Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Pitman targets promotion
MASTER marksman Brett Pitman helped rewrite the Dean Court record books and then set his sights on an even greater achievement – promotion.
Pitman grabbed a dramatic late winner as Cherries saw off Burton Albion on Saturday, a victory that marked the club’s best start to a season since it joined the Football League in 1923.
Eddie Howe’s class of 2009 have now eclipsed the Cherries teams of 1963 and 1970 by winning eight of their opening nine league games to soar to the top of League Two.
Pitman, who netted his seventh goal of the season and sixth in his past five appearances, said: “Nothing was said about the record before the game because the focus was just on beating Burton.
“Reflecting on it afterwards, it’s nice to know you are part of the club’s history. I don’t think any of the lads will get too carried away by it though because promotion is our main aim.
“We need to be where we are now at the end of the season. We need to start by putting in a better performance at Hereford on Tuesday, hopefully, with the same result.
“We may not have the biggest numbers, but we fancy ourselves against anyone.”
Pitman raised the roof at Dean Court when he scored with a sublime 25-yard volley with just four minutes remaining.
“It was definitely up there with my best goals and probably the most important this season,” said the 21-year-old striker.
“It’s nice to be scoring because, as a striker, you are judged on goals but it’s more important to be winning.
“We didn’t play well at all and, credit to Burton, because I thought they were very good.”
Cherries boss Howe said: “It was a fantastic strike and Brett is capable of that. He moved out to left midfield because I thought we needed to change something going into the second half. He cuts in really well on his right foot and it was a great strike.
“We didn’t play well in the first half and Burton were on top. We needed a response in the second half and I felt we got one. It was a lot better but, being picky, it still wasn’t quite what we’re looking for.”
Howe added: “The record didn’t even come into my head. All I was concerned about was winning. Records are great after the event and everybody is delighted we won.”
