Cherries: Bradders happy with underdogs tag

MANAGER Lee Bradbury thinks Cherries are thriving on their billing as underdogs in the League One promotion race. Bradbury's comments come as Cherries prepare to embark on a potentially-defining period of an already memorable season. Starting with tomorrow's visit of third-placed Huddersfield, Cherries face four of the top seven in their next five home games. The surprise packages in the battle for honours, Bradbury's men also host former Premier League big guns Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday. Second-placed Cherries currently three points ahead of the Terriers have continued to upset the odds in their bid for back-to-back promotions. Bradbury said: I think people have been waiting for the bubble to burst but we are there on merit. We have got the best home record in the division and a lot of the top teams still have to come to us. We have grown with strength and confidence and, as long as we keep putting in the hard work, I don't see any reason why we shouldn't stay there. The players are hungry for success and so are the management and supporters. Cherries are the only team in the current top six not to have played in the second tier in the past 10 years, with Huddersfield losing their place in 2001. The Terriers, meanwhile, boast several players with Premier League experience, including Kevin Kilbane, on loan from Hull, Gary Naysmith, Ian Bennett, Joey Gudjonsson and Danny Cadamarteri. Lee Clark's side suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat at Arsenal in the fourth round of the FA Cup last month and arrive in Dorset on the back of an eight-match unbeaten league run. Striker Danny Ings is a major doubt due to an Achilles injury, while Ben Williamson is set for a spell on the sidelines after damaging ligaments in his left ankle in training on Wednesday.

Source: Bournemouth_Echo