BOSS Eddie Howe insisted Cherries would not look to alter their playing style in a bid to improve results in the Premier League.

Defeat at Everton on Saturday, Cherries' fifth reverse in their first six games, left them one of the bottom with just three points.

Joshua King’s strike early in the second half proved not enough for Cherries as Senegalese frontman Oumar Niasse came off the bench to net twice for the hosts.

Howe’s men recorded almost 49 per cent possession against the Toffees at Goodison Park, with more than 400 completed passes in total.

And while Howe admitted his side’s game-management in the latter stages was an aspect to work on, he remained defiant in claiming his team would continue to play their passing style.

Asked whether he would look to adapt following Cherries’ difficult start to the campaign, Howe replied: “We have never changed.

“We have had bad runs and good runs. Whatever has been thrown at us, we do what we do.

“It is the only way to play with the players I have, so we endeavour to do better.

“You cannot be something you’re not. You have to be true to yourself and that won’t change.

“It’s important to us because it’s the best way we have of getting positive results. Doing another thing and another way of playing will not suit the players we have available to us.”

He added: “You can't score and then suddenly think ‘right, let’s shut up shop and smash the ball long’. You can’t do that.

“Players would be confused and they’d know you wouldn’t have true belief in what you are trying to do.

“You just have to do what you do as well as you can and we have won plenty of games playing that way.”

One thing Howe did claim his charges needed to work on was the ability to deal with crucial moments, with Saturday’s defeat being a key example.

“We scored the goal, we looked great and had several chances to make it two or three,” he added.

“We didn’t take them and their first goal swung the game back in their favour.

“The most disappointing thing is how we managed the last part of the game.

“At 1-1, I thought we needed to recognise the situation of the game was different but we conceded soon after.

“I think game-management is a key part of what any team needs in their armoury. The ability to see out games and to win games ugly.

“This season, we haven’t been able to do that in the two games we have been clinging on to something, we have lost both of them, so there is certainly stuff to work on.”

Howe confirmed midfielder Harry Arter had been left out of the squad at Everton due to an Achilles problem but said the injury was not serious.