Howe positive Cherries can beat the drop
Eddie Howe believes his Bournemouth side can use Southampton’s remarkable response to their humiliating 9-0 loss to Leicester as inspiration for a last-gasp Premier League great escape.
Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has masterminded a major transformation at St Mary’s after coming under intense pressure last October following the worst defeat in his club’s 134-year existence.
The Cherries, who host Southampton today, are in desperate need of a swift revival of their own and must pick up points in each of their remaining two fixtures to stand a chance of avoiding relegation.
Howe has praised the powers of recovery shown by Bournemouth’s local rivals and feels his side are capable of pulling off a similar achievement.
“That result looking back will probably be a positive and that goes to show how you can take positives from very difficult situations,” said the Cherries boss. “And that’s what we have to do now.
“We’re in a difficult position but there is only one way out of it and that is to try to find positives, build confidence and see if our situation can change.
“Full credit to Southampton for what they did from that moment. We still believe we can do the same.”
Southampton have been one of the division’s standout performers during the second half of the season and are comfortably placed in mid-table on the back of a five-match unbeaten run.
Bournemouth have given themselves hope in the battle to beat the drop following a draw against Tottenham and a stunning 4-1 win over Leicester.
Their momentum was halted slightly by an unlucky midweek loss at Manchester City, during which the Cherries manufactured more chances than their high-flying hosts.
After struggling to find the net for the majority of the season, Howe feels rediscovering a creative edge is crucial.
“I always say if your team is creating chances, you will score goals,” said Howe. “The frustration for us is that for the first season in a long, long time we haven’t consistently created chances.
“That’s always been our strength. To see it return in the last few games is a huge lift to everybody. If we keep continuing to create those moments I know we have the quality to take them.”
Adam Smith could return from injury but fellow defenders Nathan Ake, Simon Francis, Chris Mepham and Charlie Daniels remain sidelined.