Bournemouth right back in the mix to make the play-offs ahead of Championship run-in

Bournemouth have got their season back on track in recent weeks with three consecutive league wins for just the second time this term which has heated up the pressure on those above them in the table.

Relegation-threatened Coventry City are the visitors to Dorset this weekend and while they are still seven points clear of safety, they will be keen to pick up some more results to put further daylight between themselves and Rotherham in 22nd, although the Millers do have three games in hand on the Midlands club.

The Sky Blues have still got to play the South Yorkshire side in a week’s time so they will take anything from the visit to Bournemouth as a bonus.

They are now just a point away from the play-off places and have a game in hand on Reading who occupy that final berth in the top six. Brentford and Swansea have both also faltered in recent weeks which gives Jonathan Woodgate’s men real confidence going into the final seven games of the season.

They are now just four points behind the Swans and five behind the Bees having played the same number of games which gives them a massive chance of comfortably being in the play-offs come the final day of the season.

The south coast club have still got to face Thomas Frank’s Brentford in two weeks time which could be a pivotal clash if the Cherries are to end up ahead of the West London side in the final standings.

Swansea, however are the more likely team which Woodgate’s men could overtake away from Barnsley and Reading having lost four consecutive league clashes, including the 3-0 defeat at the Vitality Stadium in March.

There is now no real prospect of anyone else other than the top seven breaking through to the play-offs with Bournemouth seven points clear of Cardiff in eighth and have a game in hand to take advantage of.

Several players have stepped up in recent weeks but the form of Arnaut Danjuma has been exceptional, laying on six goals this term whilst also finding the back of the net on 11 occasions in just 29 appearances and has been one of the standout players all campaign.

Whilst Bournemouth are much more than a one man team, the Dutchman has been electric since returning from injury in the New Year and without his levels of consistency and output in front of goal, the Cherries would be a long way off where they want to be come the end of the season.

Getting a win this weekend if vital with the two sides directly above them, Reading and Barnsley facing tough tests themselves, against Watford and Middlesbrough respectively, so the Cherries could be on hand to take advantage of any slip-up which either side may make but the first job is to ensure they get the three points first.

This has been a brutal season due to the amount of games which have been squeezed into a short period of time but Bournemouth are just starting to hit the right note as the season approaches it’s conclusion with just seven games left for the Cherries.

Their game in hand against Huddersfield follows the game against the Sky Blues so it is crucial that they continue their form in what will be a vital week before a trip to Champions-elect Norwich City the following Saturday afternoon.

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