Cherries: Grabban goal keeps promotion push on track (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Cherries: Grabban goal keeps promotion push on track
5:05pm Saturday 15th December 2012 in Sport
By Ian Wadley
WINNER: Cherries striker Lewis Grabban hits his ninth goal of the season (Pictures: Sally Adams)
LEWIS Grabban struck his ninth goal of the season as Cherries made it 13 matches unbeaten with a 1-0 success over Colchester at Dean Court.
The in-form frontman hit the winner on 41 minutes as Cherries registered their first home victory over the U’s since 1999 in a closely-fought contest this afternoon.
After Wes Fogden, Steve Cook and Brett Pitman had all gone close, Grabban converted clinically with his left foot following a lovely pass from the lively Eunan O’Kane.
Cherries were hit by an injury setback when midfielder Shaun MacDonald was carried off on a stretcher with an ankle problem just before the break.
And the depleted visitors improved dramatically following the restart to test Cherries' resolve.
Josh Thompson and Jabo Ibehre both had efforts blocked while Pitman twice came close at the other end.
But promotion-chasing Cherries moved to within just two points of the play-off zone as their remarkable run under November League One manager of the month Eddie Howe remained on track.
Unsurprisingly given Cherries’ form, Howe kept faith with the team which claimed a 2-1 win at Scunthorpe last time out, with fit-again midfielder Harry Arter replacing Frank Demouge on the bench.
In stark contrast to their hosts, Colchester arrived in Dorset with depleted numbers and on the back of a woeful run of six defeats in their past seven games.
Although boosted by the return of club captain Kem Izzet, U’s boss Joe Dunne admitted he was “down to the bare bones” without the suspended trio of Marcus Bean, Gavin Massey and Magnus Okuonghae.
Pitman, in his first home appearance since rejoining Cherries last month, stung the palms of Mark Cousins as he let fly with the first meaningful effort of the contest on 14 minutes.
Despite plenty of possession, clear-cut chances were proving few and far between for Cherries as Colchester opted to pack the midfield behind lone frontman Ibehre.
And when wing wizard Marc Pugh did manage to provide a glorious opportunity in the 22nd minute, Fogden could only manage to head over from the Lancastrian’s pinpoint delivery.
Cook also found the roof of the net when he rose highest to meet an inswinging corner from Daniels.
Keeper Cousins produced an acrobatic save in the 40th minute after Pitman had diverted a powerful Daniels free-kick towards the corner with an inventive flick header.
But Cousins was left with no chance moments later when Grabban hammered Cherries into the lead. Latching on to a clever pass from O’Kane, Grabban thumped home left-footed from 15 yards.
However, the opening period ended on a sour note for Cherries as MacDonald, an influential midfield performer during the unbeaten run, was carried off on a stretcher to be replaced by Arter.
In a bid to get back into the contest, Colchester boss Dunne made two half-time substitutions and introduced Clinton Morrison to form a two-man attack with Ibehre.
And a much more lively Colchester twice came close to levelling within minutes of the restart. Portsmouth loan defender Thompson, making his full debut, saw a close-range header blocked before Cook threw himself in front of an Ibehre effort as two corners caused problems in the Cherries penalty area.
Pitman’s header was comfortably saved by Cousins before Anthony Wordsworth volleyed straight at David James.
Pitman came agonisingly close to marking his return with a goal when his 64th-minute shot from Pugh’s square pass went narrowly wide.
James saved well from an Ibehre header before Pitman saw his close-range drive blocked on the line.
With the action now end to end, Freddie Sears lashed wide from 20 yards following a forceful run as Colchester upped the ante in their search for an equaliser.
In the closing moments, James got down well to save from Thompson after loud penalty appeals from the visitors had been waved away following Fogden's lunging challenge on Drey Wright.
Cherries: (4-4-2) James; Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels; Fogden (Partington, 90), MacDonald (Arter, 45), O’Kane, Pugh; Grabban, Pitman (McQuoid, 86). Unused subs: Fletcher, McDermott, Tubbs, Buchel (g/k).
Colchester: (4-5-1) Cousins; White, Eastman, Thompson, Potts (Wright, h-t); Sears, O’Toole (Morrison, h-t), Izzet (Bond, 68), Wordsworth, Rose; Ibehre. Unused subs: Duguid, Olufemi, Henderson, Pentney (g/k).
Booked: Wordsworth, Ibehre
Referee: Brendan Malone (Wiltshire)
Attendance: 6,145 (including 155 supporters)
Comments(28)
alasdair1967
says...
5:20pm Sat 15 Dec 12
nonnogeppetto
says...
5:23pm Sat 15 Dec 12
alasdair1967
says...
5:29pm Sat 15 Dec 12
The Renegade Master
says...
5:35pm Sat 15 Dec 12
Only two points off the play off places now and the teams above are looking over their shoulders and quaking in their boots!! A tricky tie at Crewe next. I'd be happy with a draw there as they're on a good run.
Hope Shaun Mac's injury is not too bad. Fingers crossed.
UTCIAD!
STEADY EDDIE 1 for the road
says...
5:46pm Sat 15 Dec 12
abc100
says...
5:54pm Sat 15 Dec 12
The Renegade Master wrote:Absolutely not our best performance but maybe at the end of the season these are the games we remember when hopefully we are celebrating. Did you go today cos I seem to recall you saying that you have not been to DC for a while as you don't like sitting down, if not what was willo saying on the radio
Not the best performance to be honest, but every team parks the bus against us at Dean Court these days, not wanting to get beaten by three or four goals. But another win and another three points will do for me on a cold miserable December afternoon so well done to the team and management!
Only two points off the play off places now and the teams above are looking over their shoulders and quaking in their boots!! A tricky tie at Crewe next. I'd be happy with a draw there as they're on a good run.
Hope Shaun Mac's injury is not too bad. Fingers crossed.
UTCIAD!
Mike Oxbig
says...
6:08pm Sat 15 Dec 12
Tom Griffiths of Bransgore
says...
6:13pm Sat 15 Dec 12
that supporters will turn up to see. A continuing wonderful effort from all concerned, giving a real opportunity to achieve a promotion place this season.Ninth place, in excellent form, with half the season still to play. Me thinks I will have an early night for the chance to dream about it.
Hearty congratulations to Eddie on his award,richly deserved, for the pleasure he and his team have given us.
redboob
says...
6:15pm Sat 15 Dec 12
you'd start tubbs ahead of pitman and the prolific grabban?
West moors 1
says...
6:18pm Sat 15 Dec 12
ng midfield. Well done boys! Up the cherries!!
alasdair1967
says...
6:37pm Sat 15 Dec 12
Mike Oxbig wrote:But in the past even under Eddie Howe these where the games we where losing against out of form sides ,I did post earlier today on the match day live link how bitter our first defeat will be after all this success when that day comes it will be interesting to see how the players responding the following match I hope we can go on undefeated but that is a huge dream to have the beer will taste sweet tonight
Poor performance. We were lucky that Colchester were even worse than us. Frightful miss by Pitman in the second half. Can Tubbs really be that poor in training for him not to be given an opportunity to start? We won't be beating our play off rivals unless we up our game qute considerably. That's three wins in a row where we only won not because we payed well, but because the opposition played badly.
Wilkie
says...
6:54pm Sat 15 Dec 12
pete woodley
says...
7:04pm Sat 15 Dec 12
djd
says...
7:12pm Sat 15 Dec 12
pete woodley wrote:Go into the lorry park and use the row nearest the stadium, supposed to be reserved for blue badge holders, short walk from there to the Family Stand. Once the car park is finished it will be better.
First visit for a long time,very disappointed,as others have said good job colchester were worse.MoM for me was James.Very surprised to be told that although i have Blue Badge,i could not use disabled places without applying for permission.Why was this not made clear in echo,makes me wonder why i came back.Some xmas greeting !.
bobsworthforever
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7:13pm Sat 15 Dec 12
RedhillPete
says...
7:13pm Sat 15 Dec 12
Eddie said MacD badly injured ankle & out couple of months at least. Didnt see what happened - did he slide into the hordings?
He had made that position his own, needs a good holding midfielder as a his replacement for balance of the side. Partington or even Davids, assuming Hughes nowhere near being fit?
Thought crowd was bigger, although they unsurprisingly only brought a minibus load!
Also nice to walk back across the car park without having to dodge the puddles!
AFCBade
says...
7:21pm Sat 15 Dec 12
pete woodley
says...
7:57pm Sat 15 Dec 12
djd wrote:Thanks djd.
pete woodley wrote:Go into the lorry park and use the row nearest the stadium, supposed to be reserved for blue badge holders, short walk from there to the Family Stand. Once the car park is finished it will be better.
First visit for a long time,very disappointed,as others have said good job colchester were worse.MoM for me was James.Very surprised to be told that although i have Blue Badge,i could not use disabled places without applying for permission.Why was this not made clear in echo,makes me wonder why i came back.Some xmas greeting !.
Julian1963
says...
8:00pm Sat 15 Dec 12
devon fan
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10:25am Sun 16 Dec 12
Square Old Codger
says...
10:28am Sun 16 Dec 12
afcb36
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11:16am Sun 16 Dec 12
longlostcherry
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1:01pm Sun 16 Dec 12
stevobath
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1:39pm Sun 16 Dec 12
Must admit to having ome nervy moments yesterday though!UTC
ducky24
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4:42pm Sun 16 Dec 12
West moors 1
says...
9:24pm Sun 16 Dec 12
ben611
says...
11:24am Mon 17 Dec 12
socoolmichael says...
5:13pm Sat 15 Dec 12