Parker, Bournemouth deserve credit for matching expectation

Scott Parker has his critics and is yet to truly prove himself, but matching expectation at Bournemouth should not diminish any achievements.

Scott Parker has his detractors, but the Bournemouth manager is on course to make it two promotions from as many Championship seasons. It might just be time to put some more respect on Parker’s name.

In a Championship season dominated by the exploits of British managers both young and old, Parker is receiving fewer plaudits for having Bournemouth in line for an automatic promotion place, largely because that is where many expected them to be.

So while Steve Cooper, Chris Wilder, Mark Warburton, Tony Mowbray, Neil Critchley, Paul Heckingbottom and Wayne Rooney all rightly take praise for jobs well done to this point, Parker has found his own eulogies more difficult to come by.

A mid-season lull which saw the Cherries win just three of 11 league games either side of Christmas saw many – this writer included – feeling vindicated about Bournemouth’s manager and his limitations. Four league wins in a row through February with games in hand on all those chasing goes just as far in underlining Parker’s credentials as a thoroughly good manager.

In his four seasons as a manager – this is his third full campaign in such a position – Parker has ended up either relegated or promoted. With every passing victory for his Cherries, combined with the teams below slipping in terms of form, it looks like that peculiar record will be extended.

Fulham’s second relegation under Parker last season is the real sticking point. The Cottagers made an instant return to the Championship after escaping through the play-offs. An inability to organise Fulham’s defence was the main criticism of Parker’s sole full