EDDIE Howe admitted Cherries’ performance levels had suffered by “a very small percentage” having moved within touching distance of Premier League safety.

Three straight wins against Southampton, Newcastle and Swansea from the start of March took off the pressure ahead of a daunting run-in.

Spurs, Manchester City and Liverpool have since put Cherries to the sword with Howe admitting in his post-match addresses that performance had not lived up to expectations.

There will be no let up tomorrow with champions Chelsea heading to Vitality Stadium (3pm) and Howe believes his troops to rediscover their relentless streak.

Howe said: “We still don’t consider ourselves safe, I think I have been saying that the whole time.

“While it is mathematically possible to be caught, we have to have our wits about us and make sure we prepare for every game like it is a cup final. We are trying to do that.

“Psychologically, it has been difficult with the outside world telling everybody we are safe and I think that has had an impact on a small percentage of how we are viewing the game.

“We were playing games like our lives depended on it all through the season. Suddenly, I think it is natural that when people say you’ve achieved your objective, the psychology is that you drop your level a very small percentage.

“We have to make sure we find that again for this game.”