Source: FOOTYMAD
Burton Albion Reaction - Cherries III
Here's more post match reaction to the Cherries win, and auromatic promotion at the weekend. "We just wanted to stay in the League" was Eddie Howe's reaction to gaining automatic promotion following the 2-0 away win at The Pirelli Stadium against Burton Albion. Speaking in the Bournemouth Evening Echo, the understated Cherries helms man is quoted as saying: "I think the expectation at the start of the season, from myself and everyone else, was to stay in the league, first and foremost. I just felt with the embargo and the restrictions placed upon us, it was just going to be too big an ask. But I’m absolutely delighted to have been proved wrong. They (the players) have just surprised everybody with the amount of games they’ve won this season. We’ve got good players – players are the ones that win the games. I don’t win the games, the players do. We’re lucky enough to have a goalscorer who has scored a lot of goals. We’ve got a very good defence – our back four and goalkeeper have been excellent. And we’ve got good players in midfield, so the make-up of our side has been very good and very strong. That’s why we’ve managed to maintain our push and stay where we are". Looking ahead to next season, and the mouth watering prospect of a local derby against relatively near neighbours, Southampton, Howe is quoted on BBCi as saying: "I think that was the one game if we did get promotion that really shone out. I know our fans were singing about it. I think it's something everyone is looking forward to. It hasn't happened for such a long time. It will generate huge interest locally. It will be brilliant". It will be the Cherries first meeting in the League against Southampton since the 1959/60 season when the Saints completed a league double over the Cherries. Encounters since have been limited to friendlies and the famous win in the League Cup in 1987/88 when the Cherries knocked the Saints out 3-2 on aggregate.
