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Tim Ream has warned Bournemouth not to start celebrating promotion just yet.
Comfortably clear of relegation, Neil Lennon’s side might appear bit-part players at the Goldsands Stadium on Monday, where the TV cameras are gathering in the hope of a promotion party.
Depending on results on Saturday for Middlesbrough, Norwich City and Watford, victory could be enough to see the Cherries into the top flight for the first time in their history.
But American defender Ream insists Wanderers will not be rolling over for fear of reprisal from their manager.
“There is no reason why we shouldn’t finish strongly,” he told The Bolton News. “I’m sure the manager will be reminding us of that quite a lot this week.
“Yes, we’re mathematically safe of relegation now so there’s even more freedom going into the next two games.
“But we want to win them both. I don’t think we even know how to play for a draw.”
Wanderers appear to have eased their travel-sickness, playing some of their most enterprising stuff in recent outings at Cardiff and Brentford.
And Ream believes that carefree approach has stemmed from the smattering of youth players who have been introduced by Lennon into the first-team ranks.
While Josh Vela has been a mainstay since October, Tom Walker and Oscar Threlkeld have also proved their worth since making the step up.
“It is fun to watch them because it has been a long time coming for them and they have put in the hard hours and long days,” Ream said. “It’s good to see the hard work paying off.
“You look at the way Tom plays the game and it’s an interesting dynamic because these kids aren’t scared of making mistakes, which as youngsters is a great attribute to have.
“Tom isn’t worried but he is starting to figure out when he can take risks and chances and when he needs to help out and play simple."
Ream also had words of praise for Threlkeld, who came back into the side for the first time this year at Brentford with a solid performance on the right side of defence.
"You can go back to the end of last season and Oscar stepping in at Sheffield and doing a job on (Michail) Antonio,” he said. “They threw him in the deep end at Norwich and had a tough time.
“But it has come full circle and he was – and I am sure the manager would agree – the best player on the back line at Brentford, just winning his individual battles and being in the right positions all the time.”
Lennon laid down the law to midfielders Barry Bannan and Neil Danns after their hotel indiscretion last week, an act which emphasised just how seriously he is taking the last fortnight of the season despite seemingly having nothing to play for.
And the Northern Irishman has already issued a word of caution to his side that he won’t accept a drop in performance at Bournemouth.
“I see they have switched the game and it’ll be televised now,” he said last week. “But if they think we’re going to turn up down there and play second fiddle, they’ve got another thing coming.
“My players have to stay professional and we play to win; nothing else.”
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Comfortably clear of relegation, Neil Lennon’s side might appear bit-part players at the Goldsands Stadium on Monday, where the TV cameras are gathering in the hope of a promotion party.
Depending on results on Saturday for Middlesbrough, Norwich City and Watford, victory could be enough to see the Cherries into the top flight for the first time in their history.
But American defender Ream insists Wanderers will not be rolling over for fear of reprisal from their manager.
“There is no reason why we shouldn’t finish strongly,” he told The Bolton News. “I’m sure the manager will be reminding us of that quite a lot this week.
“Yes, we’re mathematically safe of relegation now so there’s even more freedom going into the next two games.
“But we want to win them both. I don’t think we even know how to play for a draw.”
Wanderers appear to have eased their travel-sickness, playing some of their most enterprising stuff in recent outings at Cardiff and Brentford.
And Ream believes that carefree approach has stemmed from the smattering of youth players who have been introduced by Lennon into the first-team ranks.
While Josh Vela has been a mainstay since October, Tom Walker and Oscar Threlkeld have also proved their worth since making the step up.
“It is fun to watch them because it has been a long time coming for them and they have put in the hard hours and long days,” Ream said. “It’s good to see the hard work paying off.
“You look at the way Tom plays the game and it’s an interesting dynamic because these kids aren’t scared of making mistakes, which as youngsters is a great attribute to have.
“Tom isn’t worried but he is starting to figure out when he can take risks and chances and when he needs to help out and play simple."
Ream also had words of praise for Threlkeld, who came back into the side for the first time this year at Brentford with a solid performance on the right side of defence.
"You can go back to the end of last season and Oscar stepping in at Sheffield and doing a job on (Michail) Antonio,” he said. “They threw him in the deep end at Norwich and had a tough time.
“But it has come full circle and he was – and I am sure the manager would agree – the best player on the back line at Brentford, just winning his individual battles and being in the right positions all the time.”
Lennon laid down the law to midfielders Barry Bannan and Neil Danns after their hotel indiscretion last week, an act which emphasised just how seriously he is taking the last fortnight of the season despite seemingly having nothing to play for.
And the Northern Irishman has already issued a word of caution to his side that he won’t accept a drop in performance at Bournemouth.
“I see they have switched the game and it’ll be televised now,” he said last week. “But if they think we’re going to turn up down there and play second fiddle, they’ve got another thing coming.
“My players have to stay professional and we play to win; nothing else.”
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