Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe spoke to his club's official website after his side's 3-1 League One win over Carlisle at Dean Court, Howe saying the Cherries performed below their best in the game:
“It was a fantastic atmosphere, you could hear and feel the atmosphere and the eagerness of the crowd to see us perform well and win the game. I think the players performed probably below our best level if I am honest, but we probably saved our best for the game when Carlisle equalised. From that moment on towards the end of the game I thought we were excellent and in the end deserved the win.
“At 2-1 anything can happen, in my eyes I am still thinking one slip, one mistake, but Brett Pitman’s finish is the same as it always is, it is a special finish with his left foot on the angle. He has got no right to score from there, and he has been one of the major reasons why we have done so well of late. But, the team, and the substitutes are included in that, the whole squad have been excellent and deserve all the credit.
“You don’t achieve anything without a good team and that is not just the players, that is the staff and the supporters and the people that work in the back rooms of the club. So, we are a good team, I think the club, I have said all along, ever since I have worked here it has got a lovely feel about it and it is a joy to work here.
“Unfortunately Eddie Mitchell has faced a lot of criticism for parts of his ownership here, but you just have to look at where the club has come and how far it has come under his stewardship, the improvements he has made to the ground, the improvements he has made to the structure. Then his vision for the long-term, hopefully the improvements that will be made to the stadium in terms of finishing the end. He deserves full credit for what he has done and the vision that he had, and he has done a very good job for this football club.
“I am really proud inside as well, really pleased, but I get more satisfaction in seeing other people happy to be honest. To see the players who have worked so hard to achieve this, to see their reactions and to see what it means to them means everything to me. I remember coming here for years and years and watching game after game and really loving the players at the time and growing to love the club. As a supporter you want success so much, you want to see the club move on, thankfully we have given that to a really loyal group of supporters.
“I have been so wrapped up with what you do day to day that I haven’t thought long-term about next year or having visions or anything like that. It has been very much a case of focus on the short-term, and we will continue to do that until such time as we can fully prepare for next year. I do know that it will be very difficult in the Championship, but I will think about that at a later date. But, for now I have never won a league in all my years as a player or as a manager, so to win something would be a great end to the season.”