COACH Jon Sanchez insists Bournemouth “are getting to where we want to be”, despite sitting rock-bottom of National Two South.

Lions head into the fixture energised by their scintillating second half at Chapel Gate last weekend, where their 20-point comeback ultimately came to nothing as Dings snatched a last-minute winner.

Bournemouth, who have lost nine of their 10 matches this season, will make the four-hour trip from west to east on Saturday as they travel to ninth-placed Bury St Edmunds.

“It was just the performance we needed after a tough couple of weeks,” said performance director Richard Sharp.

“So much youth came into side and gave us exactly what we wanted: hunger, desire, passion. We didn’t get the win we wanted but we showed what we are capable of.”

Their Suffolk-based opponents endured a frustrating day last weekend when flooding at Old Redcliffians saw their match rescheduled for February, with the team bus already halfway across the country and the players ready for a tense match against their mid-table rivals.

And Lions will be aware of the threat they possess, having won at home against Esher and run Clifton extremely close away from home earlier in the season.

Coach Jon Sanchez is happy with his team’s progress.

“We feel we are getting to where we want to be,” he said.

“We have focused very much on the performance this week. We were very good last Saturday and will continue to push.”

The away team are strengthened by the return of player-coach Mike Pope to the matchday squad after a month out recovering from concussion. An injury to Toby Kenneally sees youngster James Griffiths start in the pack, with Sam Knott moving to the bench. In the backs, Adam Higgins is absent, so Dan Stewart comes back in on the wing and centre Scott Chislett makes way for local favourite Carlos Snell.

With several clashes between teams in the bottom half this weekend, Sutton & Epsom’s trip to Old Redcliffians - both teams within touching distance for Bournemouth - Sharp and Sanchez are keen to capitalise and confident of their chances.

“We are expecting to pick up points this weekend,” said Sanchez.

With fellow strugglers Sutton & Epsom, Worthing and Old Redcliffians all to come before Christmas, this could be the jump start the club needs to lift themselves off the bottom.