AFCB

First Team

Howe - Hopefully results like today turn us to our best

AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe hopes that today's result against Stoke City can turn the Cherries' performances around.

An electric start saw Andrew Surman and Junior Stanislas hand the visitors a two goal lead, before plenty of rearguard action saw the Cherries hold on for a 2-1 win despite Mame Biram Diouf's goal.

Here's what the manager had to say in his post-match press conference.

ON THE RESULT...

It was a very tough game.

I thought we showed two sides to our game today, the fooball we played in the first-half was excellent, we were in control and moved the ball well.

We knew at half-time the game would change. They brought on Crouch, the weather played a part, but it's pleasing that at 2-1 - with a large portion of the game left- we looked very solid.

ON THE PLAYERS' CHARACTER...

That's never been in question to be honest.

In recent performances we have been in games, they've been very tight.

I have never doubted the players' character or desire to play for the cub.

We've not quite been ourselves at the start of the season, confidence is huge in sport and hopefully results like today turn us to our best.

ON JUNIOR STANISLAS' PERFORMANCE...

I thought today we looked extremely confident, the players who haven't played recently and came in to do well.

Junior is very good, we missed him earlier in the season.

He's a goalscorer, last season he scored important goals and he's a creator too. At this level you can't have enough of those players and he was excellent today.