When the full-time whistle blew to confirm Bournemouth’s 3-2 win over Swansea on Saturday, the supporters in Dean Court will have breathed a huge sigh of relief. Steve Cook’s header 12 minutes from time secured a vital three points for the home team in their bid to avoid relegation. Victory moved Bournemouth 13 points clear of the relegation zone and, barring a major downturn in form, Eddie Howe’s side can begin gearing up for life in the Premier League next season.

“We’re not going to change our ideals, our way of working and our way of playing for various reasons,” said Howe back in November. At the time, his Bournemouth side were mired in the bottom three and were struggling to cope with the rigours of Premier League football. They had won many friends following their promotion from the Championship, but adulation will only take a team so far. When the going initially got tough, Bournemouth failed to shift out of neutral. Now, though, there appears to be no stopping them. Howe’s side have lost just two of their last nine league games, a commendable return in their first ever season in the top flight.

Howe has opted against changing Bournemouth’s style of play, instead relying on the type of football that secured domestic glory last season. His stubbornness is beginning to reap dividends. They were stuck in the relegation zone at the end of November but their form since then has been remarkable. If the season had started on 1 December, Bournemouth would now be third in the Premier League. Over the same period, only Tottenham and Leicester (both 10) have won more league games than Bournemouth (8).

It has been quite the turnaround in fortunes for Bournemouth, who are now in with a chance of a top-half finish. There is no star man at the club, with the whole squad pulling in the right direction. Bournemouth have covered more ground (3,511km) than any other team in the league this season. Simon Francis is their highest rated player, having gained a modest rating of 7.11. Their top goalscorer remains Callum Wilson, with five goals, and he hasn’t played since sustaining a season-ending injury back in September – no fewer than 13 players have chipped in with goals for the club this season.

Fortune has at times favoured their opponents – a 1-0 home defeat to Newcastle where they mustered 20 shots to the opponents’ two is a prime example – but Bournemouth are well organised and have shown enough quality to suggest they warrant a spot in the Premier League next season.

Only Manchester City (8.8), Liverpool (9.6) and Manchester United (10.4) have conceded more shots per game than Bournemouth (11), pointing to a midfield and defence willing to go to great lengths to ensure they don’t concede. Key players Andrew Surman, Simon Francis, Charlie Daniels and Steve Cook have been on the pitch for almost all of their matches, bringing a level of consistency to the team.

The team are familiar with what Howe wants, which makes it easier for the manager to get across his ideas. The acquisition of Benik Afobe in January provided an injection of attacking thrust in the absence of Wilson, and he has scored four goals already, while Max Gradel’s return from injury has been timely – he scored the opener in their win at the weekend. After a stuttering start, Bournemouth are on track to retain their Premier League status. A top-half finish would be the cherry on top of what has been a superb debut campaign in the top flight.

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