EDDIE Howe revealed he was a keen admirer of Swansea City’s style following their promotion to the Premier League.
Swans gained their place in the top flight under former boss Brendan Rodgers after beating Reading in the 2011 Championship play-off final.
And when Cherries reached English football’s top table four years later, Howe admitted he had analysed the way in which the Welsh club performed.
Cherries visit the Liberty Stadium tomorrow and are unbeaten against Swans in four Premier League fixtures.
Asked whether he saw any clubs as inspiration following his side’s promotion, Howe told the Daily Echo: “You try to look at other clubs and think ‘right, how have they done it?’.
“Swansea were the team who we looked at. They had come up in a very similar path to us where they were heading out of the Football League at one stage.
“They had done it with a way of playing and a philosophy that we really admired.
“We certainly looked at them and the players they recruited. I wouldn’t say they were anything we copied but were certainly a team we looked at.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here