PREVIEW: Bournemouth v Luton Town

Hatters hit the road this weekend
Simon Sluga gathers the ball during Luton's trip to Bournemouth in the FA Cup last seasonSimon Sluga gathers the ball during Luton's trip to Bournemouth in the FA Cup last season
Simon Sluga gathers the ball during Luton's trip to Bournemouth in the FA Cup last season

Following their 0-0 draw at Kenilworth Road before Christmas, the Cherries have returned some mixed form as they hunt an immediate return to the Premier League.

Jason Tindall's side went to fellow promotion chasers Brentford where they were beaten 2-1, before bouncing back with a 1-0 win at Stoke City.

They made easy progress in the FA Cup, hammering League Two Oldham 4-1, but were then held to a 1-1 draw at home by Millwall on Tuesday night, as they have dropped out of the automatic promotion places, only just though, one point behind Swansea.

Bournemouth's home form has been excellent this term, scoring 10 goals in their last three games, and have only been beaten once on home soil, that a 3-2 reverse to Preston back in December.

They are the top scorers at home in the league too, with 21 goals in 11 games, conceding just nine, and with the season at its midway point, the boss declared to the Bournemouth Echo he was satisfied so far.

Tindall said: “Of course, I’ve got to be happy, taking everything into consideration and where we are.

“I still think there’s more to come, certainly now we’re getting everybody back. We’re in a good position now to kick on for the second half of the season.

“Now we just need to make sure we do that and we attack the next half of the season in the right way, that’s going to be good enough to get us enough points.”

With players returning from injury, then Tindall's men could get even stronger during the second half of the campaign, especially if they have a good transfer window.

They brought in former Luton Town youngster and ex-Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere to train with the first team squad after he was released by West Ham recently and might offer him a short-term deal.

The only concern for Tindall are the future of Wales international David Brooks and striker Josh King.

Brooks is rumoured to be interesting Premier League side Aston Villa, while King is thought to want a return to the top flight, Everton one of the sides reported to be showing an interest.

Team news: Luton have a virtually fully fit squad with only Martin Cranie absent due to a calf injury.

Matty Pearson missed the midweek game against QPR after having to self isolate, but is now back in contention.

For Bournemouth Arnaut Danjuma and Chris Mepham are both in training, although might not be fit enough for the weekend.

Junior Stanislas is out for a month after picking up an ankle injury during Tuesday's 1-1 draw against Millwall, while Dan Gosling is absent.

Top scorers: Hatters: James Collins (9). Cherries: Dominic Solanke (10).

Milestones: Goalkeeper Simon Sluga made his 50th appearance for the Hatters on Tuesday night since arriving on a club record fee in the summer of 2019, and has managed 11 clean sheets in that time.

Midfielder George Moncur also came on for his 50th outing in a Luton shirt, scoring 10 goals since he was signed from Barnsley in January 2019.

Man in the middle: David Webb - Has taken 19 games so far this season, showing 49 yellows and three reds, with one Luton match, the 1-1 draw at home to Birmingham in November.

Took two Town games last term, the 1-0 defeat at home to Swansea and 1-0 loss at Sheffield Wednesday.

Officiated Luton once in the 2017-18 season, a 2-0 home victory over Port Vale, while had Town twice the year before, sending off Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu in a 2-1 home win over Notts County, plus the 3-0 win at Cambridge.

Webb's only other Hatters' involvement was a 2-2 draw at Chesterfield in League Two on Boxing Day 2008.

Referee's assistants are Ian Cooper and Adrian Waters, with the fourth official Craig Hicks

In charge: Jason Tindall - 43-year-old who spent most of his playing career at Bournemouth, making more than 170 appearances after joining in 1998.

Was released in 2006 and appointed player-manager of Weymouth in January 2007, sacked a year later.

Returned to the Cherries as assistant manager to Jimmy Quinn in September 2008, remaining in that role when Eddie Howe took over.

The pair moved to Burnley in January 2011, but after just 18 months, were back at Dean Court and when Howe left in the summer, Tindall took over on a permanent basis, penning a three year contract.

View from the opposition: Jason Tindall talking to the club's official website about his side's improving injury situation: "We're starting to get the bodies back now, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Chris Mepham, Jack Stacey, Arnaut Danjuma - and Josh King is now sharp and fit.

"With Chris Mepham and Danjuma, it's great to have those two guys back out on the training ground joining in.

"They're both very close to being back involved with the squad, whether that's tomorrow, we'll have to wait and see, but it's certainly good to have them back."

One to watch: Midfielder David Brooks, 23, has been a real star for Bournemouth since arriving for £11.5m in July 2018.

Began his career in Manchester City's academy, heading to Sheffield United in 2015, playing 37 times for the Blades, scoring three goals.

That was enough to see the Cherries part with a sizable fee for his services, as he was hit in the Premier League during his first season, with a number of important strikes.

However, an ankle injury then kept him out for the majority of last term, with Bournemouth dropping out of the top flight.

Now fit again, Brooks has made 24 appearances for club and country this season, scoring five goals.

Friendly faces: Luton attacker Harry Cornick was born in Poole and joined Bournemouth from Christchurch in 2013, making only one FA Cup sub appearance for the Cherries during his four years at the club.

Moved to Luton for an undisclosed fee in August 2017 and has playing 146 times, scoring 22 goals.

Town defender Martin Cranie joined Bournemouth on loan from Southampton in October 2005, with three appearances for the Cherries in League One.

Defender Jack Stacey made 95 appearances and scored five goals for Luton after joining from Reading in June 2017, one of the stars of Town's promotion to the Championship.

Headed to Bournemouth in the summer of 2019, for a fee of around £4m and has made 35 appearances for the Cherries, scoring once.

Defender Cameron Carter-Vickers spent the second half of last season on loan at Luton making 16 appearances, playing a huge role in the club's fight against relegation.

Joined Bournemouth on loan from Spurs for the season in October, but injury kept him out until last weekend when he made his Cherries debut in the FA Cup.

Also for the Cherries, ex-Luton boss Graeme Jones is first team coach, after a disappointing spell at the helm for Hatters, while former Town striker Stuart Douglas is physiotherapist.

Played for both: Mark Ovendale - goalkeeper began his career with local village team Leverington before joining Wisbech Town, heading to Northampton Town in the 1994–95 season.

Moved to Barry Town in August 1997 and after one season, headed to Bournemouth for £30,000 in July 1998.

Became first choice at Dean Court, making over 100 appearances, before being snapped up by Luton for a fee of £425,000 in August 2000.

Played 55 times in three years for the Hatters, released in 2003, re-signing for Barry Town and then heading to York City.

Dropped into non-league as he played for Tiverton Town, Carmarthen Town and Newport County, forced to retire from in June 2007 due to a hip injury.

Joined Wimborne Town in a coaching role in August 2008 but then sadly died in August 2011 from cancer.

We've got form: Luton started their trips to Bournemouth well, with a 3-2 victory in Division Three South back in December 1923.

However, it didn't last, with Town going eight games without a win, including a 5-1 defeat in 1929, getting back on track when triumphing 2-0 in 1932.

Suffered four straight defeat, before earning back-to-back victories in 1969, adding a draw as well.

However, from there, it was slim pickings once more, the Hatters going nine matches without a win, seven defeats including, including a 6-3 reverse in Division Two during October 2003.

Town finally took the points, 1-0 in League One in April 2005, courtesy of Enoch Showunmi's strike, although have not won in their last three games.

In total, Luton have won six, drawn eight and lost 17 of their 31 matches, scoring 42 goals and conceding 63.

Last time out: Luton were dumped out of the FA Cup at the third round stage on their most recent trip to Bournemouth last season.

The hosts moved ahead early on through Philip Billing's eighth minute strike, but Town should have levelled, Harry Cornick missing a one-on-one and Alan Sheehan firing a penalty over.

The Cherries then ran riot late on, Callum Wilson scoring on 67 minutes with further goals added by Billings (79) and Dominic Solanke (82).

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Donervon Daniels, Matty Pearson, Lloyd Jones, Alan Sheehan (James Bree 77), Glen Rea, Andrew Shinnie, George Moncur (Luke Berry 68), Jacob Butterfield (Luke Bolton 68), Elliot Lee, Harry Cornick.

Subs not used: James Shea, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Pelly Ruddock-Mpanzu, James Collins, Kazenga LuaLua.

Referee: Darren England.

Attendance: 10,064.