A WIN at Wigan and a sell-out top-of-the-table clash - no wonder Eddie Howe's class of 2015 are evoking memories of 1987.

Victory at the DW Stadium on Saturday was Cherries' first away success against the Latics since Harry Redknapp's men won 2-0 at Springfield Park almost 28 years ago.

Rated by Redknapp as their best triumph of the Division Three title-winning campaign, it left them 11 points clear at the top and set a club record of 25 wins in a season.

Just six weeks previously, a crowd of 13,835 had paid record receipts and crammed into Dean Court to see if Cherries could lower the colours of Middlesbrough, their closest pursuers.

Second-placed Boro, who had cuffed Cherries 4-0 in the November, headed south trailing Redknapp's team by three points but with a game in hand.

Although Mark Newson drew first blood for the hosts, Bernie Slaven quickly restored parity. However, a stunning strike from Sean O'Driscoll and a Trevor Aylott penalty won the day for Cherries as they opened a six-point gap they would never surrender.

A regular on the terraces when he was growing up in nearby Verwood, Howe, then aged nine, missed the big game, probably because he had to be up early for school the next day.

Little did he know that some 28 years later, he would be hoping to mastermind a victory that would give Cherries the edge over one of their main rivals for promotion to the top flight.

“I remember the time and did come to a lot of games that season but not that one,” said Howe, speaking to the Daily Echo ahead of Cherries' Championship clash with Derby tomorrow.

“I think there are comparisons between the two teams and I remember them having a tremendous will to win. You look at the characters in that side and what they went on to achieve. I think that says a lot about their mindset and mentality.

“The current team has all those hallmarks. They have a really good will to win, they are very professional and don't get too carried away in terms of results.

“I have been so impressed with how they have handled the increased exposure they have had in recent weeks. It hasn't affected them and they are still exactly the same group of players. I am hoping that can stay and we can achieve even more than that special team of 1987.”

Cherries' stay in the second flight lasted just three years with last season's 10th-placed finish for Howe's men eclipsing the previous best of 12th in 1988-89.

Asked whether he felt the current crop had already surpassed the achievements of Redknapp's heroes, Howe replied: “I don't think that is one for me to answer. I think that is for supporters and people who have watched both sides play regularly.

“I hope that, in time, there would be no doubt that this is the best AFC Bournemouth team ever. That would be my wish but I don't think I am qualified to say because, potentially, I might be biased to one team and that would not be fair. I just hope there will be no question on that come the end of the season.”

Cherries' 1986-87 squad (20 or more appearances): Gerry Peyton, Mark Newson, Mark Whitlock, John Williams, Paul Morrell, Richard Cooke, Sean O'Driscoll, Tony Pulis, Carl Richards, Gary Howlett, Mark O'Connor, Trevor Aylott.

Cherries' 2014-15 squad (15 or more appearances): Artur Boruc, Simon Francis, Steve Cook, Tommy Elphick, Andrew Surman, Marc Pugh, Harry Arter, Matt Ritchie, Brett Pitman, Charlie Daniels, Callum Wilson, Yann Kermorgant, Junior Stanislas, Ryan Fraser, Dan Gosling.