Cherries: Tommy spurred on by early-season dark days

7:00am Thursday 10th January 2013 in Latest Sport Photograph of the Author By Neil Perrett

STAND-IN SKIPPER: Defender Tommy Elphick STAND-IN SKIPPER: Defender Tommy Elphick

LINCHPIN defender Tommy Elphick has revealed how reminders of the early-season dark days have been helping to keep Cherries grounded during their 17-match unbeaten run.

Elphick, who has been short-listed for the League One player of the month for December, has played every minute of every game since Eddie Howe returned as manager in October.

The 25-year-old has been captaining Cherries in the absence of injured Miles Addison and has grown in stature after experiencing an indifferent start to his career at Dean Court.

Elphick, a summer signing from Brighton, featured under former boss Paul Groves as Cherries slipped into the relegation zone after winning just one of their opening 11 games. The poor start included a 4-0 drubbing by Saturday’s opponents Swindon and a 3-1 defeat at Crawley – a result which saw Groves and assistant Shaun Brooks relieved of their respective posts.

Elphick told the Daily Echo: “A lot of our motivation for the Crawley game last month came from what happened at their place in October. When we went there, it was probably the lowest point in our season and a lot of our inspiration has come from it.

“The manager showed us a clip of when we were walking off the pitch and it refreshed our memories of that night. It acted as a wake-up call to stay on our toes and keep doing what we are doing.

“When you are on a good run, it is easily forgotten how quickly things can turn. It is important we all stay grounded and continue the hard work because we don’t want to go there again.

“Sometimes, if you get a good result against a Premier League club, it can go the other way and people can start resting on their laurels. But the attitude has been brilliant in training this week and the lads will be well prepared for Saturday.”

Elphick, in common with the rest of his team-mates, had a torrid time at the County Ground as Swindon ran riot, with calls for Groves’s head deafening from the travelling supporters.

“We had a lot of injuries and the team was thrown together but there were still no excuses for the way we performed,” said Elphick. “We still had enough quality and enough good players on the pitch. I remember everybody was really disheartened at that stage of the season and it wasn’t looking good.

“But we have managed to turn it round. We have got to keep reminding ourselves of those feelings to ensure we stay where we are.

“The gaffer is a good man-manager and has all sorts of tricks up his sleeve. I have been very impressed with some of things he has presented to us before games and they seem to work. I don’t know what he will do for Saturday but I am sure he will have something to remind us that we keep need to going in the right direction.

“Little things like that help to bring the lads together and it is common ground for the lads who played in those games. It is not a nice feeling and we don’t want to be on the receiving end of results like that again.”

Meanwhile, Eddie Howe has been nominated for the League One manager-of-the-month award for December. Howe, who won the November prize, has been shortlisted with Uwe Rosler (Brentford) and Mark Robins (Coventry City).

Comments(16)

merley girl says...
8:39am Thu 10 Jan 13

I remember that awful day at Swindon well - never felt so bad with the cherries as I did that day - I'm sure all the lads will be up to avenge that result and it is truly a 6 pointer. Come on you reds!!!!!

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TedMacsCherryPants says...
8:52am Thu 10 Jan 13

Well said Tommy lets stick it up 'em on Saturday!!!!

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Wilkie says...
8:53am Thu 10 Jan 13

“We had a lot of injuries and the team was thrown together but there were still no excuses for the way we performed,”

What he really wanted to say was:

'the team was thrown together by a manager who couldn't organise a drunken party in a brewery...."

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redster says...
9:23am Thu 10 Jan 13

Shouldn't beat yourself up to much Tommy we have seen what a good player you are since those dark days.
It was just the leadership or lack of it.Lions led by Donkeys etc.
We now have a real toughey on Saturday but the fans are 100 percent behind the team,revenge can be so sweet.

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Deejaycee says...
9:37am Thu 10 Jan 13

Wilkie wrote:
“We had a lot of injuries and the team was thrown together but there were still no excuses for the way we performed,”

What he really wanted to say was:

'the team was thrown together by a manager who couldn't organise a drunken party in a brewery...."
That may be so. But as the saying goes, "there's more than one way to skin a cat".
Making comments like that would not serve any purpose, and certainly wouldn't be in his best interest.

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Fred Luton says...
10:59am Thu 10 Jan 13

At least the players/staff/manage
ment didnt waste their hard earned money paying to watch that rubbish earlier in the season.
Mitchell - also note - any of us on here who have some football knowledge knew and saideven before he signed that Groves would be no good. So in future listen to us who know more than you.

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We are PANTS says...
1:50pm Thu 10 Jan 13

"Elphick, in common with the rest of his team-mates, had a torrid time at the County Ground as Swindon ran riot, with calls for Groves’s head deafening from the travelling supporters".

All 800 of them!!! We were expecting 2000+ for a "local Derby" We sold the 1360 tickets for Saturday 2 weeks ago. Along with all the others that have tickets in the home end i'm sure we ar in for a great atmosphere Saturday.

As for your unbeaten record, only 51 hours until it's history!!!

Remember this, your fantastic manager was in charge of "Championship" Burnley a few months ago who ame to Swindon and got hammerd!!! Enjoy......

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STEADY EDDIE 1 for the road says...
3:37pm Thu 10 Jan 13

We are PANTS wrote:
"Elphick, in common with the rest of his team-mates, had a torrid time at the County Ground as Swindon ran riot, with calls for Groves’s head deafening from the travelling supporters".

All 800 of them!!! We were expecting 2000+ for a "local Derby" We sold the 1360 tickets for Saturday 2 weeks ago. Along with all the others that have tickets in the home end i'm sure we ar in for a great atmosphere Saturday.

As for your unbeaten record, only 51 hours until it's history!!!

Remember this, your fantastic manager was in charge of "Championship" Burnley a few months ago who ame to Swindon and got hammerd!!! Enjoy......
Yep and of course all the Swindon sections were full that day as well weren't they.????. Dont talk crap mate, there will be no gypos in the home areas firstly you aint that brave & secondly you wouldn,t have got round the data-base system. Do you think we are worried or summit.????. Suggest you go look at your record at DC, very poor. Enjoy ur day out at the seaside but give it a rest about how huge you are. THE BIGGER THEY ARE THE HARDER THEY FALL.!!!!!!!!!!. Enjoy

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AFCB_Lanky says...
5:52pm Thu 10 Jan 13

We are PANTS wrote:
"Elphick, in common with the rest of his team-mates, had a torrid time at the County Ground as Swindon ran riot, with calls for Groves’s head deafening from the travelling supporters".

All 800 of them!!! We were expecting 2000+ for a "local Derby" We sold the 1360 tickets for Saturday 2 weeks ago. Along with all the others that have tickets in the home end i'm sure we ar in for a great atmosphere Saturday.

As for your unbeaten record, only 51 hours until it's history!!!

Remember this, your fantastic manager was in charge of "Championship" Burnley a few months ago who ame to Swindon and got hammerd!!! Enjoy......
Yeah of course our 17 match unbeaten run will be history, it will be 18 by then

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pehf1rules says...
6:34pm Thu 10 Jan 13

And they were dark days indeed !!!!!! lol

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swindonbob says...
6:43pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Swindon are now in the habit of brushing teams aside. Should be a classic.

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scottie190 says...
7:36pm Thu 10 Jan 13

We have found our mojo again so it should be one hell of a match. We certainly owe them one and sincerely hope that we can shut up De Canio do not want to see him charging up and down the touchline. Just hope that we have a good strong referee UTCID

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canfordcherry says...
9:36pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Don't know about the first goal time, maybe it should be the minute De Cannotio gets sent to the stands for whining.

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TedMacsCherryPants says...
9:41pm Thu 10 Jan 13

We are PANTS wrote:
"Elphick, in common with the rest of his team-mates, had a torrid time at the County Ground as Swindon ran riot, with calls for Groves’s head deafening from the travelling supporters".

All 800 of them!!! We were expecting 2000+ for a "local Derby" We sold the 1360 tickets for Saturday 2 weeks ago. Along with all the others that have tickets in the home end i'm sure we ar in for a great atmosphere Saturday.

As for your unbeaten record, only 51 hours until it's history!!!

Remember this, your fantastic manager was in charge of "Championship" Burnley a few months ago who ame to Swindon and got hammerd!!! Enjoy......
No worries I'm sure we'll be able to tell if you're in the home stands as I hear soap is a rare commodity in Swindon!!!

3 more points please Cherries let the unbeaten juggernaut roll over the big-shot pikeys!!
UTC!

Report this post »

TedMacsCherryPants says...
9:41pm Thu 10 Jan 13

We are PANTS wrote:
"Elphick, in common with the rest of his team-mates, had a torrid time at the County Ground as Swindon ran riot, with calls for Groves’s head deafening from the travelling supporters".

All 800 of them!!! We were expecting 2000+ for a "local Derby" We sold the 1360 tickets for Saturday 2 weeks ago. Along with all the others that have tickets in the home end i'm sure we ar in for a great atmosphere Saturday.

As for your unbeaten record, only 51 hours until it's history!!!

Remember this, your fantastic manager was in charge of "Championship" Burnley a few months ago who ame to Swindon and got hammerd!!! Enjoy......
No worries I'm sure we'll be able to tell if you're in the home stands as I hear soap is a rare commodity in Swindon!!!

3 more points please Cherries let the unbeaten juggernaut roll over the big-shot pikeys!!
UTC!

Report this post »

TedMacsCherryPants says...
9:41pm Thu 10 Jan 13

We are PANTS wrote:
"Elphick, in common with the rest of his team-mates, had a torrid time at the County Ground as Swindon ran riot, with calls for Groves’s head deafening from the travelling supporters".

All 800 of them!!! We were expecting 2000+ for a "local Derby" We sold the 1360 tickets for Saturday 2 weeks ago. Along with all the others that have tickets in the home end i'm sure we ar in for a great atmosphere Saturday.

As for your unbeaten record, only 51 hours until it's history!!!

Remember this, your fantastic manager was in charge of "Championship" Burnley a few months ago who ame to Swindon and got hammerd!!! Enjoy......
No worries I'm sure we'll be able to tell if you're in the home stands as I hear soap is a rare commodity in Swindon!!!

3 more points please Cherries let the unbeaten juggernaut roll over the big-shot pikeys!!
UTC!

Report this post »

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