Cook joy as Cherries boost safety push
Steve Cook praised Bournemouth’s back four as the Cherries finally kept their first clean sheet of 2017 in Saturday’s vital 2-0 win over fellow relegation candidates Swansea.
Eddie Howe’s had slipped alarmingly down the table, but seven points from three games have eased their own fears, a positive enhanced by a first clean sheet since New Year’s Eve.
“A clean sheet has been a long time coming,” he said after sinking the Swans.
“It’s been since Swansea away on New Year’s Eve, which is far too long and we’ve conceded a lot of goals.
“As a back four, we’ve been working really hard in the last couple of weeks and ever since Manchester United we’ve looked very solid.
“I’m delighted, it’s like scoring goals when you’re a defender so a clean sheet is huge for us.”
While keeping Swansea out at one end, the Cherries had Afobe to thank for sealing a huge three points which takes them as high as 12th.
The former Wolves striker saw his tame first-half strike deflected in off the unwitting Alfie Mawson, with the Swans man credited with an own goal.
But after the interval Afobe, who has struggled for form since joining the club last January, finished off the visitors with a well-taken effort.
“All week we’ve been talking about getting our first back-to-back Premier League wins. We’ve done that today and kept a clean sheet and luckily enough I’ve scored the goal,” Afobe told Bournemouth’s official website.
“It’s been a good weekend for us and now we’ll all be looking forward to the international break and being ready for the Southampton game.”
The Bournemouth squad will travel to Dubai for warmweather training this week, no doubt with a fresh spring in their step.