Bournemouth

Cherries suffer Moss injury blow
Bournemouth are awaiting news of goalkeeper Neil Moss, who suffered an ankle ligament injury in Tuesday's 2-2 reserve draw at Bristol City. He was forced off after 20 minutes and replaced by youth trainee James Rae. Assistant boss Richard O'Kelly told the club website: "The medical staff at City were a credit to their club. We couldn't ask any more from them." However, the Cherries now face an anxious wait to discover the extent of 30-year-old Moss's injury. Until August last year, Moss had not missed a league game for two-and-a-half years after rejoining the Cherries from Southampton. However, he suffered a hairline fracture of his leg against Gillingham, and since his return from injury, he has been unable to displace Gareth Stewart in goal - making just two LDV Vans Trophy appearances.

O'Driscoll hails hard-earned draw
Bournemouth boss Sean O'Driscoll welcomed a "hard-earned, hard-fought point" after a late equaliser helped them draw 1-1 with leaders Southend. "At times we thought we wouldn't get back into it," O'Driscoll admitted. "You can see why Southend are clear at the top of the league, but taking all that into consideration, we did okay. "Steven Foley had to come off injured at half-time, but we also changed it tactically to solve the problems they'd given us, and showed great resilience."

Hayter signs new deal at Cherries
Bournemouth have been handed a massive boost as top scorer James Hayter has signed a new two-year deal that will keep him at the club until 2008. The striker, who will be 27 on Sunday, could have left Dean Court on a Bosman free transfer in the summer. Chairman Peter Phillips said: "This was a very big decision for James. "He is ambitious to test himself at the highest level - and it is a tribute to his loyalty that he has decided to pursue his ambitions here." Born in Newport on the Isle of Wight, the versatile Hayter came up through the Cherries' youth ranks - and often found himself filling a midfield role in his younger days. He has scored 93 league and cup goals in 353 appearances since his debut in April 1997. However, he made international headlines on 24 February 2004 when he scored the Football League's quickest ever hat-trick - netting three times in just two minutes and 20 seconds, in a 6-0 victory over Wrexham. This season, he has been top scorer for the fourth consecutive campaign, with 18 goals - and was the subject of interest from several clubs, including Huddersfield and Bristol City, during the January transfer window. Phillips added: "He is a marvellous player and a proven goalscorer - I'm certain this will be a great boost for the supporters and the team."

Hayter credits boss after signing
Bournemouth's James Hayter credited manager Sean O'Driscoll's influence after signing his new contract. The striker said: "Sean was my youth team manager when I first arrived, he's been a great influence on my career and I like the way he does things. "I like working with Sean and I think I've made the right decision. "You could always move to another club for more money on a free, but it doesn't always work out - and if you're not playing football you're not happy."

Scunthorpe v Bournemouth
Scunthorpe midfielder Neil MacKenzie (ankle) is out for the season after he was injured in a midweek reserve game. However, boss Brian Laws has no other fresh injury or suspension worries. Bournemouth midfielder Steven Foley (calf), who went off injured at half-time in last week's draw with Southend, has returned to training. Defender Adam Griffiths (hamstring), who missed that game, is also back in training, as are striker Dani Rodrigues and midfielder James Rowe.

Scunthorpe 2-2 Bournemouth
Bournemouth goalkeeper Gareth Stewart was in outstanding form to earn the struggling Cherries an important point. Stewart, however, was powerless to stop Peter Beagrie's early penalty after Eddie Howe brought down Steve Torpey. James Hayter headed home Steven Foley's free-kick for his 19th goal of the season as Bournemouth drew level. James O'Connor struck in spectacular fashion after 63 minutes to put the Cherries ahead, but Richard Hinds hooked home late on for Scunthorpe. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scunthorpe: Musselwhite, Stanton (Byrne 69), Crosby, Foster, Rose, Taylor (Sharp 60), Hinds, Baraclough, Beagrie (Ryan 69), Torpey, Keogh. Subs Not Used: Evans, Goodwin. Goals: Beagrie 12 pen, Hinds 84. Bournemouth: Stewart, O'Connor, Cooper, Young, Howe, Purches (Hart 90), Cooke (Rix 78), Foley, Browning, Hayter, Fletcher. Subs Not Used: Pitman, Tindall, Broadhurst. Booked: O'Connor. Goals: Hayter 33, O'Connor 63. Att: 4,136 Ref: K Friend (Leicestershire).

Rix boost for Cherries safety bid
Bournemouth boss Sean O'Driscoll has managed to secure the services of on-loan Crewe midfielder Ben Rix until the end of the season. Rix has been at Dean Court since the January transfer window and has made seven appearances for the Cherries. The 22-year-old's opportunities at Gresty Road have been limited by injury and illness in recent seasons. But he will now be available to help the cause as they battle against the drop into League Two.

O'Kelly hails resilient Cherries
Richard O'Kelly saluted Bournemouth's resilience as they withstood a strong fightback at Walsall, winning 1-0 to ease their relegation fears. "It was the proverbial six-pointer," Cherries assistant boss O'Kelly said. "We could have been two or three goals up at half-time, and looking at the body language as Walsall's players walked in, they looked a beaten side. "But they gave it a right go in the second half and we had to stand up and be counted, right through the side."

Bournemouth 1-1 Huddersfield
Huddersfield missed out on moving into the automatic promotion spots after a draw which had two goalkeeping howlers. Town keeper Paul Rachubka dived over Steve Fletcher's tame effort after 34 minutes to give the home side the lead. But 20 minutes from time, Cherries' goalie Gareth Stewart missed Danny Adams' cross to allow Huddersfield's Gary Taylor-Fletcher a simple tap-in. Rachubka at least partially redeemed himself by saving Eddie Howe's header and rebound with five minutes to go. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bournemouth: Stewart, Howe, Young, Cooper, O'Connor, Foley (Rodrigues 76), Browning, Cooke (Pitman 76), Purches, Fletcher, Hayter. Subs Not Used: Hart, Rix, Broadhurst. Booked: Browning. Goals: Fletcher 34. Huddersfield: Rachubka, Holdsworth, Mirfin, Nathan Clarke, Adams, Tom Clarke (Brandon 65), Worthington, Hudson, Schofield, Taylor-Fletcher, Graham. Subs Not Used: Eastwood, Ahmed, McAliskey, McCombe. Booked: Worthington. Goals: Taylor-Fletcher 71. Att: 7,406 Ref: A Hall (W Midlands).

Port Vale 0-0 Bournemouth
Bournemouth inched closer to League One safety in a dismal draw at Vale Park. Vale soaked up Bournemouth's early pressure but hit back to take control late in the first half - but neither goalkeeper was seriously tested. Sam Togwell was narrowly off target from Danny Sonner's pass and Chris Birchall's cross was spilled by Gareth Stewart and cleared by James O'Connor. Bournemouth offered little in attack, with James Hayter miscueing their best chance wide in the 50th minute. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Port Vale: Goodlad, McGregor, Pilkington, Fortune, James, Togwell, Sonner, Cummins, Birchall, Constantine (Briscoe 71), Smith. Subs Not Used: Dinning, Innes, Sam, Brain. Bournemouth: Stewart, O'Connor, Young, Cooper, Hart, Purches, Foley (Rix 79), Cooke, Hayter, Rodrigues (Browning 84), Pitman (Fletcher 73). Subs Not Used: Tindall, Broadhurst. Att: 4,006 Ref: T Parkes (W Midlands).

Bournemouth v Colchester
Bournemouth may recall experienced trio Steve Fletcher, Marcus Browning and Eddie Howe, who were all rested for Monday's goalless draw at Port Vale. Defender Adam Griffiths (hamstring) came through a midweek reserve game and could push for a return to the squad. Colchester should welcome back midfielder Kem Izzet (ankle), who has returned to training after missing the last five games. Stephen Hunt (ankle) is not ready to return yet, despite a reserve outing.

Bournemouth 1-2 Colchester
Scott Vernon's first Colchester goal gave the U's their first away win since January and guaranteed them at least a place in the play-offs. Liam Chilvers' header from Wayne Brown's free kick put Colchester ahead before Stephen Cooke's smart finish restored parity three mintues later. Stephen Purches nearly put Bournemouth ahead from Cooke's backheel only to see his effort well saved by Dean Gerken. On 51 minutes, Vernon was left unmarked to net the winner. Bournemouth: Stewart, Young, Broadhurst, Cooper, O'Connor, Purches (Pitman 60), Cooke, Browning (Rix 81), Foley (Hart 60), Fletcher, Hayter. Subs Not Used: Griffiths, Rodrigues. Goals: Cooke 8. Colchester: Gerken, White (Baldwin 89), Chilvers, Brown, Duguid, Halford, Watson, Danns (Izzet 80), Yeates, Vernon (Thorpe 72), Iwelumo. Subs Not Used: Cousins, Campbell-Ryce. Booked: Chilvers, White. Goals: Chilvers 5, Vernon 51. Att: 6,231. Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).

Ankle surgery for Cherries keeper
Bournemouth goalkeeper Neil Moss has had surgery to repair ankle ligament damage he sustained last month. Moss, 30, was injured in a reserve game against Bristol City on 28 March. Until August last year, the lifelong Cherries fan had not missed a league game for two-and-a-half years after rejoining the club from Southampton. However, he suffered a hairline fracture of his leg against Gillingham, and since his return, was unable to displace Gareth Stewart in goal. His only first-team action since then was in two LDV Vans Trophy games.

Nott'm Forest v Bournemouth
Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Paul Gerrard is fit to play again after 10 games out with a knee injury. Nicky Southall and James Perch are both chasing places in the starting XI for the crucial City Ground contest. Bournemouth skipper Neil Young will have a late fitness test after picking up a knock in training on Wednesday. Fellow defender Eddie Howe (Achilles) is still a major doubt, but Adam Griffiths came through a reserve game on Monday with no reaction.

O'Kelly salutes improved Cherries
Richard O'Kelly was pleased with the way Bournemouth recovered from last week's defeat to Colchester to draw 1-1 at Nottingham Forest. "The performance was magnificent," the Cherries assistant manager said. "It was well documented that we weren't pleased with the performance last week, but the lads answered the criticism and showed how they could play. "The back three did well and our keeper Gareth Stewart earned his corn with a terrific save from an overhead kick." The result finally leaves the Cherries mathematically safe from relegation, with one game still to play. "There was a lot at stake, but I don't think you can let the threat of relegation play on your mind," O'Kelly added. "You've just got to focus on what you've got to do day to day, and then go out and give a performance. "Hopefully, the experience will stand our young players in good stead."

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