BOSS Eddie Howe has targeted tomorrow’s clash at the Etihad as this season’s ‘Chelsea game’.

The Dorset side’s 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge in December acted as the catalyst for a run of results that ultimately helped secure the club’s Premier League survival.

Howe’s men went on to beat Manchester United and West Brom in their next two games, before three straight victories in March all but sealed their top-flight status.

Asked by the Echo whether City’s postponed Champions League clash against Borussia Mönchengladbach in midweek would affect the preparation of Pep Guardiola’s side, Howe said: “I was hoping the game would be on Friday to be honest! It’s was a day later and you can’t read too much into that.

“But it’s a good time for us to go and face the best.

“Like the Chelsea game last year, we’re looking for that one match that can inspire the rest of the season as that one did for us last season.

“In the games against the big clubs last year we had some success and some big beatings.

“We will need to be at our best and they will potentially need to have a day where they don’t perform as well as they have done so far this season.”