional football club that was formed back in 1890. The Cherries secured promotion to the Premier League in the 2015/2016 season, with the team making it to the English top flight for the first time ever.
Bournemouth play their home games at Dean Court and the capacity of the stadium is 11,469.
The Cherries enjoyed a very successful season on their Premier League debut, with the team beating the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United in the national championship. Glenn Murray scored the winner for Bournemouth in the 1-0 win over the capital club at Stamford Bridge and that is probably the greatest victory in the club’s history.
Bournemouth have been participating in the FA Cup since 1913, but they have yet to win the trophy in the prestigious competition. It has to be noted that the club’s original name Boscombe Athletic Football Club was changed to Bournemouth back in 1923 as the club owners wanted the Cherries to be more representative of the district.