Howe will not give up on fight for survival

BOURNEMOUTH 0 SOUTHAMPTON 2

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe insists he will not give up on Premier League survival after being “deeply hurt” by a dramatic 2-0 defeat to Southampton.

VAR denied Cherries striker Sam Surridge a stoppage-time equaliser to leave their hopes of avoiding relegation hanging by a thread.

Southampton substitute Che Adams compounded Bournemouth’s misery by adding to Danny Ings’s opener in the final moments – meaning the hosts remain three points adrift of 17th-placed Watford, with an inferior goal difference and having played a game more.

Howe, though, will keep believing a great escape remains possible ahead of next weekend’s season finale at Everton.

“The key thing is while there’s still hope we have to believe, until such time as it is mathematically impossible,” said Howe.

“You never know in football, crazy things happen. That’s my immediate thought. A big chunk of our destiny and our future was still in our hands.

“I am disappointed, hurt, loads of different emotions are going through my body.”

Bournemouth must overhaul Watford, who yesterday replaced manager Nigel Pearson with Hayden Mullins to take over for the final two games, and hold off 19th-placed Aston Villa to prolong their Premier League stay.

V i c t o r y f o r Southampton ensured a small piece of history in their remarkable recovery from last October’s 9-0 humiliation at the hands of Leicester.

Saints have now enjoyed their most fruitful top-flight campaign on the road, registering a club-record 31 points away from St Mary’s to surpass the 28 achieved in 1983-84.