EDDIE Howe emerged from the “emotional turmoil” of Saturday’s show-stopping finish against Everton content with Cherries’ attacking prowess – despite their defensive fragility.

Cherries went into the clash with the Premier League’s worst defensive record and found themselves overpowered twice in a tight first half as the Toffees put Howe’s men in a sticky situation.

But the Dean Court boss felt the rousing fightback to level in the final 10 minutes and again in the eighth minute of added time would stand his side in good stead, in spite of conceding 30 top-flight goals to date.

Quizzed about Cherries’ defensive record, Howe said: “It is not ideal. Certainly, we have worked very hard on our defensive shape and ways of working over the past month but it has not helped us at the moment.

“We are hoping to tighten up in future games. Everton had a spell where they were bombarding our goal in the first half and you felt we might have weathered that.

“Unfortunately, they scored from a corner then it was difficult for the rest of the first half.

“The most important thing from our perspective, rather than focusing on that, is that we’re scoring goals. To stand any chance of staying in this league, you need the belief that you can score and that pleases me no end.

“We have looked like a really good side of late. We have been good in attack and I think that is important, you need to score goals.

Substitute Adam Smith’s belter kicked off a crazy 18-minute spell in which Cherries levelled through Junior Stanislas with four minutes to play, conceded in the fifth minute of added time and still salvaged a point through their former West Ham and Burnley winger.

Asked whether those madcap moments made the pressure of management worthwhile, Howe said: “For a split second they do.

“The emotion I felt when we conceded was polarised by the feeling when we scored. They were just total opposites.

“For those five or six seconds, it made all the hard work worthwhile but now those emotions have gone, it’s all about the next game but I will have a nice feeling knowing the players showed fantastic spirit.”

Howe’s upbeat mood was, however, tempered by the feeling Smith should have been awarded a penalty having tangled with Everton defender Brendan Galloway in the box moments after clawing the score back to 2-1.

“I thought we had a really good shout for a penalty and I was surprised it wasn’t given.

“I was expecting the penalty to be given but it wasn’t. You just have to get on with it.”

And two-goal hero Stanislas also came in for praise from the manager after poaching his first league goals since August 2014 against Brentford.

“We have always believed in Junior’s ability,” said Howe.

“Technically, athletically, he has everything you need to play in the Premier League. What he needed was an opportunity.

“Since he has been given that, he has flourished and I am so pleased for him to get his rewards.

“Last season, when he wasn’t in the team, he was a great professional who supported the players so it was really nice to see.”