Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Eddie: Let's get back to where we were
BOSS Eddie Howe is hoping Cherries can rediscover their early-season form when they resume their League Two promotion bid following an impromptu mid-winter break. Howe concedes his charges have failed to hit the heights in recent weeks, even though three wins in their past five games has seen them maintain their quest for honours. In particular and in contrast to the opening two months of the campaign when they deservedly won their first six home games Cherries have been far from convincing at Dean Court. And their credentials are likely to face a stern examination when they host in-form Bury tomorrow, five months after their promotion push began with a polished performance against the Shakers. Howe, who saw his troops record an emphatic 3-0 win at Gigg Lane on the opening day of the season, told the Daily Echo last night: We played very well that day. Everyone is aware that we haven't played as well as we can recently but we have still managed to get some good results, which, hopefully is the sign of a good team. We are looking to put on a performance and to get back to where we were earlier this season because we showed excellent intensity in the early games and are looking to recapture that. We are constantly trying to achieve better results through better performances and are always analysing and trying to find ways to improve. It's not just performances and there have been a few other things that perhaps we have gone away from in recent weeks that we need to start doing again. Howe added: Bury are a good side and have been on a good run. We always expected them to be right up there and they are proving what a good team they are. We fully expect a tough game. The Shakers are currently eighth, just a point shy of the play-off places, and boast the second best away record in League Two having won six and drawn four of their 13 matches on the road. Alan Knill's men, beaten play-off semi-finalists last season, have suffered only two league defeats in their past 16 and arrive in Dorset on the back of three successive away games. Cherries have a doubt over midfielder Joe Partington, although Scott Guyett, Alan Connell and Steve Fletcher are expected to be available despite restricted training during the recent cold snap. Cherries: (from) Jalal, Bradbury, Garry, Pearce, Igoe, Robinson, Feeney, Hollands, Partington, Pitman, Connell, Goulding, Fletcher, Guyett, McQuoid, Cummings, Bartley, Thomas. Shakers: (from) Brown, Futcher, Sodje, Newey, Buchanan, Dawson, Barry-Murphy, Jones, Worrall, Lowe, Morrell, Racchi, Scott, Belford, McCartney, Baker, Harrop.