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FORMER CHERRY: Russell Beardsmore

GREAT Escape veteran Russell Beardsmore is desperate to see Kevin Bond's charges eclipse the class of 1995 and is convinced their task has been harder.

Beardsmore missed just three games as Mel Machin's Braves hauled themselves out of the mire following an epic finish to the 1994-95 season.

The former Manchester United star occupied a number of different positions as Cherries heroically avoided the drop despite having just nine points at Christmas.

Beardsmore, now an area coach for the AFC Bournemouth community trust, has been a regular at Dean Court this season and is backing Bond's boys to repeat the feat.

He told the Daily Echo: "It's been an unbelievable turnaround. I think the team has shown a lot of determination and character and it helps because the side has been a bit more settled recently.

"A number of players are playing well and are on top form. It's a confidence thing and you can see the difference in confidence and attitude when a team starts winning games.

"It's a great credit to the players. They've played some top teams and are the form team in the division. If you were a neutral, you would want them to stay up because of how well they've done.

"The management team also deserves great credit. With what's been going on in the background, it can't be an easy job because that is always at the back of your mind.

"Taking everything into consideration, it has been a harder job for this team because they have had a lot more to cope with, both on and off the pitch, than we did.

"They deserve all the credit but the job is not done yet. They have got to try to approach the Carlisle game just like every other game. They have been going into games in the right frame of mind and that has been reflected in their performances.

"I know a few of the younger lads won't have been in this situation before and it isn't easy because there is a lot riding on it. But you've got to try to block it out and just carry on as normal."

Beardsmore says he still has fond memories of the Great Escape season, particularly the last two games, which Cherries won 2-1 at Brentford and 3-0 at home to Shrewsbury.

He added: "We went 3-0 up against Shrewsbury after 20 minutes and it would be wonderful if that were to happen on Saturday. That really took the pressure off.

"The Brentford game tilted it for us though. Nobody gave us a chance up there but we held out despite them throwing everything but the kitchen sink at us in the last 10 minutes.

"That game sticks out for all the right reasons and the York game at the start of the season stands out for all the wrong ones!

"It was Mel's first game in charge and we lost 4-1. We were worse than awful. I think that was the worst feeling and time in my career.

"Everybody had been upbeat during the week because of the new manager but he must have been wondering what he had let himself in for!

"But he sorted things out and everybody battled and scraped for everybody else. You could see it in the performances and we survived in the end."

7:00am Thursday 1st May 2008

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