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Neil Lennon is more than happy to wear the underdog tag as Wanderers look to wreck Bournemouth’s promotion hopes.
The cameras will assemble at the Goldsands Stadium on Monday hoping to see Eddie Howe’s side clinch a historic first promotion to the Premier League.
Just six years ago the Cherries were getting ready to face Grimsby Town in League Two, with relegation to the Conference still a possibility. Having been deducted 17 points for going into administration they survived by the skin of their teeth and embarked on an incredible rise up the Football League.
The same weekend, Gary Megson’s Wanderers were hosting Aston Villa in a game which ended 1-1 and effectively warded off any chance of slipping into the Championship.
Those comparisons make for a great backdrop to Monday’s game but Lennon is quick to note that Bournemouth’s rise up the pyramid has been a well-funded one.
Heart-warming it may be to see one of the lesser-known names of English football join the elite but anyone who has watched Championship football with interest over the last couple of seasons will know the Cherries have not skimped when it comes to assembling their squad.
In Lennon’s opinion, his opponents play the most attractive football in the division. But the Northern Irishman is not convinced Bournemouth can lay claim to being top dogs.
“I’m not sure they’re the best - but they might be the best footballing team in the division,” he said.
“I’d say they were easiest on the eye – but we’ll only know if they are the best after 46 games. It takes more than just being a good footballing team to win promotion.
“I know they sold Lewis Grabban but they brought in Callum Wilson, Yann Kermorgant, the lad Ritchie, Artur Boruc is on decent money from Southampton as is Kenwyne Jones from Cardiff – so to say they’re on a low budget, I’m not really sure that’s the case.
“They bid £5million for Demarai Gray from Birmingham in January as well, so they’ve been well backed.”
All eyes will be on Middlesbrough, Norwich City and Watford this weekend, with Bournemouth knowing a right set of results could see them promoted with victory over Wanderers.
“It’ll be interesting to see how results pan out on Saturday because Bournemouth will know what they have to do by Monday. But we have our own agenda,” Lennon said.
“It’s on TV and that can be a little bonus to the players – hopefully we can show there has been a marked improvement in the team too.
“When we looked at the last four games we knew we had Norwich, Brentford and Bournemouth – we knew we could have a say in what was going on in the title race and play-offs.
“We were unfortunate not to get anything against Norwich, which was a last-minute goal, played very well at Brentford. I think we should have won that game but took two points off them.
“I think we can do the same on Monday night. We’re an afterthought in this fixture – all the talk has been about Bournemouth.
“That might suit us, all the pressure will be on them.”
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The cameras will assemble at the Goldsands Stadium on Monday hoping to see Eddie Howe’s side clinch a historic first promotion to the Premier League.
Just six years ago the Cherries were getting ready to face Grimsby Town in League Two, with relegation to the Conference still a possibility. Having been deducted 17 points for going into administration they survived by the skin of their teeth and embarked on an incredible rise up the Football League.
The same weekend, Gary Megson’s Wanderers were hosting Aston Villa in a game which ended 1-1 and effectively warded off any chance of slipping into the Championship.
Those comparisons make for a great backdrop to Monday’s game but Lennon is quick to note that Bournemouth’s rise up the pyramid has been a well-funded one.
Heart-warming it may be to see one of the lesser-known names of English football join the elite but anyone who has watched Championship football with interest over the last couple of seasons will know the Cherries have not skimped when it comes to assembling their squad.
In Lennon’s opinion, his opponents play the most attractive football in the division. But the Northern Irishman is not convinced Bournemouth can lay claim to being top dogs.
“I’m not sure they’re the best - but they might be the best footballing team in the division,” he said.
“I’d say they were easiest on the eye – but we’ll only know if they are the best after 46 games. It takes more than just being a good footballing team to win promotion.
“I know they sold Lewis Grabban but they brought in Callum Wilson, Yann Kermorgant, the lad Ritchie, Artur Boruc is on decent money from Southampton as is Kenwyne Jones from Cardiff – so to say they’re on a low budget, I’m not really sure that’s the case.
“They bid £5million for Demarai Gray from Birmingham in January as well, so they’ve been well backed.”
All eyes will be on Middlesbrough, Norwich City and Watford this weekend, with Bournemouth knowing a right set of results could see them promoted with victory over Wanderers.
“It’ll be interesting to see how results pan out on Saturday because Bournemouth will know what they have to do by Monday. But we have our own agenda,” Lennon said.
“It’s on TV and that can be a little bonus to the players – hopefully we can show there has been a marked improvement in the team too.
“When we looked at the last four games we knew we had Norwich, Brentford and Bournemouth – we knew we could have a say in what was going on in the title race and play-offs.
“We were unfortunate not to get anything against Norwich, which was a last-minute goal, played very well at Brentford. I think we should have won that game but took two points off them.
“I think we can do the same on Monday night. We’re an afterthought in this fixture – all the talk has been about Bournemouth.
“That might suit us, all the pressure will be on them.”
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