BOSS Eddie Howe hailed the character of his players after Cherries came from a goal down to defeat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park.

Scott Dann put the Eagles in front from close range but Marc Pugh’s stylish leveller and Benik Afobe’s header handed the visitors three valuable points.

And on a night when a string of other results went in Cherries’ favour, Howe was delighted to secure victory following a hard-fought encounter.

He told the Daily Echo: “It was a big win for us. Every game at this level is so important at this stage of the season.

“When you go a goal down here, it’s certainly going to be a tough game. We had to defend a lot of long balls and set plays – all the things you expect when you come to Crystal Palace and we did that really well.

“To come back from a goal down was the biggest highlight.

“If you go a goal down at this level, it’s very difficult to come back as teams are so good at keeping the ball and killing the game.

“I think that character and resilience the players showed tonight was a key factor. Scoring before half-time was a boost for us because we hadn’t played well in the first half. Palace were better than us.

“We were slow out of the traps and didn’t really get any rhythm to our passing game. It was a disappointing performance.

“We knew if we could play better in the second half, which we expected to, we would have a chance of winning the game.”

Howe also reserved praise for Pugh’s excellent equaliser, the wide man bamboozling Dann before stroking past Wayne Hennessey in the Palace goal.

The boss said: “It was a trademark move between Daniels and Pugh. I thought Daniels’s pass was sublime and the way Pugh took it and checked, we have seen many times down the years, and he put it away really well.

“It was a rare moment for us in the first half where we struggled for rhythm in our play.”

The contest was fractious at times with Wilfried Zaha often at the centre of it and referee Mike Jones handed out no fewer than seven bookings.

Howe said: “We always tell our players to keep their heads because if you go down to 10 men at this level, it is so difficult.

“It was quite a bitty game with a lot of free-kicks but I thought the referee managed it pretty well because with a hostile crowd it is easy to be swayed by the noise.

“I thought he was fair for both teams.”

Howe added: “There is a long way to go this season but the win certainly helps. To win away from home at this level is very difficult so we have to cherish it and try and keep it going.

“We need to pick up points in every game.”