Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Pugh: Clinical edge crucial for Cherries recovery
FRUSTRATED Marc Pugh believes demonstrating a clinical edge at both ends of the field could hold the key to Cherries finally curing their travel sickness.[LNB] Eddie Howe's high-fliers have just one win in 10 away league matches after losing 2-0 at MK Dons yesterday.[LNB] Goals in each half from Lewis Guy and Mathias Doumbe condemned the Dean Court outfit to their fourth third tier loss on the road this term.[LNB] Cherries were left to rue a poor first-half display and, despite producing a dominant performance after the break, headed home with nothing to show for their efforts.[LNB] Leading marksman Pugh was heavily involved in the action admitting he should have cleared the ball in the build-up to Dons' opener, before then coming close to getting on the scoresheet as Cherries turned in a lively second-half showing.[LNB] With a trip to Swindon looming on New Year's Day, Cherries will be desperate to put right their away-day problems.[LNB] Asked if he was confident they had the personnel to win on the road, Pugh insisted: Yes, of course we have.[LNB] On another day, we could have got a point here with Big Fletch's header and one or two other chances. It's just about being clinical. We've got to be clinical at both ends.[LNB] Pugh added: It's all about mental strength, character and we've got to be willing to work hard.[LNB] It's not an individual sport, it's a team sport. If there are 11 of us at the races then I think you have got to win the games if you are all playing well.[LNB] The game at Swindon will be tough but we've got to go there with belief and win the game.[LNB] Discussing Dons' opening goal and his own attempts to find the net, Pugh added: It was poor from me, personally. I should have just cleared it.[LNB] I tried looking for a backpass and there wasn't one and I should have just got rid of it.[LNB] But everyone makes mistakes and we've just got to put it behind us.[LNB] I had a couple of chances in the second half and the keeper spread himself well.[LNB] On another day, I could have scored with a better touch but it just wasn't to be and we've got to get back to our best and playing the way we know we can.[LNB] Delivering his verdict on Cherries' performance, boss Howe added: I thought we were slow out of the traps and not ourselves at all, probably for the first time this season.[LNB] We didn't look a good side and we paid for that. In the second half, we were excellent.[LNB] We dominated and, on another day, would have come away with something.[LNB]
