Bournemouth lost 1-0 against Man City in the Premier League on Saturday
Sunday 3 March 2019 09:35, UK
Eddie Howe says Bournemouth got their "respectability" back despite losing 1-0 to Man City in the Premier League on Saturday.
The result came just a few days after Bournemouth were beaten 5-1 by Arsenal with the Cherries winless in their last five league outings.
They also failed to have a shot on target, but Howe believes Bournemouth showed plenty of good qualities with their lack of possession - just 17.9 per cent - contributing to the result.
He told Sky Sports: "I think we've got our respectability back after Arsenal. We showed that we can defend, that we are organised and we showed that we've got character and I think if we show those things between now and the end of the season, we'll be fine.
"It was a tough game, we didn't have the ball today as much as that pains me to say because we want the ball, but even the most optimistic among the coaching staff knew we wouldn't have the ball.
"Then it was about how we were going to defend, our ability to withhold pressure and get our organisation right and I think we did that for the majority of the game.
"Yes, they had chances and the goal is a difficult one for us to take because it is not a thing of beauty from their perspective - it is quite an ugly goal but it wins them the game. But I'm proud of the players today."
Bournemouth currently have a number of key players on their injury list, including striker Callum Wilson, who was not passed fit for Saturday's game.
Howe added: "We're stretched and we had to try and come up with something today that kept us in the game for as long as possible, I think that was the aim, and to try and have a go at them late on.
"I think that's how it went but it wasn't to be. I couldn't fault the effort and the organisation was good from the team. You're looking for a bit of luck or a set play to drop to you in the end and it didn't happen."
