Brewers out for revenge over rivals’ role in lastday relegation disaster
‘YOU’RE STILL JERMAIN MAN’
EDDIE HOWE has assured forgotten man Jermain Defoe he still has a future at Bournemouth.
The 36-year-old striker has played only 14 Premier League minutes this season but the former England forward (left) will be given the chance to impress against Norwich tonight.
Cherries boss Howe said: “Jermain has been brilliant. He has trained well and his attitude has been fantastic. I have had conversations with Jermain and he will get an opportunity because it is a long season and I have no doubt about his qualities. He scored some really vital goals for us last season and I’m sure he will do so again.”
Howe has faith his fringe players can book the Cherries a place in the League Cup quarter-finals for the fourth time in their history. He said: “It is important we back the quality of the squad.” NIGEL CLOUGH says his Burton players are still stinging about the part Nottingham Forest played in their relegation.
He definitely won’t have to remind his players before tonight’s EFL Cup clash with his former club.
Forest’s limp finish against Bolton on the last day of the season closed off a potential route to survival for the Brewers. Burton, drawing 1-1 at Preston, were shattered when Forest surrendered a 2-1 lead in the last four minutes to lose 3-2.
As it turned out Clough’s side conceded in injury time so would have gone down anyway. But Forest’s collapse still leaves a bitter taste and Clough (right) says recalling the pain of that final day will be more than enough for his players.
He has many happy memories of Forest where he played and his late father Brian enjoys legendary status for taking them to two European Cup titles. But there will be no love lost tonight and he said: “I won’t have to mention it before the game.
“The players know it whenever they see their wage slips at the end of every month. Our income as a club was slashed significantly, you’re talking about a 50 per cent cut in wages.
“That’s the reality. It’s written into their contacts – it’s a massive reduction. The players talk about it among themselves, we don’t have to mention it.
“We were four minutes away from staying up. We were safe with four minutes left. We’re still getting over it. It’s one of those things you don’t get over in a few months.
“It’s something that will be with us for the rest of our lives. To have it snatched away from us. Forest conceded two goals in those four minutes. Are we still frustrated with that?
“Yes, it’s huge. They won’t need reminding. That’s just financially, never mind everything else. Relegation is horrible. “The feeling was that bad we were on the floor, even at the start of this season.”
Having already knocked out Aston Villa and Burnley, the Brewers’ boss says a place in the last eight is a massive reward.
He added: “When you see who is left in the competition, getting through is a big prize for both clubs.
“We won’t get carried away but we are aware of the size of the clubs left in. But we also know we’ve got to get through this one first.”