Saturday 5 December 2015 20:56, UK
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe believes their stunning 1-0 win at Chelsea was fully deserved and had been coming after failing to get the results their performances have warranted in recent games.
Substitute Glenn Murray headed in from close range in the 82nd minute at Stamford Bridge to lift the Cherries out of the relegation zone on Saturday night and seal a memorable victory.
Howe told Saturday Night Football: "We believed we were on the right path. If you look at our recent games we've done ever so well in several of them and not got the wins we feel we deserved.
"Today was a different kind of performance, we had to show a different side to our game but I'm so pleased for the players that they get the reward for all their hard work this season."
Bournemouth started well against Chelsea but had to withstand heavy pressure from Jose Mourinho's side before getting their late winner, and Howe was rightly proud of his players after they picked up just their second clean sheet of the season.
"The second-half we've come under some pressure and we've had to dig in, defend and put bodies on the line," said Howe. "I thought we were magnificent around the box and the goalkeeper (Artur Boruc) played a big part in that.
"There has been a lot of question marks about our defending this season, but we've answered them today which is really pleasing for everybody.
"The players have always come in, worked hard, focused on the next game and tried to improve ourselves, and for every setback we've had this season they've responded again and again.
"Today's the reward for all that hard work, it was a great feeling and it was emotional in the dressing room afterwards. I'm proud of them tonight."
Bournemouth's win was the first time in Premier League history that the second tier champions had won at the home of the previous season's top-flight winners, a fact made even more impressive by the amount of injuries Bournemouth have had to deal with so far this campaign.
"At the start of the season it was hard (for the players) to see their team-mates get injured," Howe said. "The team had to be reshuffled and our balance slightly suffered.
"I think we were aware of that so we've gone away and tried to find solutions to the problems we've had. We have a new look about our team but it's been effective, it's great for their self belief that we can come here and win. If we can do that here we can do it anywhere."
It doesn't get any easier for Bournemouth, though, as Howe's side next face Manchester United in a weeks' time.
"They don't get any easier do they!" joked Howe. "We're on a massive high after this game, the thing we have to do now is focus on the next game and try to put a performance in."
