HOWE TRIES TO FRESHEN UP CHERRIES

EDDIE HOWE warned Bournemouth’s stars were playing for their futures in the last two Premier League games of the season.

A third consecutive defeat means the Cherries are still not safe from the drop in 12th on 38 points. And this insipid performance at neighbouring Southampton ensures the Cherries cannot now match their points total of 46 from last season when they finished ninth.

Howe (right) said: “It’s a huge frustration for me because we want to keep growing and improving and the standards we’ve set have always been to push so hard to achieve that.

“Every game the players must show they can be part of our future and they need to prove that every game.

“Certainly there’s an expectation from me for the players to deliver our very best performances and end the season on a real high. That’s the challenge.”

After starting the season with four consecutive Premier League defeats, Bournemouth are in danger of ending with five losses.

And Simon Francis admitted: “Southampton are fighting for survival, but we are as well because we are not mathematically safe yet.

“Today was a cup final for them and we have to look at our two games like that.”