Eddie Howe warns Bournemouth 'we cannot afford to have a bad December' ahead of busy Christmas schedule

  • Bournemouth have eight matches in all competitions scheduled for December
  • Eddie Howe insists he is excited by the challenge that lies ahead of them
  • The Cherries boss warned his players they cannot afford to have a bad month
  • Howe urged his Bournemouth side to start the month 'in good fashion'
  • Bournemouth are preparing for Sunday's home clash with Southampton

Eddie Howe is excited for the upcoming busy Christmas schedule but has told his Bournemouth side that they can ill afford a bad December.

The Cherries host Southampton on Sunday at the start of a testing run of fixtures which could well define their campaign.

Successive Premier League matches away to Manchester United and home against Liverpool are ahead, as is a Carabao Cup quarter-final at Chelsea before they travel to Manchester City on December 23.

Eddie Howe's Bournemouth side lost just one of their four November fixtures

HOWE'S BUSY MONTH 

Southampton (H) 

Crystal Palace (A)

Manchester United (A) 

Liverpool (H)

Chelsea (A)

Manchester City (A)

West Ham (H)

Everton (H) 

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After seeing Bournemouth's three-match unbeaten run end with a frustrating home defeat by Burnley on Wednesday night, Howe feels his side have to quickly regain composure.


'It is a challenge and exciting, from our perspective, but it is imperative that you get as much as you can out of every game,' Howe said.

'When you look back and ask, with hindsight, if you would have taken the month we had (in November), then I think we would have done with the points we got and the way we played in certain games, which was really positive.

The Cherries boss admitted he was disappointed to finish the month with a defeat by Burnley

The Cherries boss admitted he was disappointed to finish the month with a defeat by Burnley

Season at a glance

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'We ended the month with a real disappointment, but that is the Premier League for you.

'What is important now is this month ahead. With so many games and how busy it is, we cannot afford to have a bad December.

'We need to be competitive and start the month in good fashion, starting on Sunday.'

Southampton are four places above Bournemouth but only two points ahead.

Mauricio Pellegrino's men head to the Vitality Stadium on the back of three defeats out of the past four Premier League games.

One of those came at Anfield and then, on Wednesday night, away to leaders Manchester City - which would have been a creditable draw but for a last-minute winner from Raheem Sterling.

But has called for his side to rise to the challenge ahead with fixtures against both Manchester clubs, Liverpool and Chelsea all coming up in the run in to Christmas

But has called for his side to rise to the challenge ahead with fixtures against both Manchester clubs, Liverpool and Chelsea all coming up in the run in to Christmas

Howe is not expecting anything other than a stern test from their south-coast rivals.

'Southampton have some quality players, we saw that in the matches between us last season,' the Bournemouth manager said at a press conference, quoted on the club's official website.

'They have talented individuals and an experienced manager, so we expect to have a tough game against them.

'But if we can bring our best levels, as we have done at times this season, then I think we can be very competitive.'