Cherries told to prove credentials
BOURNEMOUTH manager Jason Tindall wants his side to underline their Championship promotion credentials today with victory away to Watford.
The sides clash in the lunchtime kick-off at Vicarage Road three months after both were relegated from the Premier League.
“It will be a good marker for us,” Tindall said. “We want to go there and deliver a good performance but we want to win the game.
“It was important that we lifted the players and got off to a good start and a winning start and as the weeks have gone by the confidence has grown.”
Unbeaten Bournemouth sit fourth, one point and a place behind Watford, and both clubs will be looking to close in on leaders Reading, who face Rotherham United at the Madejski Stadium.
Watford boss Vladimir Ivic said he was “satisfied” with his side’s points tally but believes they will only get stronger as the season unfolds after a hectic summer at Vicarage Road.
“I said before this first five or six games, we have a new squad,” the
Serbian said. “We have seven or eight players who weren’t starters last season.
“We expect our game will be better and better. A lot of players who are playing now, they are still in pre-season for me.
“They are still in the process of trying to find their condition, their tactical movement, their technical movement, and this is something we try to do with them.”
Second-placed Bristol City will bid to bounce back from their midweek home defeat to Middlesbrough against Swansea City, whose own unbeaten start was halted last week by Huddersfield Town. Neil Harris’ fifth-placed Millwall can cut the gap at the top with a third straight victory against winless Barnsley at the Den. Brentford are also looking to make it three straight wins away to Stoke City, who are unbeaten in their last six in all competitions. Norwich City have followed up two straight defeats with back-to-back wins and aim to maintain their momentum against Wycombe Wanderers at Carrow Road, while inform Huddersfield play Preston North End at home.
Carlos Corberan’s Terriers climbed up to ninth in midweek after taking 10 points from their last four games.
Sheffield Wednesday, still bottom and seven points adrift of safety after starting the season on minus 12, take on Luton Town at Hillsborough.
Cardiff City and Middlesbrough both hope to extend their respective unbeaten runs when they clash in the Welsh capital, Blackburn Rovers bid to halt their recent slide away to Coventry City and QPR play Birmingham City at Loftus Road.