Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: Ever-present Pitman earns Howe praise
BOSS Eddie Howe has given star pupil Brett Pitman a glowing report for his attendance record in the League Two school of hard knocks. The striker became only the second outfield player in the past 11 years to line up in all 46 league games for Cherries during a season. Pitman, who netted 28 goals in 50 league and cup appearances, matched a feat last achieved by James Hayter in 2005-06. And since Mark Newson and Sean O'Driscoll played every league game in 1986-87, only five other outfield players have been ever present in the past 24 seasons. Pitman joins a list which includes Hayter, Luther Blissett (1989-90), Shaun Teale (90-91), Matt Holmes (91-92), Alex Watson (92-93) and Ian Cox (97-98 and 98-99). Howe told the Daily Echo: It was a great achievement. Brett managed to keep himself fit and healthy all season, which was a feat in itself. Brett deserves a great deal of credit for showing the attitude and desire to play those games and to maintain his standards. A few centre-halves set out to try to stamp their authority on him but he didn't let anybody dictate to him. Physically, he stood up well to the rigours of League Two and, as everyone knows, it can be a brutal league. In that respect, I think he grew up a lot during the season. Several goalkeepers have remained ever present since Gerry Peyton became the third member of Cherries' title-winning squad of 1986-87 to play every league game Vince Bartram (91-92), Jimmy Glass (97-98), Mark Ovendale (98-99) and Neil Moss (03-04 and 04-05).