Eddie’s ‘most difficult challenge’

A DEFIANT Eddie Howe insisted that Bournemouth can still beat the drop even after a disastrous night at the Vitality Stadium.

The Cherries are now one place off the bottom of the table, with just six games remaining.

Howe’s men have now lost all three games since returning from the lockdown and the Cherries manager said: “It was a really disappointing night. We never recovered from the early goal.

“It was a tough one to take. I still believe we can get out of this, I believe in the group. We take tonight on the chin.” Howe insisted he does not need assurances from the Bournemouth board as he added: “I don’t doubt the players are giving everything.

“We have to find answers quickly. After a game like this cool heads are needed, any overreaction would be a negative.

“This is the most difficult challenge we have in terms of trying to preserve our status in this league, possibly more difficult than the battle we had to stay in the Football League. We have a small amount of time to turn this around.” A delighted Newcastle manager Steve Bruce said: “That is arguably our best performance of the season.

“If we can get into the top 10, that would be a great achievement after a lot of people wrote us off.

“Some of the football we played and the goals we scored were a delight to watch.

“Allan Saint Maximin has wonderful talent. Every time I go to a ground and people haven’t seen him play, they always say what a talent he is. He can only get better.”