Scott Parker admits “pressure was always there” to get promoted as his Cherries’ side look to continue their push for a top two spot against Blackpool on Saturday.
Scott Parker admits “pressure was always there” to get promoted as his Cherries’ side look to continue their push for a top two spot against Blackpool on Saturday.
The Cherries brought in seven new faces in January - five which joined on deadline day - to help bolster their squad with the race to the Premier League now entering its final stages.
But when asked after the 3-1 win over Birmingham whether there was any added pressure to get promoted having made so many signings, Parker said: “Not really - I've said before that that pressure was always there at the start of the season and the pressure was there when I had seven players on the bench that had a combination of appearances I think of two,
“I had four kids in the team that were from a category three academy and we were winning games and instantly that pressure was their to get promoted.The pressures not changed,”
Prior to wins against Brimgham and Barnsley, the Cherries league form had faltered with a string of inconsistent results that saw the club lose five of their previous 10 games with just two wins.
Parker admitted the team had not been at its best but rather than any pressure being put on the Dorset club the new additions have come in at a time when the squad needed revitalising.
He added: “I've come here and put pressure on myself to get promoted so what it has done is give us a little bit of depth, a little bit more quality in certain moments when this team were stuttering a little bit.
“I think it is fair to say, which happens with a young team and young players.
“It probably just gives us a bit of a lift and a bit of support which we probably needed.”
Saturday’s opposition are themselves in with a chance of reaching the playoffs, sitting just five points adrift of Nottingham Forest who occupy the final playoff spot with 46 points.
Blackpool are undefeated in five including a 1-1 draw with free scoring Fulham and three wins over Hull, Millwall and Bristol City respectively.
Experienced striker Gary Madine has been one of the reasons for The Tangerines’ recent good form having scored three times in the last five games and with top scorer Shane Lavery potentially set to miss the tie through injury, Madine’s form could be key for the Lancashire club.
In terms of team news for Bournemouth, Jefferson Lerma will miss the trip to Bloomfiled Road through suspension. The Colombian was sent off in Wednesday's win over Birmingham for a second-half lung on Onel Hernandez.
Ryan Christie could also miss the game after being forced off with a quad issue in the win over Birmingham, but Parker was “hopeful” the injury may not be too serious and with Jamal, Lowe, Jaidon Anthony and now Siriki Dembele all available the Scotland international may not be risked with games against Forest, Swansea and Stoke all still to come before the end of the month.
The game kicks off at 3pm.