BOSS Lee Bradbury has tasked his class of 2012 with living up to expectations as Cherries look to gatecrash the League One play-off party.

Bradbury this week put the finishing touches to his new-look squad by clinching the signings of Matt Tubbs and Donal McDermott.

Their arrivals completed an expensive rebuilding programme, prompted by an exodus of players following last season’s promotion near miss.

And after splashing out more than £1.6m on seven new recruits, Bradbury knows Cherries will be under pressure to deliver – possibily as early as this season.

Bradbury told the Daily Echo: “Clubs all over the country have to deal with high expectation levels and it is part of the game. If you have got a good squad, you have to live up to them.

“We have got a good squad so it is up to the players, myself and everybody connected with the club to deal with expectations. It is a new pressure but a good one.

“I am delighted with the business we did. We probably spent what we brought in last year and certainly didn’t go over and above our means. The club reinvested and it was fantastic for me as the manager to be able to build a squad for the future. I feel I have done that now.

“I am excited about picking a team. We have got really good quality and it is great to be in a position where it is difficult to choose a starting line-up.

“My aim now is for us to finish as high as we can. If we were to get into the top six then it would be an unbelievable season.

“We have assembled a squad that is capable of doing it but are already more than halfway through the season. It is not unachievable because we are five points from sixth place. As much as I want to do it, it is going to be tough but is has got to be our aim.”

Bradbury will be hoping Cherries can bounce back following defeat at Chesterfield when they host struggling Exeter City tomorrow (3pm).

The Grecians arrive at Seward Stadium just two points above the drop zone and have the unwanted record as the lowest goalscorers in the division.

However, despite mustering a paltry 24 goals in 28 league games, including just four in their past nine, Paul Tisdale’s men have also conceded only once in their past four.

Bradbury said: “They are a good, passing side and Paul always has them playing good football. They can play various formations to try to cause problems for the opposition.

“In Daniel Nardiello and Richard Logan, they have got a couple of strikers who can be a real handful. Whoever plays, we have got to try to make sure they don’t score against us.”