CHERRIES boss Eddie Howe insists Blackpool’s dismal current form will count for nothing when the teams do battle at Bloomfield Road tomorrow (3pm).

The Tangerines, who topped the Championship following their 2-1 win at Dean Court in September, have taken just four points from their past 16 games.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “I think you can look at previous results and pay too much attention to them. The only thing that matters is this game. They are on a run of games without a victory but, from their perspective, will be looking for it to change some time and we don’t want to be the team that suffers as a consequence.

“When we played them earlier in the season, they were flying and had had a terrific start. For whatever reason, they have struggled recently.

"When you look back to that game, we performed well and felt we should have got something from it. I don’t think this will be any different and it will be a tough encounter. At this stage of the season, it is all about the result and both teams will be looking for the win.”

Howe, who presided over a 5-0 victory against Doncaster six days ago, Cherries’ biggest win in the second flight in their history, added: “We will be looking to take the game to Blackpool and to impose ourselves on them.

“But to do that, we have certain things that we need to do and I think we have done them well recently. If I were to evaluate our recent performances, there have been some impressive aspects of our play and we will certainly be looking to carry that on.”

Howe said the fitness of Tokelo Rantie and Ryan Fraser following their respective exertions on international duty this week would come into his team-selection thinking. He also revealed “a couple of fresh injuries” had come out of the Doncaster game but did not wish to elaborate.

  • Cherries youngsters Brandon Goodship and Samir Bihmoutine have joined Conference South outfit Hayes & Yeading United on a month's loan.