FA throw out Town’s appeal over Mou red

Wagner backs misfiring strikers during goal drought

BOURNEMOUTH manager Eddie Howe admits the Cherries have ‘a couple of niggles’ heading into tonight’s Premier League clash with Town.

The Bournemouth boss revealed doubts over midfielder Dan Gosling ahead of the match, with the former Everton man needing a scan on his knee.

The south coast side will also be without defender Adam Smith, who had surgery on a knee injury picked up in the loss to Newcastle United two weeks ago.

Howe told the club’s official website: “Dan Gosling is a concern for us.

“We’ve sent him away for a scan on his knee so we’ll see how he is. He didn’t feel comfortable during the warm up at the weekend.

“We have a couple of niggles. You’re always going to have a few niggles at this time of the season, so we’ll see how those guys are.”

Despite some injury concerns, Howe will be able to call upon Jefferson Lerma after the Colombian completed a one-match suspension during the defeat to Manchester City on Saturday.

And Tyrone Mings will also be at the boss’ disposal after making his first league appearance of the season against the champions last time out in a three-at-the-back formation not usually used by the Cherries.

On the 25-year-old centreback and the options he gives Bournemouth at the back, Howe said: “We’re always open and every game is unique in the Premier League.

“The key thing is how you train and prepare.

“Tyrone’s had his injury problems since he’s been with us but he had a very good pre-season has waited for his opportunity and I was really pleased with how he performed.” STEVE Mounie starts his threematch ban tonight after Town’s appeal to overturn the red card he received against Brighton failed.

The Terriers pleaded their case to Football Association disciplinary chiefs after the striker was shown a straight red by referee Michael Oliver at the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday.

The former Montpellier frontman was dismissed for a challenge on Yves Bissouma which many observers felt was a yellow card at worst. HUDDERSFIELD Town have been handed Championship opposition in the third round of the FA Cup.

The Terriers, who won the trophy in 1922 and have been runners-up four times, will travel to face Bristol City.

The Robins, who are managed by former Barnsley boss Lee Johnson, are 14th in the Championship.

FA Cup third round draw: Accrington v Ipswich, Aston Villa v Swansea, Bolton v Walsall/Sunderland, Bournemouth v Brighton, Brentford v Oxford, Bristol City v Huddersfield, Burnley v Barnsley, DAVID Wagner has jumped to the defence of goalless Town strikers Steve Mounie and Laurent Depoitre.

Belgian Depoitre will lead the line at Bournemouth as Mounie starts a three-game Premier League ban following his red card against Brighton.

It opens the door for Depoitre to start at the Vitality Stadium, at Arsenal

The FA disagreed, however, so the 24-year-old Benin international will sit out the Premier League matches against Bournemouth tonight, Arsenal and Newcastle United.

Belgium international Laurent Depoitre is now firmly in line to lead the Town attack at the Vitality Stadium, against a Bournemouth side who have lost their past four matches.

And in his pre-Bournemouth press conference yesterday, boss David Wagner explained why Town had appealed against the red card.

“We have appealed it because I still have the same opinion I had Chelsea v Nottm Forest, Crystal Palace v Grimsby, Derby v Southampton, Everton v Lincoln, Fulham v Oldham, Gillingham v Cardiff, Guiseley/ Fleetwood v AFC Wimbledon, Man City v Rotherham, Man Utd v Reading, Middlesbrough v Peterborough/ Bradford, Millwall v Hull, Newcastle v Blackburn, Norwich v Portsmouth, Preston v Doncaster, QPR v Leeds, Sheff Utd v Barnet, Sheff Wed v Luton, Shrewsbury v Stoke, Solihull/Blackpool v Arsenal, Tranmere/Southport v Tottenham, West Brom v Wigan, West Ham v Birmingham, Woking v Watford, Wolves v Liverpool, Wrexham/Newport v Leicester. Ties to be played Jan 4-7. on Saturday and in the next home game, which is against Newcastle United on Saturday, December 15.

Asked if he is having to work hard to convince Mounie and Depoitre they are doing a job, Wagner didn’t hesitate in his response.

“People can think and believe what they like, I am only interested in what my players think and believe,” said the boss, who revealed Chris Lowe could be back as early as this coming after the game,” said he said. “But sometimes a situation like this can make you stronger and bring you more together.

“It can give you more hunger and more desire to turn because, obviously, this wasn’t what we deserved.

“The only way to deal with situations like this is to take it on board and turn it into positive energy.

“This is exactly what we would like to do.”

So what was the basis of Town’s case over the red card?

“First of all, it wasn’t a straight leg, he wanted to pull his leg away in this situation,” said Wagner, adding he hoped his English was good enough to explain his thoughts.

“I don’t think it was intense, in terms of the tempo and it wasn’t from in behind.

“He had the intention to hit the ball but, because the ball bounced, obviously his foot was a little bit higher as well.

“So, for me, the situation – if it’s

Sometimes a situation like this can make you stronger and bring you more together

weekend at the Emirates after his shoulder injury. “They are very smart, intelligent guys, and they know that performance wise they have done great.

“They have put in a lot of good performances so far. They have been unlucky in some situations, and they have not been calm enough in other situations. They have analysed every single goalscoring situation which they have faced and I am very happy with from behind and very intense, if he has the intention to go into the opponent with a straight leg it is clear – but everything shows from my point of view it was anything but a red card. “This is why I immediately, and for sure after I spoke to Steve, he admitted he did not want to do anything harsh or nasty in this situation. “I think if you look on it, you can see it. “I know from some angles it looks different than others, or if you put it on pause it can look different, but in the end you have to judge it in real time and, when you do that, to me it makes absolute sense to appeal.” Losing Mounie is a blow tonight. And after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat, Wagner reinforced the importance of tonight’s trip to the south coast. “It is a big game for us because, after the experiences we had last Saturday, we want to do everything we can to come back and get points on the board,” he said. “It is a very difficult task, we know both of my strikers.” Mounie hasn’t netted since the 1-1 draw at Brighton last April, while Depoitre last scored at Chelsea in May – the goal which confirmed Town would have a second season in the Premier League.

Wagner added: “I know it sounds crazy because we have gone 14 games without a goal from my strikers, but I am absolutely fine with their performances – apart from that they haven’t scored.”