GRAHAM Turner clearly had the wrong end of the stick.

Having seen his team comprehensively out-played, out-fought and out-manoeuvred, the Shrewsbury boss not once used as an excuse the gulf in resources between the clubs.

Plenty have and more probably will. Carlisle manager Greg Abbott is almost certain to whine about the divide ahead of the Cumbrians visiting Dean Court in Cherries’ final home game of the season.

Those who choose to moan should perhaps consider taking a leaf out of Eddie Howe’s book. When the boot was on the other foot during his first spell in charge, he would use it as a motivating tool.

Although it took until the 44th league game of the campaign, Turner became the first manager to hit the nail on the head when he acknowledged Cherries’ greatest quality – their work ethic. A trait demanded by manager Howe and one that stood him in good stead during his playing career, it is something which can often be overlooked, particularly when jealousy takes a hold.

Take a bow then Graham Turner.

Asked by the Daily Echo why he had chosen not to trot out the financial line as an excuse, Turner replied: “You can’t. The manager is in a fortunate position to have those resources but, in the end, we were out-worked. That is nothing to do with money.”

The former Aston Villa and Wolves manager added: “I thought Bournemouth were excellent. They were very good when we played them in November and have got better. We have played Doncaster and Sheffield United recently but Bournemouth were far better. I wouldn’t bet against them being in the Championship next season.

“Money doesn’t guarantee anything. Eddie has put together a very good group of players who are playing as a team and playing for each other. They are formidable. They will go up.”

Turner was not alone in his rich praise of Cherries and, as one home steward was at pains to point out to his colleagues following the final whistle, Shrewsbury “did well to get nought”.

At times, Cherries’ display at Greenhous Meadow had Championship stamped all over it. Some home supporters were even calling for a second ball to be thrown on the pitch so Shrewsbury players could have a kick.

It was that one-sided. It was cigar time.

While results elsewhere at the top of League One may have conspired against Cherries, the 935 travelling supporters who had journeyed to Shropshire would have returned home safe in the knowledge that two similar performances should do the trick.

The Pro-Vision CCTV Stand was rocking as early as the fifth minute when Brett Pitman emphatically slotted home a penalty after Marc Pugh had been tripped by Jon Taylor.

Shrews winger Taylor, trumpeted by some Cherries followers as a possible signing a few months ago, brought down Pugh right in front of referee Paul Tierney following his neat give-and-go with Pitman.

It was the perfect start for Cherries and allowed them to settle almost instantly. They made light of a difficult playing surface and knocked the ball around for fun. At times, it was just too easy.

Central midfielders Harry Arter and Eunan O’Kane provided the artistic brushstrokes, while roving full-backs Simon Francis and Charlie Daniels acted as supplementary wingers.

At the heart of defence, commanding duo Tommy Elphick and Steve Cook ensured in-form striker Tom Eaves and his hopelessly out-of-form partner Marvin Morgan would hardly get a kick.

Morgan, who was later substituted, had a birthday to forget, the striker going close to matching the 30 candles on his cake with the number of times he was caught offside during the first half.

Despite their dominance, Cherries reached the break only one goal to the good and were hoping an untimely stumble by Lewis Grabban when he was clean through after 16 minutes would not prove costly.

Had Cook not been well positioned to head off the line from a Marc Richards effort after 52 minutes, it could have been a different story for Cherries.

However, cometh the 53rd minute, cometh the man.

For visiting supporters who had trekked to Shropshire, Pitman’s stunning 25-yard strike which afforded Cherries a crucial two-goal cushion was worth alone the entrance fee, the petrol money and the price of a meat and potato pie.

Shrewsbury goalkeeper Chris Weale was beaten all ends up as Pitman’s sumptuous curling effort whistled past him and found the top corner.

Met with wonderment and relief in equal measure, Cherries knew there would be no way back for the hosts, while Turner’s men probably had similar thoughts.

The white flag was raised just nine minutes later when Jermaine Grandison, one half of Shrews’ Laurel and Hardy central defensive pairing with Yado Mambo, shanked a cross from Arter into his own net to make it 3-0.

STAR MAN

BRETT PITMAN

Celebrated his League One player-of-the-month award for March by suggesting he could win it for April as well.

The striker added a clinical penalty and a second-half wonder goal to his tally for the season, with his overall display epitomising the work ethic which is coursing through the team.

A constant threat, Pitman’s inch-perfect return pass to Marc Pugh was pivotal to the award of the penalty after Jon Taylor had tripped the Cherries winger.

His party piece came when he doubled Cherries’ lead with a goal-of-the-season contender from 25 yards. And while his attempt to claim the third goal may prove futile, Pitman deserved the match ball for his second.

At the back, Steve Cook was a tower of strength. Commanding in the air and faultless on the floor, he played his part as Shrewsbury created next to nothing in the way of chances.

MATCH FACTS

Cherries: Allsop 7.5, Francis 8, Cook 8.5, Elphick 8, Daniels 8, Ritchie 7.5, O’Kane 8.5 (MacDonald, 90), Arter 8.5, Pugh 8 (McQuoid, 85), Grabban 7.5 (Hughes, 75), Pitman 9*.

Unused subs: Seaborne, Fogden, Tubbs, Jalal (g/k).

Booked: Ritchie.

Shrews: Weale, Hurst, Grandison (Goldson, 75), Mambo, Jacobson, Taylor, McGinn, Summerfield (McAllister, 63), Richards, Morgan (Asante, 57), Eaves.

Unused subs: Purdie, Parry, Wilding, Anyon (g/k).

Attendance: 6,047 (including 935 visiting supporters).

Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire).