Cherries: Howe relishing battle with contenders Doncaster (with video)

BOSS Eddie Howe believes Cherries will face genuine promotion contenders in Doncaster Rovers but he insists: “We certainly don't fear anybody.”

Howe is backing Rovers to feature at the business end of the League One table this term as they aim to bounce straight back to the Championship.

Prior to defeat at the hands of Crewe on Tuesday, Rovers had surged towards the summit on the back of a seven-match unbeaten sequence.

Relegated after four years in the Championship, former Wales international Dean Saunders is trying to mastermind Rovers' second tier return.

Cherries visit Doncaster in fine form themselves, having gone six matches without defeat since Howe's appointment. That run has propelled the Dorset outfit to within six points of the final play-off berth, which is currently held by Rovers.

Previewing Saturday's clash at the Keepmoat Stadium (3pm), Howe predicted a “really tough game”. He told the Daily Echo: “I think they are a much-changed side from last season in terms of their personnel. Dean Saunders has done a great job to regroup and get together a squad that is going to push at the other end of the table.

“They are a very good football team and they certainly like to play from back to front and all through the thirds of the pitch, so full credit to them and the job they have done.

“It will probably be one of our toughest examinations. I think they will be up there at the end of the season. They have still got a couple of Championship players who have been there and done it at the higher level, so that will help them in terms of their experience and trying to maintain their challenge.

“But it goes without saying that we certainly don't fear anybody at the moment and we are looking forward to every game.”

Howe reported no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip to Doncaster and said he was unsure whether Wes Thomas (hamstring) would be fit in time to feature.

Meanwhile, Howe revealed Richard Hughes had today joined in with training for the first time since sustaining a hamstring problem last month.

Rovers: (from) G Woods, Quinn, Jones, Spurr, Husband, Syers, Keegan, Harper, Martin Woods, Hume, Paynter, Blake, Brown, Griffin, Martis, Michael Woods, Clingan, Cotterill, Sullivan.

Cherries: (from) James, Francis, Elphick, Addison, Daniels, McQuoid, Arter, MacDonald, Pugh, Grabban, Barnard, Fogden, Tubbs, McDermott, Fletcher, Cook, O'Kane, Partington, Thomas, Zubar, Davids, Demouge, Stockley, Jalal.

Comments(22)

RED LETTER DAY says...
3:03pm Thu 8 Nov 12

Yep, . . . This is a real test for us but Hey, If we come away with all three points you have to say to yourself promotion is on the agenda............. Cmon you reds!

Atkins1990 says...
3:50pm Thu 8 Nov 12

Promotion has always been on the agenda since eddie has came back, we got the players, management and money we are on the up no doubt about it.

tough game in doncaster but there saying the same thing about us guaranteed, best of luck afcb!!

nonnogeppetto says...
4:10pm Thu 8 Nov 12

Who would have predicted this exciting time when things looked so bleak a month or so ago. Whilst I have been away I have kept up with the scores but very little about the wonderful (I assume) football now played by our lads. Hope all is well this coming Saturday and three more points would do nicely. UTCIAD

Square Old Codger says...
4:34pm Thu 8 Nov 12

A very tough match coming up and as with the Stevenage gane , a real six pointer. Interesting that Demouge and Davids are in the Squad, must be close to fitness!

Square Old Codger says...
4:34pm Thu 8 Nov 12

A very tough match coming up and as with the Stevenage gane , a real six pointer. Interesting that Demouge and Davids are in the Squad, must be close to fitness!

Afcbpete says...
4:46pm Thu 8 Nov 12

nonnogeppetto wrote:
Who would have predicted this exciting time when things looked so bleak a month or so ago. Whilst I have been away I have kept up with the scores but very little about the wonderful (I assume) football now played by our lads. Hope all is well this coming Saturday and three more points would do nicely. UTCIAD
Firstly I hope you had a good trip to see your brother and the news from DC gave him something to smile about. Seems we could of had a hatful against the Shrews, but we ended up with 3 points which is the most important thing. If we came away with a point I'd be pleased, but nothing surprises me with our squad these days.... UTCIAD

seuthsayer says...
4:47pm Thu 8 Nov 12

...my team would be:

JAMES
FRANCIS
COOK
ELPHICK (c)
DANIELS
GRABBAN
ARTER
MACDONALD
PUGH
MCQUOID
BARNARD

Subs: ADDISON/DEMOUGE/JALA
L
DAVIDS/FOGDEN/PARTIN
GTON
ZUBAR

nonnogeppetto says...
4:58pm Thu 8 Nov 12

Afcbpete wrote:
nonnogeppetto wrote:
Who would have predicted this exciting time when things looked so bleak a month or so ago. Whilst I have been away I have kept up with the scores but very little about the wonderful (I assume) football now played by our lads. Hope all is well this coming Saturday and three more points would do nicely. UTCIAD
Firstly I hope you had a good trip to see your brother and the news from DC gave him something to smile about. Seems we could of had a hatful against the Shrews, but we ended up with 3 points which is the most important thing. If we came away with a point I'd be pleased, but nothing surprises me with our squad these days.... UTCIAD
AFCBpete thank you for asking. The trip was good and yes the news about Eddie’s return and the good progress made since his return made him smile, alas he is no better though. It is about a year now that he has been bed ridden with very little muscle movement. He wishes me to thank all those who send him good wishes and he asked me to say that he wishes AFCB and all the supporters the very best and hopefully promotion into the championship. I told him that he is to go nowhere! before AFCB gets promoted to the Premiership! It brought a smile to his face and naturally he would very much like that to be the case everything is the Good Lord’s hands! His last words to me last evening before we left was Up the Cherries

Afcbpete says...
5:26pm Thu 8 Nov 12

nonnogeppetto wrote:
Afcbpete wrote:
nonnogeppetto wrote:
Who would have predicted this exciting time when things looked so bleak a month or so ago. Whilst I have been away I have kept up with the scores but very little about the wonderful (I assume) football now played by our lads. Hope all is well this coming Saturday and three more points would do nicely. UTCIAD
Firstly I hope you had a good trip to see your brother and the news from DC gave him something to smile about. Seems we could of had a hatful against the Shrews, but we ended up with 3 points which is the most important thing. If we came away with a point I'd be pleased, but nothing surprises me with our squad these days.... UTCIAD
AFCBpete thank you for asking. The trip was good and yes the news about Eddie’s return and the good progress made since his return made him smile, alas he is no better though. It is about a year now that he has been bed ridden with very little muscle movement. He wishes me to thank all those who send him good wishes and he asked me to say that he wishes AFCB and all the supporters the very best and hopefully promotion into the championship. I told him that he is to go nowhere! before AFCB gets promoted to the Premiership! It brought a smile to his face and naturally he would very much like that to be the case everything is the Good Lord’s hands! His last words to me last evening before we left was Up the Cherries
Life can be a REAL Bar Steward at times. His situation is such I couldn't even begin to imagine how he must feel, let alone you and your family. But I do know what a lift hearing good news about AFCB would give me inside, and I'm certain that's how it is for him. So let's hope you can go on giving him good news to make those so very difficult hard times all the more bearable... UTCIAD

sussexcherry says...
5:41pm Thu 8 Nov 12

nonnogeppetto wrote:
Afcbpete wrote:
nonnogeppetto wrote:
Who would have predicted this exciting time when things looked so bleak a month or so ago. Whilst I have been away I have kept up with the scores but very little about the wonderful (I assume) football now played by our lads. Hope all is well this coming Saturday and three more points would do nicely. UTCIAD
Firstly I hope you had a good trip to see your brother and the news from DC gave him something to smile about. Seems we could of had a hatful against the Shrews, but we ended up with 3 points which is the most important thing. If we came away with a point I'd be pleased, but nothing surprises me with our squad these days.... UTCIAD
AFCBpete thank you for asking. The trip was good and yes the news about Eddie’s return and the good progress made since his return made him smile, alas he is no better though. It is about a year now that he has been bed ridden with very little muscle movement. He wishes me to thank all those who send him good wishes and he asked me to say that he wishes AFCB and all the supporters the very best and hopefully promotion into the championship. I told him that he is to go nowhere! before AFCB gets promoted to the Premiership! It brought a smile to his face and naturally he would very much like that to be the case everything is the Good Lord’s hands! His last words to me last evening before we left was Up the Cherries
My best wishes to your brother Nonno, life can be so cruel sometimes. I hope that Afcb's progress keeps him cheerful, and spurs him on to get better.
Kind regards.

nonnogeppetto says...
5:54pm Thu 8 Nov 12

Thank you both for your kindness

ben611 says...
6:08pm Thu 8 Nov 12

oh eddie, eddie eddie howe!!!

oxoncherry2 says...
6:35pm Thu 8 Nov 12

EH must be very pleased with the team brought in by Mr Groves!

Deejaycee says...
7:14pm Thu 8 Nov 12

Really positive news coming from Marc
Pugh.

West moors 1 says...
7:41pm Thu 8 Nov 12

We are at last showing flair, fight and confidence thanks to new management. We will give them a good game and 3 points will come back to Dean Court. Up the cherries!

Mike Oxbig says...
8:01pm Thu 8 Nov 12

nonnogeppetto wrote:
Afcbpete wrote:
nonnogeppetto wrote:
Who would have predicted this exciting time when things looked so bleak a month or so ago. Whilst I have been away I have kept up with the scores but very little about the wonderful (I assume) football now played by our lads. Hope all is well this coming Saturday and three more points would do nicely. UTCIAD
Firstly I hope you had a good trip to see your brother and the news from DC gave him something to smile about. Seems we could of had a hatful against the Shrews, but we ended up with 3 points which is the most important thing. If we came away with a point I'd be pleased, but nothing surprises me with our squad these days.... UTCIAD
AFCBpete thank you for asking. The trip was good and yes the news about Eddie’s return and the good progress made since his return made him smile, alas he is no better though. It is about a year now that he has been bed ridden with very little muscle movement. He wishes me to thank all those who send him good wishes and he asked me to say that he wishes AFCB and all the supporters the very best and hopefully promotion into the championship. I told him that he is to go nowhere! before AFCB gets promoted to the Premiership! It brought a smile to his face and naturally he would very much like that to be the case everything is the Good Lord’s hands! His last words to me last evening before we left was Up the Cherries
Good on ya Nonno...... You almost bought a tear to my eye with that post. God willing we will all be shoulder to shoulder as we watch the mighty Cherries march up the league. Your brother is in all our thoughts.

afcb72 says...
10:39pm Thu 8 Nov 12

nonnogeppetto wrote:
Who would have predicted this exciting time when things looked so bleak a month or so ago. Whilst I have been away I have kept up with the scores but very little about the wonderful (I assume) football now played by our lads. Hope all is well this coming Saturday and three more points would do nicely. UTCIAD
Hi nonno
All my thoughts to you and your family.
I m a cherry supporter and originally from Italy as well. Wouldnt`t mind to met for a quick drink at Dean Court before a home game,if that s ok with you?

Auzzi Cherry says...
10:54pm Thu 8 Nov 12

I watch every video on the Cherries player, game highlights, interviews the lot, and I have to say we are looking dangerous at the moment.

Marc Pugh was insane on Tuesday, and made (from what I saw) the Shrews look like a Sunday team.

Really looking forward to us going forward this year.

Also thought I'd mention that I saw a car in Adelaide, South Australia the other day covered in AFCB stickers ! So if you're on here, make yourself known and we'll go out for a beer !

UTCIAD !

jemsaldana says...
1:55am Fri 9 Nov 12

Auzzi I'm up in Redwood Park but have not had stickers on my car for some time. Happy to do the beer thing tho.
83432113 wk

nonnogeppetto says...
7:10am Fri 9 Nov 12

afcb72 wrote:
nonnogeppetto wrote:
Who would have predicted this exciting time when things looked so bleak a month or so ago. Whilst I have been away I have kept up with the scores but very little about the wonderful (I assume) football now played by our lads. Hope all is well this coming Saturday and three more points would do nicely. UTCIAD
Hi nonno
All my thoughts to you and your family.
I m a cherry supporter and originally from Italy as well. Wouldnt`t mind to met for a quick drink at Dean Court before a home game,if that s ok with you?
Love to I am usually there at about 13.45 on home games Happy to meet you by Phil the guy who takes care of the less abled (i don't like the term 'diabled') people I am quite large so youldn't find it difficult to recognise me!!

nonnogeppetto says...
7:21am Fri 9 Nov 12

shouldn't. I don't know where hald of the letters disappear to

rogthedodge123 says...
8:37am Fri 9 Nov 12

A real test of character on saturday as Doncaster will be on the rebound after a great run but barring a bad day at the office then there is no reason why we cant take all 3 points,we have stepped up a level and the opposition know before a game that to beat us they will need to score 3 goals and that can destroy their confidence even before they have kicked the ball and on that basis Doncaster will play an open attacking game which will suit us and
a 3-1 victory for the cherries i predict

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