Manager previews visit of Cherries to St James Park
Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale is anticipating an entertaining game at St James Park when AFC Bournemouth arrive for a pre-season friendly on Saturday 18th July (kick-off 3pm).The Cherries are gearing up towards their first ever appearance in the Barclays Premier League, after securing the Championship title for 2014/15 in sensational fashion. Averaging over two goals per game last season, the south-coast side continued that vein of prowess when they defeated Philadelphia Union 4-1 in their first pre-season game.
Like all pre-season fixtures, the result will be incidental and the key purpose for Exeter will be getting minutes into the leg and preparing some ideas for the kick-off against Yeovil on Saturday 8th August. More so than the first three friendlies, there will more focus on squad selection and building towards the opening day.
And Paul is anticipating a lively game against the latest side to join the top tier.
“We have got a very good relationship with Bournemouth and always have done – I would like to think it will be an entertaining game,” said Paul.
“There will be more of a formula towards the game in three weeks’ time [against Yeovil].
“We’re both in the early stages of our pre-season progress and the game needs to suit both of us, so it’ll be played in the right way.
“We are certainly not playing with the result being of importance to us – I won’t be leaving players on the pitch longer than I think is right to, whether we are winning, losing or drawing. They will play what’s right for them in their progress.
“But it’ll be a really good game. It’s nice for our supporters to see such an attacking, in-form team at the Park and it’ll be good to bump into some old friends again.
“I’m sure it’ll be a good spectacle and I would imagine there will be a lot of interest from the Exeter supporters to see Bournemouth play.”
Click here for ticket information for this game against the Cherries.