By George Munden

 

AFC Bournemouth will travel to Pride Park to take on the Sky Bet Championship’s third place side Derby tomorrow.

The Cherries will be looking to continue their recent solid form, which saw them wrestle a point from the league’s second place side Burnley in their last game.

In that match Eddie Howe’s men were able to keep both Danny Ings and Sam Vokes off the score sheet. This was as significant achievement as the former Cherries pair are the league’s most prolific strike force with 34 goals between them this campaign.

Bournemouth will need as equally solid defensive performance this weekend as they face in form Derby. The Rams have won their last three home games and have scored more goals in the Championship than any other team, averaging just short of two goals a game.

The main threat is likely to come from in form striker Chris Martin, who already has 13 goals this season and will be keen to add to this tally tomorrow.

The man in charge of keeping Martin at bay will be Tommy Elphick. The 26 year-old has been ever present for The Cherries this season and if he can continue his consistently good form, the away side have every chance of snatching some points.

When the two sides previously met back in November, Jamie Ward’s strike gave the Midlands side all three points. Derby went on to record seven consecutive wins which laid the platform for their push towards The Premier League.