BOSS Eddie Howe saw Cherries blitz their way back to the top of the Championship before praising his team for their creativity and clinical finishing.

Howe’s men brushed aside struggling Fulham and romped to an emphatic 5-1 victory in front of the Sky Sports cameras at Craven Cottage last night.

Brett Pitman and Matt Ritchie both notched doubles and Steve Cook also got his name on the scoresheet as Cherries hit five or more goals for the fifth time this season.

Matt Smith bagged a consolation for the shell-shocked Cottagers, while Fernando Amorebieta was sent off for the hosts after hauling down Callum Wilson.

Howe said: “We started the game very well and were very positive. We scored at good times, the lads were clinical in front of goal and we probably could have scored more.

“Winning against Wolves in midweek gave us a big lift and restored our confidence. I thought that showed early in the game and was very pleased with how we started.

“During the five games we didn’t win, I felt our performance levels were very strong. We were dominating games but we weren’t being clinical enough in both boxes. I didn’t think there was anything wrong with the team and think we have proved that.

“We have rediscovered our confidence in front of goal and, hopefully, that stays because when we have that ruthlessness to our game, we are a hard team to stop.

“We have had times this season when we haven’t protected leads very well and one of the big messages we have given to the players is to still attack and not be negative.

“We have goalscorers in the team and we have a creative flair. A lot of the players who don’t score deserve the credit for that because they are the ones creating the chances so I think we have we have really good balance to the team at the moment.”

Pitman took his goal tally for the season to 10 and Ritchie to 11 – with Cherries now having no fewer than four players in double figures, the other two being Callum Wilson and Yann Kermorgant.

Howe added: “It is very healthy that we are not reliant on one person. It means we have goals coming from all angles and I think that makes us more difficult to play against.

“We are going to need that between now and the end of the season. We are coming to a pivotal stage and are going to need our goalscorers to be in good form. Hopefully, that will give them the boost they need.”