Pugh is back with a bang!

There are few more popular faces around Dean Court than Marc Pugh. He is the essence of all that is good about AFCB in that he tries hard, works even harder and deserves all the good things that come his way. On Tuesday night he could have just been grateful to have played a part in a team win, but he not only showed how thrilled he was to get the winning goal, I think he would still be doing interviews now about the game if he felt it would help his team get a few more points. I listened to him comment on BBC Radio Solent and then much later on TalkSport, while I am sure he probably spoke to a few more eager interviewers besides. 

It is a peculiar season. One minutes I am thinking the team are lacking a few regular faces on the pitch and then in the next game you find some one like Marc Pugh making a return. It happened for Ryan Fraser, who we had not seen for a while, and then Benik Afobe started to grab some goals, too. So when Pugh also steps in to help the team to three points, we can say the familiar faces are perhaps lifting the dressing room not only because they have not had much game time and are fresh, but they really know they can contribute in a positive way.

Marc Pugh and Jack Wilshere at the end of the win against Leicester City.

Marc Pugh has always been able to score important goals and that is why I was not at all worried to see him starting against the Champions last night. I like his defensive qualities as well as his sharp shooting and let's face it, the side needed to find a bit of metal after what had been witnessed up at Turf Moor. His calmness at both ends of the pitch is something that not all AFCB's players have. AFCB needed to be patient against Leicester, even if I admit I was starting to hope they would step up their slow build ups in the first half. Still it was a good call by Eddie to let Marc help set the tone for such a game.

Pugh finds the target.

I'm also pleased that Eddie Howe is bringing players back into the front line and it was interesting to see Max Gradel running up and down the line again. Does he look set to make an appearance against Southampton? There are lots of games coming up and if the players that come back continue to see that they can win a place in the team, it bodes well for AFCB.

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Something tells me that Marc Pugh is looking forward to Sunday and the visit of Southampton. He's given himself every possibility that he could to start that game after what he achieved against Leicester.