By Conor Kennedy – @ConorKennedy__
Bournemouth host West Ham United tomorrow at the Vitality looking for their first league win in 2017.
Off the back of a hectic week for the club, the Cherries will be looking to push on from a crucial and hard earned point last weekend at Old Trafford.
With the incident including Tyrone Mings and his 5-match ban, Eddie Howe was expressive in his views about the case and ban:
“We are disappointed for Tyrone, we believe he’s innocent of any charge, it was a pure accident from his perspective.
“Live I didn’t see any coming together like the replay showed. I see a defender making a very good tackle trying to get back to his goal as quick as he can.”
Howe added: “You can make any interpretation you want, you can see what you want to see. But I think people who understand the game to a really high level, especially being a defender myself, will know that your only priority is to defend your goal.”
On Tyrone Mings himself, Howe expressed how the length of the ban could be costly:
“He’s hugely disappointed to miss 5 games at such a crucial period of the season for us.
“It leaves us obviously short of a very good player for a long period of time, especially at this stage of the season.
“We have to focus on the future now and we’re going to be without Tyrone for that period of time.”
Reflecting on the game itself, Howe explained how the events at Old Trafford could be a pivotal moment in the season:
“I think it could be a big moment for us. I think the second half was outstanding from the players.”
“To go to old Trafford and go down to ten men just before the break is a real test of our resolve and mentality all the things we’ve been questioned on recently I thought we responded superbly.”
Looking forward to the game tomorrow, Howe gave an update on the team news for the clash with West Ham:
“Couple of positives really, Simon’s (Francis) not far away and Baily Cargill came on to the pitch and did very well in the short time that he was there.”
Howe is aware of West Ham and their strengths going into tomorrow’s match:
“They’ve picked up and got some good results.
“I think they’re a different team with Andy Carroll in it, I think there’s no doubt about it I think he is a focal point for them. Antonio is having a very good season.”
Bournemouth currently sit in 14th place with 27 points, 6 points behind West Ham in 11th place. Only being 5 points above the relegation zone also, the Cherries will be looking for their first win in 8 games and add to their points tally. The game kicks off at the Vitality stadium at 3pm this afternoon.