CHERRIES boss Jimmy Quinn has set his players a realistic target of claiming at least another four league victories before Christmas.

Quinn revealed the challenge was put to the squad at their weekly Monday meeting ahead of Cherries’ 2-1 win over Dagenham & Redbridge.

“We looked at our next 10 games and felt an achievable target would be to win five,” said Quinn. “That would put us at least eight points in the black.

“When you set targets, you’ve got to set your sights high but they’ve also got to be achievable and everybody bought into it. If we were to do better then that would be great.

“It’s not out of our reach and with the Luton game sandwiched between another couple of home games, it gives us a chance to get some more points on the board.

“We’ve got to get out of the bottom two and I think we will. If we can get into plus points as soon as possible then it would give everyone a belief that we’ve got a really good chance of getting out of this.

“There are a lot of points to be played for and there are going to be ups and downs. You can’t win every game and it’s important to put defeats behind you as quickly as possible. Everything is geared to being positive.”

Quinn’s men will be hoping to take another step towards wiping out their points deficit when they host in-form Lincoln City tomorrow.

Imps manager Peter Jackson, who recently received the all-clear after being diagnosed with throat cancer earlier this year, is an ex-team-mate of Quinn’s.

“I played with Peter at Bradford and he’s a really nice guy,” said the Cherries boss. “I know he had a lot of problems with his illness and it seems to have taken the pressure off the job.

“When things like that happen, it puts things into perspective and I think Peter is probably enjoying his football a bit more which has been reflected in the performances of his team.

“They are six games unbeaten and it will be a good challenge for us. It will be a tough one because they are in a bit of form but I’m confident we can get good results at home against anybody.”

Loan striker Michael Rankine, who missed the midweek win over Dagenham & Redbridge, is again a major doubt due to a back problem, while skipper Darren Anderton is hoping to shake off a tight calf.

Playmaker Sammy Igoe is likely to face a late fitness test on his back injury. Despite playing through a groin problem in recent weeks, Igoe started feeling discomfort in his lower back during Cherries’ defeat at Shrewsbury and was referred to a chiropractor.

Joel Ward is available after serving a one-match suspension, while Blair Sturrock may again have to settle for a place on the bench before a decision is made on whether or not to extend his loan spell from Swindon.

Cherries: (from) Jalal, Guyett, Cooper, Pearce, Cummings, Bradbury, Anderton, Hollands, Bartley, Pitman, Goulding, Sturrock, Molesey, Lindfield, McQuoid, Igoe, Ward, Partington, Pryce.

Lincoln City: (from) Burch, Green, Kovacs, Sinclair, Beevers, Oakes, Frecklington, Kerr, N’Guessan, John-Lewis, Patulea, Clarke, Wright, Brown, Hone, Duffy.