Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Howe makes Wembley a target
EDDIE Howe has challenged his men to take their first step towards seizing the huge carrot of a Wembley final when they set out on the Football League Trophy trail.
Howes charges will be looking to progress when they host Yeovil Town in the first round of the Johnstones Paint-sponsored trophy at Dean Court tonight (7.45pm).
As a fresh-faced 20-year-old, Howe lined up for Cherries in the 1998 final when Grimsby lifted the Auto Windscreens Shield following a dramatic golden goal triumph at Wembley.
And although the much-maligned competition is unlikely to be Cherries number one priority this season, Howe has tasked his players with giving it their best shot.
He told the Daily Echo: Looking back, the final was one of the highlights of my career. You have a career in the game and it comes down to a few highlights in the end.
Playing at Wembley in front of 60,000 people was a big occasion.
It was live on Sky and although we didnt get the right result, its a day everyone still talks about and looks back on with great fondness.
There is a huge carrot for the players if they can do well in the early rounds.
As the tournament progresses, the magnitude of the games increases dramatically.
Howe is likely to make a couple of changes to the Cherries starting line-up, although his options are limited due to a dearth of available bodies.
Alan Connell, Marvin Bartley and Scott Guyett could start, although Joe Partington and |Josh McQuoid, two players who would definitely have featured, are both away on international duty.
Howe said: I may make a couple of changes although we dont have an abundance of options. I may tweak things slightly and give players an opportunity to come in and impress.
If somebody comes in and does exceptionally well then they will have a chance of keeping their place.
Thats how it has to be. Joe Partington waited patiently and I thought he was excellent when he came in on Saturday.
Howe added: Its going to be a good test for us.
If we can do well against a League One side, it will show we can hopefully be competitive in our league.
Its always a good challenge to pit your wits against sides from the league above.
We played Millwall in the Carling Cup and they did ever so well against us so it will be |interesting to see how we fare against Yeovil from the same division.
They are a good side and have several loan players from Tottenham who have made a big difference to them.
Our home form has been good and I dont think any side relishes coming to Dean Court at the moment so hopefully we can continue from where we left off on Saturday.
Cherries: (from) Jalal, Robinson, Pearce, Garry, Cummings, Feeney, Molesley, Igoe, Bradbury, Pitman, Guyett, Bartley, Connell, Webb, Pryce.
Yeovil Town: (from) McCarthy, Alcock, Jones, Caulker, Forbes, Murtagh, Mason, Schofield, Smith, Tomlin, Obika, Williams, Welsh, OCallaghan, Martin, Stam, Murray, Lindegaard.
