Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Don Valley pitch is a worry for Howe
WHILE Eddie Howe will be hoping for a Beautiful Day in Sheffield today, he is unlikely to describe the pitch at the Don Valley Stadium as the Sweetest Thing. The South Yorkshire venue, which is expected to be Rotherham's home until 2012, came in for some fierce criticism after hosting a U2 concert earlier this season. Rochdale and Huddersfield were both up in arms about the playing surface, with Terriers boss Lee Clark claiming professional football shouldn't be played on that pitch. Clark, speaking after Huddersfield had won a Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie, added: It was worse than a parks pitch. It was so uneven and it's very easy to twist ankles, slip over and cause injury. Rochdale boss Keith Hill slammed the pitch as sub-standard following his side's defeat at the Don Valley, which came just two days after the gig. And speaking following a warm-down, Hill's assistant David Flitcroft said: We found shards of glass and two nails as we came off the pitch. He added: It's been an absolute shambles from an organisational point of view. Before the game, we questioned whether it should have been played. Responding to the claims, Rotherham's chief operating officer Paul Dougles said at the time: The pitch was deemed playable by the referee and he was happy for the game to go ahead. With his Cherries squad already at breaking point, the last thing Howe needs is further additions to the casualty list. He told the Daily Echo: I don't mind the venue it's the pitch I'm concerned about. You want a good playing surface, especially the way we play, so we'll have to wait and see. I've heard differing reports on the surface. Howe's men will be in good spirits when they face third-placed Rotherham after extending to four points their lead over the Millers following victory at Crewe on Saturday. On the back of the win, it is a game we should all look forward to, said Howe. I believe in the players and believe we can go to a tough place and get a (positive) result. Rotherham are a good side and are having a good season. They are on the back of a good win at Chesterfield last week so it should make for a really good game. The Millers had no fewer than six consecutive matches |postponed between December 19 and January 16, while Saturday's scheduled visit of Macclesfield also fell foul to a frozen pitch. Howe added: That can work both ways. They will be fresh and hungry. I'm quite happy with the preparation we've had. We've had a lot of games but I think that is a good thing and I would rather have the points on the board.