MANAGER Eddie Howe hailed Brett Pitman’s landmark 250th league appearance for Cherries as “one of his best”.

Pitman, a product of the club’s youth ranks, marked the occasion by netting Cherries’ opener during their 2-0 win over Fulham this afternoon.

His finely-executed ninth-minute header was added to by Harry Arter’s injury-time strike as Cherries returned to the top of the Championship.

Pitman, the club’s fifth highest all-time leading marksman, also saw his second-half penalty saved by Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli.

Howe told the Daily Echo: “He has been a really good servant to the club over a long period of time. I thought his performance was right up there as one of his best in his Bournemouth career.

“First and foremost, he took his goal well but some of his link-play and footwork in the first half was of a really high technical standard and it was really good to see him produce that kind of performance.

“He would have been slightly disappointed with the missed penalty but it should not take any of the gloss off what was a really good individual display and I was really pleased with him.

“It has been a long road for Brett to get an opportunity in the team. He has had to be very patient and very professional. When you show those qualities, it is good to see someone get rewarded. He is probably the fittest he has ever been and he is reaping the rewards from that hard work.

“For the first goal, it was a great ball in from Matt Ritchie with his wand of a left foot and a great run from Brett. It is a real skill to be able to keep a header down when the ball is coming at you so quickly.”

Victory saw Cherries take to 45 points their haul from the first half of the season – only the fifth time in the club’s Football League history that the tally has been reached. Howe’s League Two promotion heroes from 2010 hold the record of 46.

Howe added: “It is a fantastic return, especially when you consider where we were 13 games ago. For the lads to have gone on this unbeaten run has been a real bonus for us and to have that points tally at the halfway stage is a real achievement. But the key challenge is where we finish after 46 games. “

Discussing the performance, Howe said: “When you look at Fulham’s team-sheet and you see some of the names on there and the quality of their players, for us to play in the manner we did and to control the game and to create the chances we did was a real feather in our cap.

“It has been a really good day because I didn’t see Fulham create a meaningful chance and I think that was probably the real positive from the game.

“Fulham had slightly more possession in the second half but they didn’t penetrate us defensively and I thought our shape was very good. I didn’t think Artur was pushed to make a meaningful save and from previous positions at home when we have let leads slip, I think it is a real boost to know we can show that mental resolve against top-quality players.”

AFC Bournemouth's top five record points hauls at the halfway stage of the season: 1971-72 (46*), 2009-10 (46), 1968-69 (45*), 1973-74 (45*), 2014-15 (45). *Tallies include two points for a win counted as three.

For full post-match reaction from Howe, see the video below...