BOSS Eddie Howe is adamant Cherries have toughened up mentally since arriving in the Premier League.

Howe guided Cherries to 16th, ninth and 12th-placed finishes in their first three seasons in the top flight.

They earned 21 points from losing positions last season, a league-high statistic which accounted for almost half of their points.

Howe’s men were at it again at West Ham on Saturday, falling behind to Marko Arnautovic’s first-half penalty before Callum Wilson and Steve Cook turned the game on its head.

Asked if he felt Cherries’ mental strength had improved, Howe told the Daily Echo: “Without a doubt. I think it comes with the experience of dealing with the Premier League.

“The players have been there a few seasons and have seen most things.

“They have experienced most highs and lows and that is starting to pay dividends for us in certain situations because a game can change very quickly.”

Discussing the fightback against West Ham, Howe said: “Away from home, it’s very important that if you do suffer at moments, you have the composure not to concede again and to see out the rough moments, knowing you have the quality to come back.

“At half-time, we were trying to regroup and make sure we were very positive in the second half and took the game to them.

“Had we gone 2-0 down, that would have become more difficult so I was very pleased to equalise and once we got ahead, we managed that situation well.”

Meanwhile, Cherries have been drawn in a group with Liverpool, Burnley and West Brom in the Premier League Cup.