Stop the rot! (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Stop the rot!

TONY Thorpe hopes his impressive history against the Cherries ensures that an unwanted Town record remains firmly intact today.

Should Andy King's men fail to score at the Fitness First Stadium then it will shatter the club's previous run of away matches without a goal.

As it stands, Town have gone 677 minutes without netting on their travels.

Grant Smith's goal in a 1-1 draw at M K Dons on Good Friday was the last time the Wiltshire travelling army had cause to celebrate.

Another blank day today would see Town beat the club's all-time away-day low, which currently stands at 765 minutes, recorded between January and April of the 1982-83 season a run which spanned eight and a half matches.

Thorpe, pictured, said: "We want things to change and to make sure the run ends now.

"I'm still confident in what I can do. I'd like a little run in the team and then if you don't do it, you haven't got an argument and you hold your hands up.

"If I do get a run, probably with Rory Fallon, then I think we'll do okay.

"But the team as a whole has got to stop conceding early goals as we're on the back foot and the pressure's really on.

"I don't want to put the curse on it but I have a very, very good record against Bournemouth."

The statistics bear that out with the player having bagged eight goals in as many seasons against the Cherries.

A result would aid Thorpe's chances of keeping his place as well

as relieving the pressure on the man who signed him.

The striker said: "I spoke to Brian Tinnion yesterday (a former colleague at Ashton Gate) and had a good chat with him. We know it's a pressure job and we know supporters demand success, no matter whether you've got money or not.

"But our gaffer he's been there, seen it and done it and you have to take the rough with the smooth."

While Thorpe is looking to help lift the pressure on his manager, Andy King is also focused on restoring calm.

He said: "We need to be positive, to go on a run of games to get ourselves in a position where the doubters only become minor doubters, people start relaxing and start to enjoy the game again and take all the worry out of everyone."

Still, leaving aside hard work, belief and commitment King joked: "You're better being lucky than you are good."

Ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar will be the guest speaker at Town's next sporting dinner on Thursday, October 13.