Cherries: Bradbury happy with wing men selection dilemma (From Thisisdorset)

Cherries: Bradbury happy with wing men selection dilemma

7:00am Friday 10th February 2012 in Sport By Ian Wadley

Cherries boss Lee Bradbury has welcomed the selection dilemma caused by the performances of wing kings Scott Malone and Donal McDermott.

Malone and McDermott are both battling for a starting place on the flanks ahead of tomorrow’s League One clash at Hartlepool United (3pm).

New signing McDermott got the nod to face Exeter on Tuesday and featured for 68 minutes on his first appearance following a deadline-day transfer from Huddersfield Town.

He was replaced by fit-again Malone and the substitute made a major impact from the bench – setting up Matt Tubbs before getting on the scoresheet himself in an explosive second-half display.

Bradbury is now likely to choose between the duo – and regular wide man Marc Pugh – when he selects his wingers to take on Hartlepool.

The Cherries manager told the Daily Echo: “Competition for places and strength in depth brings out the best in people.

“That was probably why Scott went on and made such an impact on Tuesday night – because he knew he had to to be involved. He knew he had to go on and make an impact and he certainly did that – making one goal and scoring one.

“He has given me a problem now, which is great.”

Discussing McDermott, Bradbury said: “He did well and looked a threat going forward, coming in on his left foot and linking play.

“The full-back didn’t know whether or not to go into the hole and mark him and, if he did, Simon Francis went round the outside of him.

“I thought both partnerships – left-back and left midfield and right-back and right midfield – worked very well on Tuesday and caused a lot of problems.

“It has given me a headache but I will take that.”

Cherries will be hoping to gain revenge for the 2-1 home defeat they suffered against Hartlepool on September 24.

That win lifted Hartlepool to third position and left Cherries down in 18th. Since then, Cherries have strengthened their squad and launched a play-off charge, while Pools find themselves in mid-table.

Bradbury added: “We are a different team now and a different squad. Hopefully, we can prove that.”

Hartlepool: (from) Flinders, Austin, Horwood, Haslam, Collins, Hartley, Sweeney, Murray, Baldwin, Monkhouse, Liddle, James, Brown, Nish, Rafferty, Humphreys.

Cherries: (from) Flahavan, Francis, Cook, Zubar, Daniels, McDermott, Gregory, MacDonald, Pugh, W Thomas, Tubbs, Purches, Fletcher, Arter, Malone, Fogden, Cummings, Stockley, D Thomas.

• Cherries striker Lyle Taylor has joined Hereford United on a one-month loan, as predicted in yesterday’s Daily Echo.