A perfect end to a tough week

I can't take credit for that headline, as I heard it on the radio, but it sums up my feelings about the week AFCB have had ending in a convincing 0:1 win, if there is such a thing, against a Doncaster team that had been in great form. Don't forget that Donny had been 0:3 up against Charlton last week after just half an hour. At home they had beaten Blackburn Rovers and they had drawn away at Wigan.

The importance of the victory was not lost on Eddie Howe: "A very important win for us. Going into a two week break you don't want to go in on a downer... We showed some character today and we needed to defend well and I thought against the early aerial bombardment Doncaster posseses we got that aspect of our game right today."

It was always going to be a battle. It had been the same in the foggy encounter at Dean Court back in March. This match meant a lot to AFCB though as Doncaster had snatched the title away from the Cherries with the final kick of last season.

That team spirit that engendered so much positivity to AFCB's performances last season was very much in evidence at the Keepmoat yesterday. "So far the lads have stayed together," said Eddie Howe. "And we've had that team spirit that served us so well last year."

The task of winning AFCB's first away game of the season was never going to be easy having conceded 11 goals in their last two league away games. It was a strong decision by Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall to leave Tommy Elphick on the bench when Cook, the junior member of the back line, had played so well in previous games that they decided it was not the right time to leave him out of the team. Even Elliott Ward's sorry own goal in mid-week was not a reason to drop him either.

The clean sheet was certainly a big feather in the cap for the work that Jason Tindall and Eddie Howe have been doing on the training pitches, since the earlier away games against Watford and Huddersfield. 

Neil Moss has no doubt been working with the goal keepers as well, and Ryan Allsop came out for special mention with Eddie Howe having a smile on his face. "His time wasting was strange, especially when we there was 60 minutes to go of the game and we were on top. Strange but he'll learn from that. He has all the hallmarks to be a top keeper, said Eddie Howe. "One of his saves in the first half was crucial to us winning the game."

So where are AFCB now? I said that if the team got a point at the Keepmoat that Eddie Howe would have already over achieved in the opening sequence of games in the Championship. Well he has done that and more. AFCB are sitting  in sixth with an international striker about to be welcomed into the squad. 

Now we have a two week break ahead of playing Blackpool at home who are top of the table. I am really excited about that. But in the corner of his eye, I bet Eddie has already taken a precautionary look over his shoulder at a certain team sitting just three places and one point above the Cherries in the table.