AFC Bournemouth vs West Bromwich(WBA) - Howe delighted to have survival in the bag

Posted Saturday, May 07, 2016 by PA

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe is delighted that his side go into their final home game of the season against West Brom already knowing they will be playing Barclays Premier League football next time out.

The Cherries lost 2-1 at Everton last weekend but Norwich's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates secured their Premier League status for another season.

Howe's side have won five games at home in all competitions compared to the nine they have won on the road and the Bournemouth boss wants to finish the season on a high so they can celebrate with their fans.

Howe said: "Huge relief (to secure safety).

"I feel for those clubs that are still involved in it because there a huge pressure on everybody with what is at stake but the fact that we are now mathematically safe, it is nice to say because for weeks I have had to say the right thing but now we can relax and play some really good football.

"I was anxious to get the job done ourselves, to win the games and get points - that would have been the ideal. As it happened we had to rely on other teams which is never nice.

"The supporters have been absolutely brilliant for us this season, there have been some tough moments here, some tough fixtures, results haven't always gone our way but they have never turned against us, they have always clapped us off.

"We have maintained that positiveness between the fans and the players and that has definitely been one of our strengths this year.

"We have had a really tough run of fixtures, the results have not been great, we would love to end this season on a high, we would love to end our home form on a high and try and get our supporters going into the summer feeling very good about next season."

Howe will be without Adam Smith (groin) for the remaining two games of the Barclays Premier League season. Max Gradel is in contention having rejoined training following a hip/ thigh injury which has kept him out of the side since April 20.

West Brom boss Tony Pulis has hinted he is ready to make changes for the Baggies' final two games of the season.

Teenage forward Jonathan Leko is set to start again after impressing on his full debut despite Albion's 3-0 defeat to West Ham last week. Fellow youngsters Tyler Roberts and Sam Field are also expected to be in the squad but Chris Brunt (knee) and James Morrison (hamstring) will not feature.

Pulis, who has a year left on his deal, has said he wants to stay with the Baggies and will hold talks with chairman Jeremy Peace at the end of the season, with fresh terms on the agenda.

He has guided them to safety this season, with the Baggies in 14th in the Barclays Premier League.

Pulis signed a two-and-a-half-year deal when he replaced Alan Irvine in January 2015 and hinted he is ready to extend his deal.

He said: "Yeah, of course, I'll speak to the chairman as soon as the season finishes. We've got two weeks to go, two important games, and then we'll have dinner and sit down and we'll talk about things. I should imagine we'll be okay.

"I like the football club, it's a good football club, there's no problems for me in any shape, ways or form. There's lots of improvement that has to take place but it takes time, it's a good football club."