3 things to look out for as AFC Bournemouth visit Middlesbrough

This weekend, AFC Bournemouth will be looking to extend their recent unbeaten streak to five league games as they travel to newly promoted Middlesbrough in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon (15:00).

The Cherries, who have defeated Everton and Hull City within this impressive run of form, earned a credible draw (0-0) against title contenders Tottenham last weekend.

So, ahead of Eddie Howe’s side’s trip to The Riverside, here is three things SHOOT‘s Gareth Davies has highlighted for Bournemouth fans to look out for…

Andrew Surman or Dan Gosling?

Last Saturday, as Bournemouth impressed yet again by holding title hopefuls Tottenham to a goalless draw at Dean Court, one home midfielder dominated the post match talk, Harry Arter.

His all action style and almost superhuman work-rate had Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp declare that Arter’s performance was the best from any midfielder in the Premier League this year. Raised eyebrows? Just ask Victor Wanyama.

Arter was also in the game’s flashpoint as he was the victim of a questionable elbow from visiting substitute Moussa Sissoko. Despite appearing to be in full view of referee Craig Pawson, no red card was forthcoming, which left Arter incensed.

After the game, and despite the evidence being compelling against Sissoko, Arter said that he had received an apology from the former Newcastle United man and he hoped that no retrospective punishment would be forthcoming.

Unsurprisingly, Sissoko was charged and subsequently banned for three games to compound a frustrating afternoon for Tottenham, whose magnificent midfield was thoroughly nullified by Arter and Bournemouth’s other engine room incumbent, Dan Gosling.

Dan who? Remember him, the young Everton midfielder who dumped Merseyside rivals Liverpool out the Cup in 2009, but ITV cut the live coverage to an advert break?

Well, it’s fair to say Gosling’s career, since leaving Goodison Park under a cloud hasn’t progressed at the rate many expected.

That said, after a turbulent spell at Newcastle, Gosling has been an integral part of Bournemouth’s rapid rise over the past three seasons, although displacing Arter and Andrew Surman, Eddie Howe’s preferred midfield two has been hard, but when chances have arisen, Gosling has been stellar in performance and was superb against Spurs.

With this in mind, Bournemouth chief Howe has a problem: Gosling or Surman for Saturday’s trip to Teeside to renew acquaintances with Middlesbrough and their Spanish manager Aitor Karanka?

The smart money, and mine too, would be on an instant return for Surman, if he has shaken off the effects of a sickness bug. The South African-born midfielder has been Bournemouth’s unsung hero since Howe rescued him from his Norwich nightmare in 2013, initially on loan and then permanently 12 months later.

It’s no coincidence that when the Cherries play well, Surman is often a stand out performer and yet some fans still don’t believe him to warrant an automatic place. To those doubters, I can assure you that six Surman is almost always the first name on Bournemouth’s teamsheet.

He is held in the highest esteem possible by Howe and if you can, like I have on numerous occasions, just watch Surman in a match and him only for a few minutes. He always has space and time on the ball – the sign of a good player – and then the pass is often crisp, easy and pressure relieving.

It would be a surprise then if Surman didn’t return to the starting line-up at the Riverside, although Gosling would also be incredibly unlucky to miss out too. A sign, if any was needed, just how go Bournemouth’s squad is now, especially in midfield.

Battle of the veteran ‘keepers

At the ages of 34 and 36 respectively, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration of the truth to say that Victor Valdes and Artur Boruc are at the veteran stage of their careers. Both seem to be enjoying their football once again and both seem to be performing better than ever in the unlikeliest of places too.

Just four years ago, Valdes was part of the all conquering FC Barcelona side that swept all before them, but a disastrous move to Manchester United seemed to have spelt the end after he spent the second-half of last season on loan to Standard Liege.

Released by United after playing just nine games in two years, Valdes looked like his race was run, but Middlesbrough managed to persuade a ‘keeper who won 20 caps for Spain to relocate to Teesside.

Signing a two-year contract, Valdes has impressed as ‘Boro have made a steady, if unspectacular, start to life back in the top-flight and all the experience gleamed by appearing in countless Champions League matches will be key if Aitor Karanka is to become a manager with more than one Premier League season on his CV.

A key facet in Bournemouth mixing it with the big boys for more than one season, against the odds, was the performance of their ‘keeper Artur Boruc. Two years older than Valdes, Boruc is an iconic figure in Polish football and has also been there and got every t-shirt imaginable.

His career also looked over as in 2014, he was Southampton’s third choice stopper, even behind the Saints’ calamity prone gloveman Kelvin Davis, but a move up the M27 has reinvigorated Boruc’s love for football and but for a sticky spell a year ago, has been immense at Dean Court.

He has claimed the Supporters Player of the Month Award for both August and September, meaning that his calming influence on Bournemouth’s backline hasn’t gone unnoticed and another performance that bellies his age could see the Cherries claim all three points at the Riverside.

Goal-shy ‘Boro

Whilst Bournemouth have hardly been free-scoring in a Manchester City or Chelsea kind of way, the 6-1 demolition of Hull two weeks ago was a complete attacking performance, albeit in the face of some generous Tigers defending.

Unfortunately for Mike Phelan and his side, the Cherries won’t be the first or the last to give Hull a real hiding this year as they looked an incredibly poor side.

As Bournemouth went goal crazy, Middlesbrough struggled at home to Watford and then despite picking up a deserved point at Arsenal last time out, still look incredibly toothless in attack.

It shouldn’t be however as in Gaston Ramirez and Alvaro Negredo, ‘Boro have two proven goalscorers, albeit neither have ever really found their straps in the Premier League.

Ramirez never really settled at Southampton, whilst Negredo struggled in amongst the galaxy of superstars at Manchester City. Sadly for the Riverside regulars, neither have started their Middlesbrough careers that well either and this has contributed to a goal return of just seven for Karanka’s side so far.

Negredo was even unceremoniously dropped for the aforementioned home match with Watford and although restored to the starting line-up against Arsenal, he also drew a blank alongside Ramirez at the Emirates, with both failing to see out the full 90 minutes.

If Middlesbrough are to continue their quest to re-establish themselves as a top-flight team, their stuttering forwards need to hit their straps and if they do against Bournemouth, the Cherries could be in for a tough afternoon.