Howe long will your awful run last, Eddie?

EDDIE HOWE says Bournemouth’s confidence has taken a major hit after an alarming slump in form.

Bournemouth have lost eight of their last 10 Premier League games, including their last six on the road.

Boss Howe admits confidence is low, but pointed to a catalogue of injuries and an unkind run of fixtures that has seen them play six games against top-six sides.

“I think we’ve been through a tough period,” said the Cherries boss (above). “The fixture list has been extremely unkind to us. We’ve had a run of games which have been difficult.

“Our injury situation has been difficult too and I had to play a system here which ideally I wouldn’t have done.

“When you lose games your confidence can be affected. We have to control our destiny. We can change this and that’s what our focus has to be.”

Bournemouth shipped four against United on top of the five Tottenham put past them on Boxing Day and Howe accpets they need to be much better defensively.

“It was a tough day, a disappointing performance,” he said. “Defensively we were not great. We weren’t great with the ball and that’s a bad mix when you come to play a match at Old Trafford.

“You need to be at the top of your game and we weren’t. We didn’t deal well enough with their threats, we didn’t stop their crosses. They have players who can hurt you in every position and we allowed them too much time.”