sport 23
The Rock | Thursday 5 December 2013
Elphick believes home wins can act as catalyst Sam Rourke
Cherries captain Tommy Elphick believes that the club need to get their home form back on track if they are to be successful this season. The Cherries surrendered their one-goal lead in the last match at home to Brighton to secure a first home draw of the season while their last home win came two months ago to this day, beating Millwall 5-2. The 26-year-old feels that an improvement in form at Dean Court will not only boost the morale of the squad, but give the fans a much-needed lift as well. “Home form is everything,” said Elphick. “If you want to be a successful side you have got to be good at home and obviously that’s something we need to put right as we have not won in a while, so it would give not only ourselves a boost, but the fans as well. “I think we have to put more pressure on ourselves if anything at the moment. We seem to be playing better away from home and I don’t know whether that’s a sort of ‘monkey off the back’ situation.” Elphick insists that the Cherries need to sort their form out as a matter of urgency and is hopeful the team can grind out a few wins over the coming matches. “One way or another we have
got to start winning whether that be at home or away and I think when that happens we can go on a little run again,” he added. Centre-back Elphick has found himself ousted from the starting line-up regularly this season, with Norwich loanee Elliott Ward taking his spot in the heart of defence. Elphick and his defensive partner Steve Cook played at Brighton together before both making the move to the Goldsands. Such a partnership has blossomed into the starting lineup again following a calf injury to Ward. “Its been a little bit frustrating but now I have got the opportunity to get some rhythm and get my fitness back,” said Elphick. “Every successful team has three centre-halves, if you look at Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham, you will always struggle to name their front two centre-halves. “You would have to think about it a little bit, so with the games that we have got this year we are all going to play a massive part.” Key injuries to the Cherries backline have forced manager Eddie Howe to call in goalkeeping reinforcements in the shape of Stephen Henderson and Lee Camp. Elphick believes the loanees have slotted in well but says it is naturally difficult to deal with. “It is always good to get to know who you are playing with,” he said. “You get to know their characteristics and sort of build a foundation. It has been unfortunate to lose Ryan Allsop when we have, and Daryll Flahavan as well so I think it’s something that
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Tommy Elphick is happy to be back involved in first-team action AFCB has been forced upon us.” The Cherries enter the busy Christmas period looking to resurrect their form, and iron out the inconsistencies that have plagued Eddie Howe’s men so far this season. Looking ahead to the remainder of the season, Elphick is adamant that the
Cherries have the ability to maintain their Championship status. “We are an improving squad, a young squad and we have proven we can do it at this level so far. “We have still got a big gap between us and the bottom and we’re not far off the play-offs,” he added.
Eddie Howe boosted his inexperienced squad with the signing of Arsenal youngster Nico Yennaris on-loan until January 2. Yennaris, 20, is unlikely to breakthrough in the Premier League this season with the Gunners racing away at the top of the Premier League. The Englishman made league debut in memorable fashion, against Manchester United. The midfielder can also operate at right-back and will provide competition for mainstay defender Simon Francis. The temporary signing of Yennaris will add options to Howe’s midfield, despite Eunan O’Kane and Harry Arter impressing. Yennaris made the bench against Brighton last weekend as his new club lost their one-goal lead after a superb solo effort from Brighton’s Ashley Barnes. Brett Pitman missed guilt edge chances as the returning Matt Ritchie fired the Cherries into the lead before Barnes’ equaliser. Howe’s men faced QPR on Tuesday while they travel to promotion-chasing Reading on Saturday before a busy Christmas period which includes three home games.
Francis lauds teammate Ritchie’s big impact Ben Fisher SPORTS EDITOR
Simon Francis reckons fit again Matt Ritchie can change the Cherries’ current fortunes. Ritchie missed the start of this term after picking up an injury during pre-season, leaving manager Eddie Howe without his star man. The midfielder was named League One Player of the Year last season and it is thought he could have an equally devastating effect on Championship defenders this time around. A run of one win in ten games prior to the away game at QPR on Tuesday has pushed Howe’s men towards the relegation places as
opposed to the play-off positions, but Francis believes Ritchie’s return can reverse the side’s recent results. “Having Ritchie back is like a new signing because he brings a real buzz to the team when he is on the pitch,” said the right-back. “He is looking sharp and was really good when he came on against Derby. If we can keep players like that fit, it will go a long way for us to win games. “He is an important player and I think we saw that last season. He had a key hand in getting a lot of goals and he gets assists with his deliveries so he will be vital.” Francis struck up a strong partnership with the former Swindon Town man on the rightflank after his arrival at the Cherries in January. Francis is adamant that a combination, which has allowed himself to get forward as well as
winger Ritchie, will cause havoc in the Championship this campaign. “We have been working in the last couple of weeks about getting balls in the box and we do not want to go away from that,” he said of training methods. “Playing with him as a wide player encourages me to overlap – it is a partnership I enjoy.” The Cherries recent slump shows no sign of easing anytime soon with a tough away trip at Reading next on the menu, although Francis is confident that they can still look towards making more of an impact in the division than just ensuring safety in the second-tier. “We want to look up rather than below us but when you lose games, you cannot help but look at those teams creeping up on you. “Eddie is a terrific manager and he knows how to bring confidence to this squad. He has done it before.”
Simon Francis (centre) has backed Matt Ritchie’s star credentials AFCB