Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Don Valley pitch is a worry for Howe
WHILE Eddie Howe will be hoping for a Beautiful Day in Sheffield today, he is unlikely to describe the pitch at the Don Valley Stadium as the Sweetest Thing.[LNB] The South Yorkshire venue, which is expected to be Rotherham's home until 2012, came in for some fierce criticism after hosting a U2 concert earlier this season.[LNB] Rochdale and Huddersfield were both up in arms about the playing surface, with Terriers boss Lee Clark claiming professional football shouldn't be played on that pitch.[LNB] Clark, speaking after Huddersfield had won a Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie, added: It was worse than a parks pitch. It was so uneven and it's very easy to twist ankles, slip over and cause injury.[LNB] Rochdale boss Keith Hill slammed the pitch as sub-standard following his side's defeat at the Don Valley, which came just two days after the gig.[LNB] And speaking following a warm-down, Hill's assistant David Flitcroft said: We found shards of glass and two nails as we came off the pitch.[LNB] He added: It's been an absolute shambles from an organisational point of view. Before the game, we questioned whether it should have been played.[LNB] Responding to the claims, Rotherham's chief operating officer Paul Dougles said at the time: The pitch was deemed playable by the referee and he was happy for the game to go ahead.[LNB] With his Cherries squad already at breaking point, the last thing Howe needs is further additions to the casualty list.[LNB] He told the Daily Echo: I don't mind the venue it's the pitch I'm concerned about. You want a good playing surface, especially the way we play, so we'll have to wait and see. I've heard differing reports on the surface.[LNB] Howe's men will be in good spirits when they face third-placed Rotherham after extending to four points their lead over the Millers following victory at Crewe on Saturday.[LNB] On the back of the win, it is a game we should all look forward to, said Howe. I believe in the players and believe we can go to a tough place and get a (positive) result.[LNB] Rotherham are a good side and are having a good season. They are on the back of a good win at Chesterfield last week so it should make for a really good game.[LNB] The Millers had no fewer than six consecutive matches |postponed between December 19 and January 16, while Saturday's scheduled visit of Macclesfield also fell foul to a frozen pitch.[LNB] Howe added: That can work both ways. They will be fresh and hungry. I'm quite happy with the preparation we've had. We've had a lot of games but I think that is a good thing and I would rather have the points on the board.[LNB]
