Manager wants good show against Saints

Cherries Manager Kevin Bond has spoken about tomorrow's friendly against local rivals Southampton. Bond is eager for a good game to bring on pre-season preparations and to provide the crowd with a good match.

Bond said, "It'll be our most intense game of pre-season so far. It'll be a difficult game against a Southampton side looking to do well and we'll want to step up on our previous games. Nobody will be making any ridiculous challenges.

"I don't want to see any of my players injured or injure any of George Burley's players. But we do need players to be committed and working extremely hard.

"You always want an entertaining game as that's what football is all about. Whilst it's a pre-season friendly it's against one of our local rivals and you always want to do well against them.

"Playing against better players will always test us. They're playing at a level we're all aspiring to reach and it sometimes shows us where we want to be.

"It' always nice to pit your wits against better teams, but having said that it works both ways and we've seen in the week you can't afford complacency when you are the supposed better side."

Cherries play Southampton at Dean Court on Saturday (3pm). Tickets are £10 for adults and £5 for concessions in all areas except the Pullman Executive seats. They will be available on the day as well as online.

Cherries face Oxford at The Kassam Stadium on Friday July 27th (19.45KO, ticket news) and then Pompet at home on Tuesday July 31st (19.30 KO). The last friendly is a trip to face Bristol City on Saturday August 4th (15.00 KO).