Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Pearce calls for return of clean sheets
DEFENSIVE rock Jason Pearce admits he is frustrated at Cherries' clean sheet drought and insists they must learn to put teams to bed.[LNB] Cherries' results have not matched their performances in recent weeks as Eddie Howe's side have produced some dominant displays without recording victories.[LNB] The Dean Court outfit have also gone six games without a clean sheet, their last shut out coming in the 3-0 victory over Exeter City on September 28.[LNB] But skipper Pearce, a linchpin in the Cherries defence that played a major role in last season's promotion, believes his colleagues have been performing well.[LNB] Speaking ahead of tomorrow's FA Cup first round tie against Tranmere Rovers at Dean Court (3pm), Pearce told the Echo: I want to keep a clean sheet more than anything. I'm really disappointed with the goals we've conceded and the amount we've conceded, to be honest.[LNB] We knew coming into League One there were going to be better strikers and better teams to play against, and we weren't going to keep as many clean sheets as we did last year.[LNB] But I still feel we should have kept more clean sheets this season or certainly conceded fewer goals than we have.[LNB] It is frustrating and, certainly, I want to get back to keeping clean sheets and I know the other lads do as well.[LNB] Marvin Bartley was Pearce's central defensive partner at Brentford on Tuesday and he could again be required to fill in against Tranmere, with Ryan Garry (knee) doubtful and Shaun Cooper (calf) set to miss out.[LNB] Pearce said: Marv is a quality player. He's a good player to play with because he's strong and very, very quick, so even if he gets caught out of position he can always get back.[LNB] But on Tuesday he wasn't caught out of position and defended really well.[LNB] I think Marv played centre-half before when he was younger so he knows how to play there and he's comfortable there.[LNB] His best position is central midfield but he can come in and do a good job at centre-half as well.[LNB]
