KEVIN Kilbane says Cherries are effectively playing with a target on their back – as Eddie Howe’s side go in search of their first win of 2017 at West Brom.

Former Baggies star Kilbane is convinced Cherries’ winless six-game run will have fuelled belief among the Premier League's struggling teams that Howe’s men can be hauled into the relegation scrap.

And he claims Cherries must quickly eradicate any fear which has crept into their play, an issue Kilbane says will have been addressed during the team’s training break in Madrid.

Kilbane told the Daily Echo: “Bournemouth have been on a poor run and, all of a sudden, with the form of the teams below them, they will be looking behind them.

“They will see Hull and Swansea getting better and better. If you are either of those two teams, or Crystal Palace, Sunderland or Middlesbrough, you will be targeting Bournemouth as the next team to suck into the battle.

“Bournemouth's players are probably looking over their shoulders, which inadvertently creates a little bit of fear – when you are on a bad run that fear inevitably sets in at some stage.”

Kilbane is warning Cherries they will tomorrow face a West Brom team vastly improved on the version beaten 1-0 at Vitality Stadium back in September.

But he says the away side’s chances of replicating last season’s victory at The Hawthorns will have been enhanced by the time they spent together in Spain last week.

“It was a chance for Eddie Howe to take the lads away and to get some training into them – but to let them have some downtime as well,” said Kilbane.

“Whenever I went away with any of the various clubs I was at, our training never let up.

“But in the evening you could go out for a meal or have a beer or two. That brings you all together. Words might be said, you have various conversations and that type of thing certainly does help.

"It can definitely have an impact in your next game – and it will be a difficult one.

“I have been extremely impressed with West Brom this season. Tony Pulis has been associated with negative football, almost anti-football, in the past.

“But he has some excellent footballers in his squad. They have a lot of quality throughout the team and Tony is tapping into that and allowing that talent to flourish.”

A confirmed admirer of Howe, Kilbane clearly recalls playing in a West Brom side downed by a goal from the now Cherries boss in an FA Cup third-round tie at Dean Court 18 years ago.

“It was the first time I’d played at Bournemouth and it was a great atmosphere,” said Kilbane.

“There were very few occasions during my career when I lost against a team from a lower division. But they were the better side, they got right in our faces and played in a good manner.

“There were no arguments afterwards because we knew Bournemouth had totally outplayed us.”