EDDIE Howe revealed how his management style owed much to West Brom boss Tony Pulis as he plotted to outsmart his former mentor.

As a youngster, Howe was coached by then-Cherries boss Pulis and took on board the principles from which he has not veered in his subsequent management career.

Howe will tomorrow attempt to complete a Premier League double over Pulis's West Brom side (3pm) but regardless of the result, the Vitality Stadium boss says he has great respect for his "brilliant" opposite number.

Responding to questions from the Daily Echo, Howe said: "My first memories of professional football were all down to Tony. He used to come down to the Centre of Excellence and coach the 14 and 15-year-olds.

"As players at that age, I don't think we fully appreciated that we had the manager of Bournemouth taking sessions with us. We just thought it was normal. But it was not and that was down to his work ethic.

"When you are a 16-year-old and coming into a professional environment for the first time, your ideas are shaped by those experiences.

"He was very organised, with hard-working staff and they were very tough training sessions and I have tried to take that into my work.

"I think respect is earned rather than given, even at that age. He was a football man who lived for football and and his work ethic was exceptional.

"I've got full respect for him, he's a brilliant manager."

Cherries have often been praised for their open and attractive style of play under Howe while Pulis's West Brom side are regularly perceived as effective spoilers.

But Howe feels that despite certain differences between his and Pulis's approach to management, the fundamentals remain identical.

He said: "The ideals and the principles are still the same – hard work, being organised and making sure your players are fit.

"How your teams may play may be slightly different but that's down to how people want the game played. There is no right or wrong way and no formula for success."

Cherries edged a 2-1 win over West Brom in December thanks to Charlie Daniels's late penalty, a game the Baggies ended with nine men following the dismissals of James McClean and Salomon Rondon.

Howe expects a different kind of encounter this time and insists he and his players are desperate to head into the season-ending clash with Manchester United on a positive note.

He added: "That was a good day for us because they are an incredibly tough team to beat.

"Tony's teams are very tough to break down and to continually stay on top of, so to get a win at their place was a big moment in our season.

"I think this time we will see a more open and attractive game. We are looking to end the season on a high. That is our big push."