BOSS Eddie Howe watched Cherries put on a command performance in their Dean Court finale and then tasked his players with staging a curtain call.

Howe’s charges yesterday completed their home league campaign with a convincing 4-0 drubbing of in-form League Two play-off hopefuls Port Vale.

Victory, which came courtesy of a four-goal second-half salvo from Brett Pitman, Alan Connell (two) and Josh McQuoid, saw Cherries leapfrog Rochdale into second place.

And Howe is keen to see his promotion heroes maintain the momentum and finish the season with a flourish by beating faltering Dale to the runners-up spot.

Cherries bring down the curtain at play-off chasing Chesterfield on Saturday, while Rochdale visit Barnet – with the Bees possibly needing to win to retain their Football League status.

“It would be massive for us to finish second,” said Howe. “For a long part of the season, we were ahead of Rochdale before they took top spot from us. We didn’t enjoy that.

“Then, they sailed past us and built up a big gap and we didn’t enjoy that either. Full credit goes to Notts County for winning the league but we have had a good rivalry with Rochdale this season. They beat us 4-0 at home and it was a close contest at their place which finished 0-0.

“We are not making any promises but we want second place and will do everything we can to try to get it.”

An impressive second-half showing against Port Vale set up a dramatic last-day shootout between Cherries and Rochdale for the £10,000 second-placed prize money, with third banking £5,000. Howe’s men will be bidding to protect a one-point advantage when they meet Chesterfield in the final match to be staged at their Saltergate headquarters.

Howe added: “We go there with something at stake and there is going to be a lot on the last game at Saltergate. It is all set up really well. There is always something to play for and people travel a long way to watch us and you have a duty to perform.

“We ended last season in good style. We won our final three matches and would like to end this season in a similar vein. We took that momentum into the start of this season and want to do the same next season.”

Cherries’ biggest final-day victory since 1971 was also their seventh successive home win.

•SEE TOMORROW'S DAILY ECHO FOR EXTENDED MATCH COVERAGE, INCLUDING CELEBRATION AND FAN PICTURES.