Cherries: Failings shouldn't detract from a great run

21 February 2011 07:00
SO Lee, where has it all gone so horribly wrong When Lee Bradbury finally gets to taste defeat for the first time as a manager, the irony will probably not be lost on him.[LNB] Most novice bosses would give their high teeth to commence their reigns by presiding over their club's longest unbeaten league run for almost three years.[LNB] Should Cherries avoid defeat against Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow, it would be the first time for more than 20 years that the club has gone eight league games without losing.[LNB] And the not-insignificant matter of recording the best start by a manager since Cherries joined the Football League in 1923 will be something else for Bradbury to tell his grandchildren.[LNB] However, should he choose to recount his memories of successive home matches from February 2011, Bradbury's anecdotes will probably include some fairly choice language.[LNB] Damn, blast and bother were probably on the tip of his tongue after Danny Cadamarteri had become the latest beneficiary of some charitable Cherries defending.[LNB] The former Everton striker despatched an emphatic 89th-minute equaliser to ruin second-placed Cherries' chances of forging six points clear of their promotion rivals.[LNB] In similar circumstances to Leyton Orient's Simon Cox a fortnight previously, Cherries paid a heavy price for literally taking their eye off the ball during the last knockings.[LNB] As a result, Bradbury could have been forgiven for sounding like a stuck record as he lamented the concession of another late leveller during his post-match press conference.[LNB] But having had the stuffing knocked out of him by successive home draws, at least the sinking feeling of defeat should be water off a duck's back when it finally hits Bradbury.[LNB] The 35-year-old, hardened by an Army apprenticeship, has had more ups and downs than a lift engineer during an eventful seven-match undefeated start.[LNB] Lesser men may have crumbled after seeing lightning strike twice in the same place, with Cherries again blotting their copybook against Huddersfield.[LNB] As a manager, it has been a new and draining experience for Bradbury, one he knows he quickly needs to address if Cherries' promotion dream is to become a reality.[LNB] However, as a player, it is nothing new, with late collapses not uncommon to Cherries supporters under previous boss Eddie Howe.[LNB] Fortunately and as the oft-used footballing cliché would testify these things even themselves out over the course of a season.[LNB] A breakdown of Cherries' statistics would indicate they are currently 11 points worse off for shipping and scoring goals in the final 13 minutes of matches.[LNB] So should the deficit be wiped out and should Bradbury's charges maintain their impressive form, promotion should be a mere formality. Should, should, should.[LNB] Although it is far too early to judge Bradbury's managerial credentials, Cherries' inability to hold on to leads in their past two home games has certainly sparked fierce debate.[LNB] The glass-half-empty brigade has been desperately trying to outscore the glass-half-full crowd, while Bradbury himself has not shied away from the discussion.[LNB] But while his tactical acumen and use of substitutions may have come under scrutiny, one thing has remained constant Cherries are unbeaten under Bradbury's stewardship.[LNB] Damned if he does and damned if he does not, Bradbury has been the first to admit to making mistakes during the early stages of his tenure.[LNB] This is a rare trait in the insecure world of lower-league football management and something some would suggest is naïve of Bradbury.[LNB] But, while it lasts, his refreshing honesty should be applauded. In keeping with Howe, publicly castigating his players is also not Bradbury's style.[LNB] Michael Symes's 50th career goal looked destined to settle this fairly uninspiring encounter in Cherries' favour, the striker heading home from close range 16 minutes from time. A fragmented first half littered with free-kicks saw Gary Roberts go close for the visitors and Town goalkeeper Ian Bennett save smartly from Marc Pugh.[LNB] Bennett also theatrically clawed a Pugh free-kick to safety in the second period before Symes nodded home Liam Feeney's inviting cross to draw first blood.[LNB] Cadamarteri, 31, showed all his predatory instincts when he finished with aplomb by planting an angled drive into the bottom corner as the fourth official was counting down the seconds until he raised his electronic scoreboard.[LNB] And although there was still time for Cherries to fashion a glorious chance to claim maximum points, Bennett, 39, used all his experience to smother from Feeney in the dying seconds.[LNB] Cherries: Jalal 7, A Smith 7, Pearce 7.5, Cooper 8, Wiggins 7 (Cummings, 87), Feeney 7.5, Robinson 8 (Partington, 90), Hollands 8, Pugh 7, Symes 7 (Fletcher, 78), Ings 6.5.[LNB] Unused subs: Purches, Arter, Baudry, Stewart (g/k).[LNB] Booked: Ings, Hollands.[LNB] Terriers: Bennett, Hunt, P Clarke, McCombe, Naysmith (Kay, 61), Peltier, Kilbane, Gudjonsson, Pilkington (Afobe, 74), Lee (Cadamarteri, 52), Roberts.[LNB] Unused subs: Novak, Rhodes, T Clarke, Colgan (g/k).[LNB] Booked: P Clarke, Naysmith, Peltier, Kay, Gudjonsson, Kilbane.[LNB] Referee: David Phillips (Sussex).[LNB] Attendance: 7,923.[LNB]

Source: Bournemouth_Echo