STEVE Cook says Cherries "must win" at West Bromwich Albion tomorrow and he is promising his team will "mix it" with their hard-nosed opponents.

Cherries have claimed only two points from six fixtures since the turn of the year, a run which has seen them drop to within six points of the Premier League's bottom three.

Nevertheless, Eddie Howe's side responded to conceding six goals at Everton by delivering an energetic, ambitious performance in their most recent outing against Manchester City.

Asked for his verdict on Cherries after the game, City boss Pep Guardiola insisted Howe's men possessed too much quality to be dragged into a relegation scrap.

And while Cook is adamant his side will never abandon their preferred, expansive way of playing, the defender accepts they will be in for a fight at in-form West Brom.

He said: "It is very easy to play the longer stuff and to play percentages. But that is not how Bournemouth have played down the years. It is not how the gaffer has ever played.

"We know how hard West Brom will be. We will have to mix it. They are a very physical team.

"We have to show we can do that side of the game as well and it is a must win for us."

While Cook is expecting Cherries to have to scrap for anything they get from Tony Pulis's Baggies, the 25-year-old insists the manner in which his side play is a source of great pride for them.

Cook's view contrasts with that of Burnley boss Sean Dyche, who recently claimed that asking his team to play "like Chelsea" would be to risk frittering away their Premier League status.

"We are very proud of how we play," continued Cook. "That is how we will win.

"We cannot go to West Brom and the likes of Burnley and the sides that are a bit more physical and a bit more direct and play their game.

"I heard Sean Dyche say he couldn’t play neat football against Chelsea, because, if you play how Chelsea want you to, you would be beaten two, three or 4-0.

"But you have to be different. So we will be different against West Brom. We will play our game and, hopefully, that will bring us success."

Cook said Cherries exhibited an ability to blend their courageous style with defensive nous during the Vitality Stadium encounter with City, which the visitors ultimately won 2-0.

"We try to play football the right way," added Cook. "But I think we were a bit more streetwise against City.

"We didn’t want to play too much, because of how good they are going forward. But we still wanted to stretch them and I think that bravery is what will get us out of this.

"That is what we have built our team around and we will continue to do that. In the long run we will be alright."