Cherries: Howe's striving for more improvement

23 October 2009 07:00
BOSS Eddie Howes half-term report on his table-topping Cherries squad reads: Weve done well, but we can do better.[LNB] A record-breaking start to the season has seen Howes men soar to the summit of League Two following nine victories in their opening 13 games.[LNB] The impressive sequence has been underpinned by a solid rearguard action which sees Cherries currently boast the best defensive record in the division.[LNB] The signs have been really positive so far, said Howe. But we can do better and thats the message we try to put across to the players all the time.[LNB] Were striving to improve everything about our performances because, regardless of where you are in the league, thats all you can do. We analyse every performance knowing there are certain things we can do better and are striving to do that.[LNB] One of the biggest positives for the players is how they have approached games and training. You are going to have good and bad spells throughout the season.[LNB] You would like to win every game but it isnt going to happen. You learn when you win and when you lose. Things are going in the right direction at the moment.[LNB] Cherries will be hoping to maintain the momentum when they host struggling and managerless Grimsby Town tomorrow (3pm).[LNB] The second-from-bottom Mariners arrive at Dean Court on the back of four successive league defeats, a run which led to Mike Newells sacking last weekend.[LNB] Despite Grimsbys plight, Howe knows Cherries can take nothing for granted, particularly in view of their indifferent first-half showing when their perfect home record bit the dust against Chesterfield.[LNB] Regardless of whats happening at Grimsby, weve just got to look after ourselves, added Howe. We will be looking to see how they may set up and which personnel they may use but, in terms of the managerial situation, thats nothing to do with us.[LNB] I think its fair to say that when there is a change of manager, you usually get a positive reaction and Im sure they will be looking for that.[LNB] Weve got to make sure we do our bit and approach the game in the right manner as we try to get back to winning ways at home. Were just looking to put on a good performance and, hopefully, get a positive result.[LNB] If we dont perform, Grimsby are very capable of winning. Its up to us to make sure we perform and learn the lessons from Chesterfield. We made a slow start and couldnt claw it back.[LNB] Grimsby have got some good players and plenty with experience at this level. They proved that last season when, similar to us, they went on a decent run and stayed up.[LNB] Its going to be a really tough test. Nobody is going to come here to roll over and we need to be fully prepared for another tough game.[LNB] Cherries: (from) Jalal, Bradbury, Pearce, Garry, Cummings, Feeney, Hollands, Robinson, Molesley, Pitman, Fletcher, Bartley, Edgar, Connell, McQuoid, Goulding, Thomas.[LNB] Mariners: (from) Colgan, Bore, Linwood, Heywood, Wood, Forbes, Sweeney, Mendy, Shahin, Akpa Akpro, Magennis, Boshell, Normington, Leary, North, Jones, Clarke, Overton.[LNB]

Source: Bournemouth_Echo