BOSS Eddie Howe is targeting a repeat performance as Cherries return to the scene of one of their finest hours in the Championship.

Cherries’ 4-2 victory against Birmingham at St Andrew’s last season saw Howe’s troops write another chapter in the Dean Court record books.

Lewis Grabban’s double, coupled with goals from Matt Ritchie and Ian Harte, saw Cherries chalk up a seventh away win in the second flight – eclipsing the club’s previous best of six, set in 1987-88.

Ritchie’s opener was added to by Grabban’s tap-in and an emphatic penalty as Cherries raced into a 3-0 lead inside the first 28 minutes before Harte bagged the goal of the game in the second half.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “It was a good game. I thought we performed really well and I always enjoy going to St Andrew’s.

"We were ruthless in front of goal and that was the key against Reading on Tuesday because we took our chances when they came our way. It would be good to keep up the momentum.

“In an ideal world, you always want a fast start, especially in away games because it is an incredibly tough division to win away from home.

“We need to try to impose ourselves on the game, very much like we did there last season when we had a very good first-half performance. Hopefully, we can match that.”

Birmingham are likely to be under the caretaker management of first-team coach Richard Beale and head of recruitment Malcolm Crosby following the sacking of Lee Clark on Monday.

Howe added: “They recruited a lot of players in the summer and had a big change-around in personnel.

“They are very good in the wide and forward areas and have pace in the team.

“Their home record hasn’t been as good as they would have wanted over a sustained period of time and I am surprised at that because they have decent players.

"I am sure they will be looking to put that right as soon as possible.”