Cherries: Grabban excited by Pitman partnership (From Bournemouth Echo)

Cherries: Grabban excited by Pitman partnership

7:00am Friday 28th December 2012 in Sport By Ian Wadley

HOTSHOT Lewis Grabban insists his strike partnership with Brett Pitman can get even better.

The lively attacking duo have forged an impressive alliance since being paired by Eddie Howe following Pitman’s return to Dean Court on loan last month.

Both frontmen were on the scoresheet in the Boxing Day win over Yeovil and are again likely to start when Cherries host Crawley tomorrow (3pm).

Grabban, Cherries’ leading marksman with 10 goals so far this term, is confident the best is yet to come from the club’s new front two.

The 24-year-old told the Daily Echo: “I feel it is getting better every week.

“It is good playing with Brett. He is a good player, has come from a higher level and brings a lot to the table.

“At the moment, he is playing the deeper role and I am playing a bit higher, so he is able to find me most of the time when he gets the ball.

“I think we are complementing each other really well and it is going great.”

A summer signing from Rotherham, Grabban struck just once in 11 appearances under former manager Paul Groves.

Now being utilised as a central striker, the ex-Millwall man has netted nine in 13 games since Howe’s appointment.

Grabban, who has netted seven times in his past seven matches, added: “I am happy and it has gone well so far.

“I have just got to keep up my form, try to get as many goals as possible for the team and contribute positively.

“I am 25 next month and still fairly young, so there is still a lot for me to learn.

“I have just got to keep progressing and keep building my all-round game.”

Cherries will be bidding to extend their 14-match unbeaten run when they entertain Crawley – who effectively ended Groves’s reign as he was relieved of his first-team duties just hours after Cherries’ 3-1 loss at Broadfield Stadium in October.

A positive result could propel the Dorset outfit into the League One play-off zone as they sit just one point adrift of sixth-placed MK Dons.

Grabban added: “At the moment, we are just focusing on ourselves and trying to stay consistent in our performances every week.

“Hopefully, that will move us up the table.

“There is still half the season left but there is no time like the present, so we have got to do it now.”