Cherries: Arter fully focused on winning promotion (From Bournemouth Echo)

Cherries: Arter fully focused on winning promotion

7:00am Thursday 17th January 2013 in Cherries News By Ian Wadley

HARRY Arter insists there will be no FA Cup hangover as Cherries quickly switch their attention to their pursuit of League One glory.

The club’s record-equalling 18-match unbeaten run came to an end on Tuesday as Wigan claimed a 1-0 win in the third round replay at Dean Court.

Midfielder Arter held up his hands after his mis-placed pass had led to Mauro Boselli lashing home the only goal of the clash on 18 minutes.

But the playmaker says Cherries will be fully focused on third tier success by the time they resume their promotion bid at Walsall on Saturday.

Arter told the Daily Echo: “We can’t dwell on it. We had a really good unbeaten run. To lose it in that manner was not a disgrace and the lads are really proud of themselves. Every-body at the club should be proud of how well we did and how we competed in the game on Tuesday.

“I think we can get it out of our system. The unbeaten run still goes on in the league and there is no getting away from how well we are still doing in the league and how well the run is going.

“We have to try to stay focused on the positives and build on the league form.”

Despite suffering their first defeat since Howe’s return, Cherries remain unbeaten in 15 League One games since Paul Groves’s departure.

Arter is setting his sights on automatic promotion but admits there is little room for error with Cherries in seventh position and 10 points off top spot with a game in hand.

The 23-year-old said: “We are definitely focused on getting in the top two and trying to go up.

“But we are fully aware what it is going to take and that we are going to have to win the majority of our games.

“We are realistic and know we are playing catch-up but we know we have the ability in the squad to believe we can go out and win every game.”

Discussing the cup defeat to Premier League outfit Wigan, Arter insisted Cherries could take confidence from it and learn from the experience.

He added: “We gave them a sloppy goal. I blame myself for the sloppy goal and it was a silly ball back.

“I would have probably got away with it against Championship or League One teams but when you are playing against quality like that, you get punished.”

Meanwhile, Cherries have injury concerns over Lewis Grabban, Josh McQuoid and Eunan O’Kane following the FA Cup clash.

Boss Howe confirmed leading goalscorer Grabban was substituted after sustaining a knee problem in the first half.