Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Bradbury believes youngsters can handle pressure
ELDER statesman Lee Bradbury believes Cherries' young squad can cope with the mental demands of League One.[LNB] Bradbury himself endured a baptism of fire against lively Charlton winger Kyel Reid as Cherries opened their third tier campaign with a 1-0 defeat at the Valley on Saturday.[LNB] In front of a vociferous 15,000-strong home support in South London, Cherries were caught cold as Akpo Sodje pounced for the only goal of the game after 22 minutes.[LNB] Eddie Howe's men improved after the break, but, despite several opportunities to level |matters, set off for Dorset |with nothing to show for their efforts.[LNB] Despite the nature of their first-half performance, though, Bradbury denied that boss Howe's youthful side had been too wide-eyed about lining up in the Addicks' sprawling stadium.[LNB] The 35-year-old full-back told the Echo: We didn't start very well and they had a big crowd behind them. It's always difficult coming to places like this, but I feel we are more than capable of dealing with it and I think we showed that in the second half.[LNB] We have to learn from it, because we've got a lot of lads who haven't played at this level before, but I'm sure we will learn from it.[LNB] They aren't fazed about playing in front of big crowds and they are quick learners.[LNB] Charlton took it to us for the first half-an-hour and we were disappointed because we know we can do better.[LNB] n Saints boss Alan Pardew hopes goal ace Rickie Lambert will be back in action for Saturday's trip to MK Dons.[LNB] The club's star hitman was forced to watch the defeat to Plymouth from the stands, due to a groin injury.[LNB] Lambert also looks set to sit out tomorrow's visit of Cherries in the first round of the Carling Cup.[LNB] Pardew said: He's not too far away.[LNB] We couldn't take a risk, but we might see him at MK Dons I think.[LNB]
