Millwall v Bournemouth preview: Simon Francis suspended for Cherries
Saturday 7 January 2017 15:25, UK
Bournemouth will be without suspended captain Simon Francis for their FA Cup third-round trip to Millwall on Saturday.
The defender starts a three-match ban following his red card against Arsenal in the Premier League on Tuesday, with the appeal rejected by the FA.
Bournemouth led 3-0 against the Gunners but were pegged back in the final 20 minutes and had to settle for a 3-3 draw.
Still, they are ninth in the top flight, and Millwall captain Tony Craig is expecting a tough test.
"We have been rewarded for reaching this stage of the competition with an exciting and very tough encounter," he told the club website.
"While we go into this tie knowing we'll have to be at the top of our game to beat Bournemouth, we won't be overawed.
"This is a massive opportunity for ourselves, individually and as a team, to show a wider audience just what we are capable of and it's a challenge I'm sure we will rise to."
Millwall have climbed up to ninth in League One after winning three of their last four games.
Team news
Millwall have named an unchanged squad for the previous four League One matches and manager Neil Harris has no new injury concerns.
Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Fraser came off during the second half against the Gunners with an ankle problem, and is not expected to be involved.
Max Gradel is away on international duty with Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations, but his fellow forward Benik Afobe has not joined up with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Cherries boss Eddie Howe is expected to rotate his squad, with the likes of fit-again midfielder Andrew Surman, Jordon Ibe, Lys Mousset and Lewis Grabban all options.
Midfielders Lewis Cook (ankle) and Marc Pugh (hamstring) continue their rehabilitation.
Opta stats
This is only the second time these sides have met in the FA Cup, with the Lions progressing from a second-round tie 2-1 in December 2007 when both teams were plying their trade in League One.
In all competitions, Millwall have won six of their last seven home games against the Cherries, though they lost the most recent encounter 2-0 in December 2014.
Millwall have progressed from one of their last 10 meetings with Premier League opposition in the FA Cup, knocking out Aston Villa in January 2013, John Marquis' 89th minute goal sealing a 2-1 win.
Bournemouth have progressed from five of their last six FA Cup third-round ties, losing out in a replay to Wigan in 2012/13 before the Latics went on to lift the trophy.
Joshua King has scored four goals in his last three FA Cup games but just one of those came in a Bournemouth shirt (three for Blackburn).
