Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Bradders happy with underdogs tag
MANAGER Lee Bradbury thinks Cherries are thriving on their billing as underdogs in the League One promotion race.[LNB] Bradbury's comments come as Cherries prepare to embark on a potentially-defining period of an already memorable season.[LNB] Starting with tomorrow's visit of third-placed Huddersfield, Cherries face four of the top seven in their next five home games.[LNB] The surprise packages in the battle for honours, Bradbury's men also host former Premier League big guns Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday.[LNB] Second-placed Cherries currently three points ahead of the Terriers have continued to upset the odds in their bid for back-to-back promotions.[LNB] Bradbury said: I think people have been waiting for the bubble to burst but we are there on merit. We have got the best home record in the division and a lot of the top teams still have to come to us.[LNB] We have grown with strength and confidence and, as long as we keep putting in the hard work, I don't see any reason why we shouldn't stay there. The players are hungry for success and so are the management and supporters.[LNB] Cherries are the only team in the current top six not to have played in the second tier in the past 10 years, with Huddersfield losing their place in 2001.[LNB] The Terriers, meanwhile, boast several players with Premier League experience, including Kevin Kilbane, on loan from Hull, Gary Naysmith, Ian Bennett, Joey Gudjonsson and Danny Cadamarteri.[LNB] Lee Clark's side suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat at Arsenal in the fourth round of the FA Cup last month and arrive in Dorset on the back of an eight-match unbeaten league run.[LNB] Striker Danny Ings is a major doubt due to an Achilles injury, while Ben Williamson is set for a spell on the sidelines after damaging ligaments in his left ankle in training on Wednesday.[LNB]
