HOWE DREAMING OF CHRISTMAS CRACKER

EDDIE HOWE knows that his Bournemouth side can’t afford a nightmare before Christmas.

The Cherries play host to Southampton today at the start of a testing run of fixtures which could define their campaign.

Boss Howe (left) said: “What is important now is the month ahead. With so many games and how busy it is, we cannot afford to have a bad December.

“We need to be competitive and start the month in good fashion – starting against Southampton.”