Championship Cherries - Part 1

It will not have escaped any Cherries fan the fact that in a few days time, AFC Bournemouth take their place in the Championship for the first time since they were relegated from the second tier of English Football at the end of the 1989/90 season.

We a look at the historical record AFC Bournemouth have against their Championship rivals.

Barnsley (H: 14/09 A: 22/03)

  HOME AWAY PL W D L F A W D L F A 38 8 7 4 33 22 3 6 12 19 35

The Cherries face Barnsley for the first time since the Tykes dipped in to League One, the last meeting coming in 2005/06 when both sides cancelled each other out home and away.

Since their near miss at the end of last season, when Barnsley survived by a solitary point on the final day of the season, the Yorkshire side have been recruiting over the Summer to bolster their squad to avoid another scramble against relegation with the signature of three strikers, a host of defenders and a new keeper.

Birmingham City (H: 14/12 A: 29/03)

  HOME AWAY PL W D L F A W D L F A 6 3 2 1 10 8 3 3 - 4 1

It is an inescapable fact that AFC Bournemouth have never lost to Birmingham City on their own patch with the last encounter between the two coming way back in the 1994/95 season. From the list of players they've released and those they've signed for the new season, it's hard to tell which way the Midland side is looking this season. Are they aiming for a return to the top, or aiming for midtable, which is where they finished last season. They couldn't even muster 10 home league wins, which has got to be improved upon if they harbour any ambitions for the return to top flight football any time soon.

Blackburn Rovers (H: 28/09 A: 12/03)

  HOME AWAY PL W D L F A W D L F A 18 3 3 2 10 8 - 2 8 11 22

The woes faced by Blackburn Rovers have been well documented over the past couple of seasons as as the Lancashire side crashed out of the Premiership and almost slipped stright through to League One last season – just beating the drop in the last couple of matches. This season can't get any worse for them surely? A season of consolidation and mid-table surely the aim?

Ewood Park will have happy memories for a certain Eddie Howe – he scored the winning penalty in a memorable League Cup win over Rovers back in the 2004/05 season as the Cherries recorded a 7-6 penalty shoot out victory.

Blackpool (A: 14/09 A: 08/03)

  HOME AWAY PL W D L F A W D L F A 33 6 4 6 19 8 8 4 5 22 25

Records against these two seaside Clubs suggest a fairly even affair could be in store this season, but it's been 6 seasons since the two last met, with both clubs going in opposite directions in the meantime. The Tangerines coffers will still be bouyed with parachute payments from the Premiership, which is reflected in their signings and their ability to keep hold of their prime asset Thomas Ince after approaches from Cardiff City over the Summer. Surely looking to mount a promotion campaign this season?

Bolton Wanderers (H: 02/11 A: 08/02)

  HOME AWAY PL W D L F A W D L F A 18 5 3 1 16 10 3 4 2 7 11

It's been over 20-years since the Cherries headed to the north west to facr Bolton Wanderers and it will be a new ground to tick off this season as Bolton have moved to The Reebok since our last visit  in the 92/93 season.

Having missed out on the play-offs on goal difference last time round, Bolton will be aiming to go one step further with a push back to the Premiership this season. Their ambition is underlined with some of the signings, most notably Jermaine Beckford who has pedigree at this level.

Source: Cherries MAD

Source: FOOTYMAD

---