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Today's Edition for
 
    27th January 2002 
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 Rivals match reports JKLatics.com (oldhamathletic.rivals.com) Latics Blow it in Mad 3 Minutes Latics blew two points in a mad three minutes shortly after half time today as first we gave away a soft goal, then a penalty to allow the visitors to cancel out a 1-0 Latics half time lead. Latics fought back to go 3-2 ahead before yet another bit of poor defending gifted the visitors an equaliser Latics threw away 2 points this afternoon in a mad 5 minute spell which saw them first sit back on a one goal lead against a very ordinary Bournemouth side, thinking the match won, then give away a penalty. That made it 1-2 to the Cherries and it was game on as Latics chased it and Bournemouth sat back and guarded their lead. Latics hit back with a wonder goal by David Eyres but the Cherries exploited Latics defensive frailties and the match  ended all square. Latics started with the now customary one striker but Carlo looks short of fitness and for long spells in the first half he seemed to be struggling. More than once he had his hands on his knees as he fought for breath and he was a yard off the pace all afternoon. Back into the side, as Wads reshuffled came John Sheridan (left) but otherwise, the side was the same as the one which performed so well at Vale Park on Tuesday. It's a set back to Latics play off hopes, one point from 2 matches, but they remain in 8th place, still only 6 points behind 2nd placed Brighton as Reading extend their lead at the top to 9 points. Latics started the match nervously and it was clear this was not to be the display of exciting football seen in the second half against Port Vale earlier in the week, as Bournemouth sensed the nerves and swept forward. Luckily, at this point at least, the visitors looked toothless up front and for all their bluff and bluster, they failed to make much impression. Latics first chance came on 9 minutes when Chris Armstrong shot up the wing and fired in a dangerous looking low cross which Stephen Purches read beautifully and cleared before anyone got on the end of it. Latics, finally establishing some control had a chance a minute later when a John Sheridan free kick was floated in but the ref. indicated that Stuart Balmer had climbed up his man and blew for a foul. Latics were on top now and passing it around sweetly. John Sheridan was at his best as he fed the ball around in midfield and Latics could have taken the lead on 13 minutes when Sheri threaded a superb ball through for David Eyres to run onto, but the Latics man was just a yard short of the pass, courtesy of a strong wind blowing towards the Rochdale Road end. Latics were well on top now, but chances were slow in coming as the Bournemouth back line stood firm but the breakthrough came on 18 minutes courtesy of an inch perfect John Sheridan cross from the left which sailed across the face of the goal. Gareth Stewart in the Cherries goal came and missed it completely, as did he Bournemouth defence who stood ball watching  whilst an unmarked Stuart Balmer nodded the ball home at the far post. 1-0 to Latics. Latics could have extended their lead 4 minutes later when a cross from David Eyres left Dux (above right) with a lot to do with a waist high ball. He managed to get his foot over it beautifully and fired in an unstoppable volley which somehow Stewart stopped. Fantastic save as the Cherries' keeper made up for his earlier fumble to deny Latics. Similar chance for Paul Murray 5 minutes later as Carlo Corazzin knocked the ball down in the box and looped the ball towards that Latics midfielder. Again at waist height but Murray just failed to hit it with the meat of his boot and Stewart was able to save easily. It was all Latics now and the visitors showed their frustration with a string of niggly fouls, which the ref. dealt with for once, and a ridiculous lash of the ball about 30 feet over the bar from Warren Feeney. Latics next chance came on 30 minutes when a great run down the left from Chris Armstrong was followed by a great cross to the back post but Lee Duxbury's looping header was inches wide then both sides took their foot off as we cantered towards half time. Last chance of the half came seconds before the whistle as a Sheridan free kick dipped over the keeper but beat the crossbar by an inch as well. Half Time and Latics looked good value for their 1-0 lead. Kicking towards the Chaddy, we'd get a couple more wouldn't we? Course we would. What wasn't in the script was that the visitors would get 3. It was going well at the start of the second half. Until Twinnie hit a rather weird pass across the box which might have been a back pass or it might have been a rush of blood but it went for a corner. Luckily they made a hash of the corner or McNiven (left) would have been slaughtered by the boo boys. After this, Bournemouth got on top as Latics relaxed and let the visitors run at them. I had just said to Kate that I can smell a goal here if we don't sort our selves out when precisely that happened. If I can sense one coming and a few around us said the same, then why can't the players and management? All it takes is to move the defence forward a few yards and leave two more players up to receive the clearances. Ok maybe not that simple, but we had 9 men milling around in our own penalty area getting in each others ways as has happened so often before. A corner was headed clear by Stuart Balmer, but only as far as Eddie Howe, completely unmarked. The defence stood and watched as Howe picked his spot and headed the ball in unopposed to give the visitors the equaliser they deserved. Easy peasy. Then disaster. Three minutes later as a shell shocked Latics tried to regroup, Warren Feeney was put through by James Hayter. Stuart Balmer tracked him into the box, there was some contact, Feeney went down, the liner put the flag across his chest - Penalty. To be honest, I couldn't see the extent of the contact from where I was so I won't comment until I see the replay. Paul Murray found himself in the book for something he said to the ref., Feeney stepped up and lashed the penalty past Paul Rachubka. 1-2 to the visitors. That finally snapped Latics out of their collective stupor and for the next 15 minutes, we played the best football of the game. Almost from the restart, Latics were level again after some David Eyres (right) magic on the edge of the box as the Latics winger headed for goal. You could sense the panic as Bournemouth, anxious not to give Latics a penalty backed off but finally, Karl Broadhurst got his foot in but as he swept up, he swept the ball behind the off his line keeper into the empty net to level the score. Cheers Karl.  Latics pressed on and three minutes later Chris Armstrong had a shot as a throw-in was laid back to him. Stewart saved. Then Some more Eyres magic on 63 minutes saw Latics take the lead. Eyres picked up the ball near the half way line and ran at Bournemouth. Alan Smart, who had replaced Matty Appleby on 56, went with him and was timing his run screaming for Eyrsie to release the ball as he drew level with the rearguard but Eyrsie ran on. He beat one, beat two, ran on, beat three, dragged the ball to the side of four and lashed it past a bemused Stewart to score the goal of the month - no problem. Superb. No other way to describe it. Great goal from a truly class player. God how I wish he was 25. Latics needed the killer goal now, but the Cherries were having none of it. Three minutes later they were level again as the Latics centre backs were again caught ball watching. Feeney made some ground and his persistence led him to the bye line. His pull back was text book as the Latics defenders looked on impassively. Thanks very much said Richard Hughes as he lashed a daisy cutter past Rachubka as the defence spectated. This needs sorting and quick. Six goals in two games. Five conceded against Blackpool a couple of weeks ago. Four against Chesterfield. What's the answer? Baudet? Maybe. But sort it Mick please. Three clean sheets over Christmas. What's happened? Latics chased the fourth goal. A header Sheridan header back in from a clearance fell to David Eyres who blasted inches over, then it was the visitors turn as they won two corners in quick succession and had Latics pinned back again. Latics broke quick from the second one and a deflected stinger from Alan Smart fell nicely for David Eyres. he lashed the ball back and Stewart did well to save. Then Paul Rickers, (left) replacing the tiring Lee Duxbury, made a wide run and received the ball via a Shezza slide rule pass. The out of favour Latics midfield man fired in a dangerous looking low cross which managed to avoid everyone. As the match tailed off towards it's end, Carlo received the ball with his back to goal, flicked it over the defence for Alan Smart, who tried to loop it over the keeper but the ball went over. That was about it. Two dropped points, a poor display by the centre backs, a pretty good display by the wing backs and the midfield, but as so often over the past couple of years, Carlo just doesn't have the killer instinct up front. Good holding player and ball winner but striker? nah! Smart? Well, I'll reserve judgement due to his lack of match fitness, but one thing's for sure if he doesn't start firing them in soon, the crowd will be on him. Come on Smarty, Buck up.

Rednblack.net (bournemouth.rivals.net) Cherries and Oldham battle out three-all draw Strikes from Eddie Howe, Warren Feeney and Richard Hughes gave Bournemouth a 3-3 draw with Oldham at Boundary Park. Bournemouth were looking to build on an excellent performance at Queen's Park Rangers, and Hughes powered home the Cherries equaliser in the second half after twice going behind. Sean O’Driscoll handed a start to Wade Elliott with Brian Stock suspended, indicating that the Cherries boss was hoping to use the flanks a bit more than on Tuesday at Loftus Road. The formation looked the same and there were no other changes to the starting eleven, though Amos Foyewa was named in the squad for the first time after breaking his leg in August last year. James Hayter started despite being stretchered off against Rangers; he was rated as 50/50 in midweek. The teams started fairly even with no side creating any real chances. Oldham strung together a few good moves in the first ten minutes but were unable to beat the Cherries defence and launch an assault on Gareth Stewart’s goal, Paul Rachubka was also a spectator at the other end of the pitch. With around quarter of an hour on the clock, Athletic took a surprise and fortunate lead thanks to the antics of Stewart in his penalty area. The home side won a free-kick on the left wing which John Sheridan proceeded to take. The ball swung into the box and Stewart left his goal line in an attempt to claim the ball. But the ‘keeper was nowhere near the cross and he could only watch as Stuart Balmer headed the ball into an empty net at the back post. The referee made many bizarre decisions during the game, and his inconsistency when blowing the whistle frustrated the away fans who often saw their team on the receiving end of some nasty and unpunished challenges. Karl Broadhurst was booked for a tough challenge on David Eyres which left the player grounded and few could argue with the punishment. But some equally bad tackles, some even possibly worse, were ignored by Paul Danson. Bournemouth followers were nervous whenever the ball came close to the Cherries area as Stewart has been less than reliable recently. Luckily, he still has a great ability to stop shots and made up for the poor decision making leading up to Oldham’s first goal with a great save from Lee Duxbury. A cross from the left evaded everyone in the penalty area and Scott McNiven was forced to stop the ball going behind at the back post. He played the ball back across goal to Duxbury who saw his drive from the penalty area punched over the crossbar. It looked as though Oldham had done their homework on their opponents and were supplying many dangerous crosses, which Bournemouth found hard to defend. Eddie Howe was forced to throw his body in front of a Paul Murray volley after the Latics man connected with a Carlo Corrazin ball. Oldham looked happy too sit back and hold onto their lead, and striker Warren Feeney was rarely released for a run at goal by the Cherries midfield. Bournemouth went in at half time a goal behind and it was obvious that they would have to change their approach to create some chances for a leveller. HALF TIME: OLDHAM ATHELTIC 1-1 AFC BOURNEMOUTH Bournemouth made a change at half time, with Garreth O’Connor replacing Wade Elliott on the right hand side. Elliott didn’t appear to take a knock in the first half and was never in any obvious discomfort, so the substitution was probably for tactical reasons. A stroke of luck gave the Cherries an equaliser soon after the restart, the kind of luck needed to bring the side back into the match. James Hayter’s corner from the right saw Eddie Howe leap above the defence and get his head to the ball. The effort looked to be going wide, but it struck the inside of Matty Appleby’s leg and crept inside the post, though Howe gladly took the praise for the goal. The player’s heads rose and they continued to push forward promisingly, it didn’t take long for the second to go in. Warren Feeney was left to chase onto a ball over the top and when it looked like he had beaten Stuart Balmer for pace to test Paul Rachubka, the defender pulled him down to the ground. The referee took a moment to make his decision, at a time he seemed like he would let play continue, but he pointed to the spot to give Bournemouth the perfect chance to go ahead. With Wade Elliott watching from the sidelines, Feeney once again took up the role of the penalty taker and smashed the shot to the ‘keeper’s right for his third goal in as many games. It only took Oldham a few moments to pull the tie level again, but they were also lucky to find the net. A ball came across the edge of the Boscombe area, Karl Broadhurst stuck his leg out and Stewart was unable to anticipate that the defender would knock the ball to his left and watch it trickle over the line. You got the feeling that you hadn’t seen the last of the goals, and with Amos Foyewa on the bench there was always the option to boost the attack and go in search of an equaliser. But plans for Bournemouth to go in search of their first win since November 17th were ruined when David Eyres took advantage of poor defending. Eyres spotted a few gaps in the Cherries backline and ran straight down the middle towards goal. He avoided a few challenges and played a powerful shot over Stewart and into the goal in front of the home fans. Although Feeney is often only classed as a striker, the amount of work he does on the right wing and the quality of it makes him very versatile and a valuable asset. It was once again some tricky play on the flank that let to a goal for the side. Feeney got away from his markers and played the ball forward to Derek Holmes who looked to have squandered the opportunity on the by-line with the ball stuck under his feet. Feeney charged into the area in search of a return ball, but the pass ran away from him and it looked as though Oldham would clear the danger. With all eyes on the ball, nobody noticed Richard Hughes running into the box and he drove the ball back at goal and past the goalkeeper and his defenders to once again pull Bournemouth level. At that point the sides were very careful not to let another goal slip, therefore there were less chances created. Oldham did dominate possession and there were gasps every time they managed to get into the Cherries area as Stewart is no longer trusted by many to deal with crosses. You got the impression that Sean O’Driscoll was playing for a draw when he brought the fourth centre back into the side. Shaun Maher replaced Stephen Purches and Foyewa was still to be used despite warming up on his own to the away fans left. Warren Feeney also departed in place of Danny Smith in stoppage time, and Bournemouth rarely managed to leave their half in the closing stages. Chris Armstrong struck wide from the edge of the area for the last real chance of the game, and Bournemouth left Boundary Park with a point and the pride of a good performance. But what was worrying was Sean O’Driscoll’s lack of will to go in search of a win. The Cherries must pick up as many points as possible now they are so close to the relegation zone, especially against smaller teams like Oldham, and going forward in search of three points is worth the risk during these times. Bournemouth aren’t going to stay up on draws and I see it as ridiculous to have four or five centre backs on the field at one time. There are still some very hard games to come including visits to Reading, Tranmere and Brentford, so Bournemouth must take as many points as possible. 

 Official Oldham Athletic Web Site (www.oldhamathletic.co.uk)Content from the Oldham Athletic Web Site is used with permission of Oldham Athletic Football Club The Latics were looking to bounce back from their disappointing defeat at Port Vale in the week.  Carlo Corazzin who had scored in the last two games was selected ahead of Eyre and Smart, who both had a place on the bench.  Bournemouth arrived at Boundary Park without a win in eleven games, if the Latics are going to be serious promotion contenders, they need three points today. Chris Armstrong provided the first real threat to the visitors goal when he left the full back for dead on the left wing and his cross flashed across the box.  A David Eyres' corner from the right caused panic in the Cherries net but they managed to clear their lines.  John Sheridan threaded a neat pass through to Eyres but it just carried safely to the keeper, it had been a quiet start to the game. It was from another classy John Sheridan free-kick that the Latics opened the scoring.  The ball drifted over the head of the visitors keeper, Stewart and there was Stuart Balmer to head into an empty net to give Latics the lead.  Broadhurst was then booked for a hefty challenge on David Eyres.  Good work on the right by McNiven set up Corazzin, but Stewart made a fine save to deny Carlo his third goal in three games. Corazzin then turned provider when he set up Murray in the area, but his volley was blocked by a posse of defenders.  Armstrong and Eyres combined well on the left and it was Armstrong's cross that reached Duxbury who should have given the Latics their second goal of the afternoon.  His header just flashed wide of the far post to let Bournemouth of the hook. Rachubka then set the hearts racing after he turned two forwards and played a pass to Beharall.  Right on half time John Sheridan let fire from 30 yards with a fierce free-kick, which just went over the bar.  The Latics forced a few corners before half time, but they failed to add to their lead.  It was a steady performance by the Latics, Bournemouth had never threatened Rachubka's goal. HALF TIME
Oldham 1 Bournemouth 0 Bournemouth made a substitution when O'Connor replaced Wade Elliott.  It was Bournemouth who equalised as the Latics failed to deal with a corner on the right.  Eddie Howe rose highest to meet Hayter's corner and the ball found it's way into the net via a deflection. Then Bournemouth were awarded a penalty after a Balmer had brought Feeney down inside the box.  Feeney picked himself up a fired the ball past Rachubka from the spot.  Then the Latics went up the other end and forced an equaliser in bizarre circumstances.  Eyres persistence on the edge of the box forced Broadhurst to turn the ball past Stewart and in off the post for the Latics leveller.  A game that had been quite mediocre in the first half had come to life in dramatic circumstances. Allan Smart replaced Matty Appleby, the on-loan man had not really been in the game.  Chris Armstrong found himself free in the box from a throw in, but his shot never really tested the keeper.  David Eyres then fired the goal of the game in an amazing ten minutes here at Boundary Park.  His run started in his own half and he beat three Cherries defenders, before firing past Stewart from the edge of the box to put the Latics back in front. Eyres and Armstrong did well again on the left and Armstrong's cross was met by the keeper with others waiting for a better ball, it was encouraging play though.  However, the Cherries were level when Feeney did well on the right and pulled the ball back for Hughes to fire home from ten yards, giving Rachubka no chance. The Latics then went back at Bournemouth in search of a fourth goal.  Eyres could have grabbed his second when a ball was knocked back across the box, but Corazzin seemed to get in his way and the shot went into the 'Chaddy End'.  Corazzin redeemed himself at the other end when he got in the way of a header that looked destined to go in, the Latics defence was all over the place. Hayter was booked for a rough challenge on Eyres.  Eyres produced another fine effort from outside the box, which the keeper did well to hang onto.  Smart had created the opportunity after his shot had been charged down.  Paul Rickers then came on for the skipper Lee Duxbury.  Rickers nearly produced a goal with his first touch, crossing in at the near post for Corazzin, who was just beaten to the ball by a Cherries defender. Smart was unlucky not to chip the keeper after Corazzin had knocked on an Armstrong through ball as the Latics searched for the winner.  Armstrong delivered another cracking cross from the left, which was crying out for a Latics head as it was headed clear.  Sheridan and Murray did well and from Murray's cross, Corazzin tried to head at goal, but his effort was blocked as the Cherries were hanging on for a point. Armstrong nearly found the winner when he fired just wide after McNiven's cross had been headed out to the edge of the box, it was a fierce strike that deserved better. Eyres forced a corner after his shot went through the legs of a defender.  Eyres' final shot from outside the box found its way through the defence and straight into the arms of the keeper, with it went the Latics chance of a winner. A disappointing result for the Latics, they had the points in the bag at half time but shocking defending had let Bournemouth into the game.  The visitors had not looked like scoring in the first half, yet had scored three times so quickly in the second half.  Another couple of points thrown away, how many more points can the Latics throw away? Defensive Errors

After the 3-3 draw against Bournemouth at Boundary Park, Mick Wadsworth spoke about the defensive errors, which cost the Latics dear. It was a great game for the neutral, but what did you think?
No, it was disappointing really to score three goals at home and not win, we scored two goals the other night and got nothing.  I have to look at our defensive play, which looked so good over the Christmas period with clean sheets.  I think we've played poorly in the centre of defence for the last few games, we have to look at that.  I am not sure about the penalty but we should have got to the ball quicker than we did.  The defending for the third goal was very poor and Beharall dived in, which is a very basic error.  There were lots of positives though, we scored three goals and dominated the play. We dominated the first half but only went in at 1-0, what did you think about that?
It's an issue, we have to develop a ruthless streak.  We have the ability to out play a lot of teams in this league and that has been proven since we've been here.  We know that we will not dominate the game for 90 minutes but we did dominate the first half and Duxbury had a great chance to score.  I think we need to develop that ruthless streak that kills team off. At 3-2 we should have killed the game, that is something we must learn. We fought back from 2-1 down though and that showed character?
We chased the ball down and got a break, then Eyres scored a great goal.  We got out of the sticky situation and got in a rosy position but then let them back in.  There is a lot of issues that we need to talk about and that's something we will do.  We haven't lost and that is important, I know we should win our home games but we have played Ok and that is what I can take from the game. Any injuries to the team?
Matty Appleby had been suffering from a virus since Tuesday, he had a great game on Tuesday night and he was a shadow of himself this afternoon. He trained on Friday but he ran out of steam so we had to take him off early in the second half.  Smarty will have a week to get fitter and Reevesie will be a week nearer to fitness. 

 Official Bournemouth web site (www.afcb.co.uk) Goals from Eddie Howe, Warren Feeney and Richard Hughes brought Cherries a share of the spoils at Boundary Park today after a thrilling second half. Stuart Balmer’s header had put the home side ahead at the break, before Bournemouth took the lead through a Howe header and Feeney’s penalty. They soon found themselves behind again, after a Karl Broadhurst own goal and a solo effort from David Eyres, but Hughes got the all-important equaliser. The suspension of Brian Stock allowed Wade Elliott to come back into the side after he was left out in the midweek draw at QPR. Elliott’s place on the bench was taken by Amos Foyewa, in the matchday squad for the first time since breaking his leg on his full league debut at Cardiff in August. James Hayter passed a late fitness test on his hip injury to start. The early exchanges were uneventful, as the two sides battled in midfield and there was not even a decent half-chance at either end. Then the opener was scored by the home team from a free-kick on 18 minutes, despite Sean O’Driscoll’s annoyance at QPR’s goal from a set-piece on Tuesday. With Cherries unprepared, John Sheridan’s ball in from the left was headed home by Balmer and Oldham had the lead. Lee Duxbury volleyed over five minutes later, and Paul Murray had a similar effort from a Carlo Corazzin cross on 25 minutes but Jason Tindall blocked. Hayter had Bournemouth’s first attempt just a minute later, but it was an ambitious long-range drive which went wide. Then Duxbury missed a good chance when he headed a Chris Armstrong cross just past the post. Just before half-time the Latics had a free-kick in a similar position to the one which produced their goal, but on the right flank. Sheridan deceived the defence who were waiting for another cross by going for an audacious shot which went over. Garreth O’Connor replaced Elliott at half-time and Bournemouth came out with a steely resolve. Feeney hit wide from distance just seconds after the re-start, and Cherries had an equaliser on 52 minutes through captain Howe. A Hayter corner flew into the danger area and Howe’s header was deflected in. That was the first of three goals in four minutes, as two minutes after the leveller Feeney won a penalty when Balmer brought him down. Feeney himself took it, and blasted a shot into the roof of the net to put Bournemouth ahead. However, a bizarre own goal by Broadhurst on 56 minutes brought Oldham back on terms. The defender attempted to pass back to his keeper but he over hit it and Gareth Stewart had no chance. Three minutes later Stewart caught a shot from Armstrong, but he could do nothing about David Eyres’ individual goal in the 63rd minute. Eyres went on a run before he unleashed a shot across goal into the top right corner from 30 yards. Cherries refused to let their heads drop though, and the game took another twist on 66 minutes when Hughes made it 3-3. Feeney beat Armstrong on the wing and found Derek Holmes in the box. The Scottish striker then laid it off for Hughes to drill in his second goal of the season. Eyres nearly had his second of the day four minutes later, but he volleyed wide when well-placed in the area. Then Eyres did manage to test Stewart with a decent attempt from outside the box. Holmes tried his luck a minute from the end of normal time with a strike wide, and Armstrong did the same at the other end. Then Eyres curled over the bar in injury-time, and brought a quite comfortable save from Stewart with virtually the last kick of the game. Despite the positive nature of an away draw against one of the promotion hopefuls, this result extends the Cherries’ winless run to 12 games in all competitions, 11 in the league. They will need to beat either Stoke, Cardiff or Brentford to avoid equalling an unwanted club league record. O’Driscoll will be more concerned with just securing Second Division safety, and although Bournemouth are still in 19th place, they have extended the gap between themselves and the relegation zone to four points. Hughes: We are on the right lines

Bournemouth midfielder Richard Hughes scored the equaliser in today’s 3-3 draw against promotion-chasing Oldham Athletic, and believes that the result could be the spur the team need to pull away from trouble. Speaking to afcb.co.uk, he expressed his satisfaction with the performance that gave the team a hard-fought draw. “It would always be difficult to go there, a team who are pushing for promotion and it was a good result in which we played very well,” he said. Hughes was pleased with the team’s resilience and spirit, which saw the Cherries take a share of the points. “We showed great character and determination. Coming from behind twice and scoring one of the equalisers was obviously a good feeling.” The 22-year-old emphasised that the Cherries need to regain their killer instinct and end their run of 12 games without a win. “We need to score one goal more than our opponents – it is as simple as that. We scored three goals away from home at Blackpool and now Oldham and only got a point from them.” He continued: “We have scored nine goals in four games, so it is a question of combining the two of them at the moment which we aren’t doing.” The midfielder is pleased with the last two Cherries’ performances after a recent slump in form, and is confident that more hard work will help Bournemouth pull away from the relegation zone. “It’s a question of just digging deep because a change won’t happen overnight. Since Huddersfield, we have shown great character against QPR and here today, we have shown we are on the right lines now.” Hughes said that the team must concentrate on getting three valuable points starting with the daunting match against Stoke City next Saturday. “It doesn’t come much harder than Stoke next Saturday but our focus is on three points.” The midfielder reacted to the statement this week from boss Sean O’Driscoll that Bournemouth need 8 wins to secure their 52-point target. “We said a couple of days ago eight wins was our aim but the last couple of games we have had good draws, so maybe only seven. We have to be realistic as a team and start picking up some wins.” Hughes is optimistic that his controversial red card, against QPR on Tuesday night, will be rescinded allowing him to help the Cherries in their battle for vital points. “I am hopeful. I spoke to the manager who has seen it on TV and he has had no change of feeling. At the time I thought it was a fair tackle and I am disappointed by the decision. It will mean I will be suspended for the Cardiff game and I think I have been harshly done by.”  The Cherries now lie four points and two places above the relegation zone with 30 points and are hoping that the visit of a strong Potters' side next Saturday will give the team their first victory since the Worksop cup tie back in November.

 Sporting Life Saturday review (www.sportinglife.com) READING RAMPANT AT THE TOP

Reading moved nine points clear at the top of Nationwide Division Two as they chalked up their seventh consecutive victory and clean sheet with a 3-0 win over Colchester at the Madejski Stadium. The Royals have now not conceded a goal in 630 minutes of football and never looked back this afternoon following Nicky Forster's penalty seven minutes before half-time. Andy Hughes made it 2-0 three minutes after the restart before Forster grabbed his 14th of the season on 69 minutes to extend Reading's unbeaten run to nine matches.

Stoke missed the chance to go second when they were held to a 2-2 draw by battling Wigan at the Britannia Stadium. Scott Green (20) put the visitors ahead and although Marc Goodfellow (37) equalised, Wigan were in front again when Tony Dinning pounced on the stroke of half-time. Although Icelander Rikki Dadason (67) got Stoke back on level terms from the spot with just over 20 minutes left, Gudjon Thordarson's men could not find a winner and remain fourth.

Huddersfield are up into the top six after Andy Booth's goal on 37 minutes proved enough to give the Terriers a 1-0 win over fellow play-off chasers Queens Park Rangers in a noon kick-off at the McAlpine Stadium.

Wrexham remain second bottom after throwing away a two-goal lead at the Racecourse Ground to draw 2-2 with Swindon. The Dragons looked in control when Brian Carey's strike with 17 minutes left gave them a 2-0 cushion following Craig Faulconbridge's strike after half an hour. But Guiliano Grazioli grabbed his seventh of the season a minute later to set up a grandstand finish, with veteran defender Alan Reeves popping up in the final minute to grab a share of the spoils.

Notts County stay in the relegation zone after going down 3-0 at Wycombe. Youngster Roger Johnson gave Wanderers the lead in the 22nd minute, with Jermaine McSporran (72) and Dannie Bulman (90) completing the job late in the second half.

Bury boosted their survival hopes with a 1-0 win over Blackpool, Gareth Seddon's strike on eight minutes proving enough to take all three points at Bloomfield Road.

Oldham and Bournemouth played out a six-goal rollercoaster encounter at Boundary Park, with the 3-3 result ultimately doing neither side much good in their respective battles at opposite ends of the table. Former leaders Oldham went ahead after 18 minutes through Stuart Balmer, before the match burst into life with a goal flurry just after the restart. Eddie Howe (53) drew the Cherries level and Warren Feeney put them ahead from the spot three minutes later. However, their joy was short-lived as Karl Broadhurst immediately put through his own net to make it 2-2. Leading scorer David Eyres (63) bagged his 11th of the season to put the Latics back in front, but Richard Hughes took just three minutes to pull relegation-threatened Bournemouth level again and earn them a point.

Promotion-chasing Bristol City's game at Chesterfield was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch, as was Port Vale's trip to bottom club Cambridge.
Team P Home Away Pts Goal
Diff
W D L F A W D L F A
Reading  30 10 2 4 27 13 9 2 3 20 11 61 23
Brighton  28 9 2 1 24 11 5 8 3 16 19 52 10
Bristol City  29 8 3 3 23 14 7 3 5 23 17 51 15
Stoke  29 9 4 2 26 10 5 5 4 16 17 51 15
Brentford  29 10 3 1 35 9 4 3 8 17 23 48 20
Huddersfield  29 9 4 3 25 15 4 5 4 18 16 48 12
QPR  30 7 6 2 26 14 6 2 7 17 19 47 10
Oldham  30 9 4 2 31 13 3 6 6 22 27 46 13
Tranmere  27 8 5 2 32 13 5 2 5 15 21 46 13
Cardiff  28 6 6 3 24 19 5 5 3 17 13 44 9
Wycombe  28 9 4 1 28 11 2 5 7 13 24 42 6
Colchester  30 8 2 4 25 17 3 4 9 21 33 39 -4
Port Vale  30 8 3 4 26 17 3 3 9 12 26 39 -5
Wigan  30 4 5 6 21 18 5 6 4 21 19 38 5
Swindon  29 6 4 4 16 15 3 5 7 15 24 36 -8
Peterborough  27 7 2 3 27 12 3 3 9 10 22 35 3
Chesterfield  27 6 1 7 25 24 3 6 4 12 14 34 -1
Blackpool  29 5 7 3 21 20 3 3 8 15 28 34 -12
Bournemouth  29 6 2 5 19 16 1 7 8 16 29 30 -10
Bury  29 4 4 6 14 17 4 2 9 13 29 30 -19
Notts County  29 3 5 5 16 19 3 3 10 19 31 26 -15
Northampton  28 4 2 9 13 24 3 1 9 15 27 24 -23
Wrexham  30 4 5 7 18 25 2 1 11 15 39 24 -31
Cambridge Utd  28 5 6 4 19 21 0 1 12 9 33 22 -26
 

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