Howe: Cherries stars will be better for 'reality check'

09 August 2010 07:00
BOSS Eddie Howe is hoping Cherries' first-half display against Charlton will have given his players a little reality check.[LNB] Howe would have been torn between frustration and contentment as Cherries followed up a below-par opening 45 minutes with an encouraging second-half showing.[LNB] Akpo Sodje's 22nd-minute goal separated the two sides, while the Addicks had midfielder Jose Semedo sent off for a poor challenge on Michael Symes after 61 minutes.[LNB] Howe said: It was a game of two halves for us. We didn't turn up in the first half. We were slow out of the traps. We were a lot better in the second half and were a lot brighter, even before the sending off.[LNB] On another day, and with the chances we had, perhaps we could have nicked something but we need to improve on that first-half display.[LNB] We weren't brave in terms of getting on the ball and were waiting for things to happen. We didn't hurt them at all, we didn't get our wide men in the game and, ultimately, they could have been more than one up. I thought they looked strong and we couldn't cope with them in the first half.[LNB] We've got to pick ourselves up. This is a tough place to come for anyone. It's going to be a long season and will have many twists and turns. There were some positives. I thought Marc Pugh did very well in the second half when we got on the ball and Michael Symes did well when he came on.[LNB] We need to improve and, in some senses, it will do us good. It was a little reality check that we've moved up a level and are going to have to do better.[LNB] The second half was much improved and that's how we have to play. We can't play people on reputation, we've got to play the players and we've got to match them up.[LNB] I believe in the players we've got.[LNB] I think we're good enough but they've got to believe they are good enough as well.[LNB]

Source: Bournemouth_Echo