Cherries: Howe happy with goalscoring prowess (From Bournemouth Echo)

Cherries: Howe happy with goalscoring prowess

6:19pm Saturday 27th October 2012 in Sport By Ian Wadley

BOSS Eddie Howe expressed his delight at free-scoring Cherries’ attacking quality following the 4-2 victory at Carlisle today.

Marc Pugh bagged a first-half brace before Lewis Grabban and Lee Barnard found the target after the break to seal a convincing victory at Brunton Park.

The success continued the unbeaten start to Howe’s second reign as Cherries manager and lifted the Goldsands Stadium outfit to within seven points of the League One play-off zone.

Speaking at his post-match media conference, Howe said: “We did really well going forward at times and looked a real threat with our front two and Pughie, who took his goals really well.

“If you look at our goal return in the past few games, it has been excellent.

“We have been working on trying to be a little bit more positive with our passing, trying to get our full-backs over-lapping and trying to be a little bit more progressive with our passing.

“It has worked at the moment. The lads took their goals well today and, hopefully, that continues.”

Since Howe returned to the Cherries dugout, his team have scored 10 goals and conceded six times in three games. He admits defensive improvements are needed but remains delighted with his players’ efforts so far.

Howe added: “We weren’t at our best today but we showed a great attitude to the game.

“In patches, we played some good stuff and scored four really good goals. I was disappointed to concede two but, hopefully, we are gaining momentum.

“In two tough away games, we have got four points and we have got to be pleased with that.

“When we got the fourth goal, for a five or 10-minute period, we were looking really confident and like we could score every time we went forward.

“I can’t be too greedy or in any way critical of the players. They gave everything again and, since we came in, they have responded brilliantly and full credit to them because this is not an easy place to come.”

Meanwhile, Howe confirmed that defender Gary Bowles had opted to leave the club having made no first-team appearances since joining from Dorchester Town.

Howe said: “Gary has decided that he doesn’t want to pursue a career in professional football at this moment in time so he has decided to go a different direction in life, which we fully respect and wish him well.”