BOSS Eddie Howe saluted the Dean Court faithful for the key role they played in helping Cherries achieve their highest finishing position in club history.

Victory over Burnley yesterday saw Cherries climb to 10th in the Premier League and ensured they would eclipse last season’s 16th place in the top flight.

Clarets old boy Junior Stanislas netted a finely-taken opener following a sumptuous pass from Lewis Cook in the first half before ex-Cherries striker Sam Vokes headed the visitors level seven minutes from time.

However, man of the moment Joshua King plundered his 16th league goal – and his 18th of the season – as Cherries rounded off their home campaign in style.

The win guaranteed Howe would improve the club’s finishing league position for the sixth time in succession since he first took the reins in 2009.

Howe pointed to a marked improvement in Cherries’ home form – they collected 11 more points at Vitality Stadium than last season – and said supporters should take their share of the credit.

He told the Daily Echo: “It has been a role reversal from last season and is difficult to work out how or why that has happened.

“Our home form has been very strong. We have been good here and our supporters have more than played their part in that by creating an atmosphere the players feel comfortable in.

“They have been able to express themselves and that has been really important. We feel confident here and like playing in front of our own fans.

“It is difficult to figure out why we haven’t quite had the success away from home which we had last season. It is something we will have to reflect on in the summer.”

Cherries registered five victories in front of their own fans last season – the fewest since they joined the Football League in 1923 – but increased the tally to nine this time round.

Asked whether finishing in the top 10 would provide a boost ahead of next season, Howe replied: “I think it would be important if we could achieve that.

“It would be a really nice thing to say and a really nice thing to achieve together. It would continue the momentum that we have built in recent seasons but would be something we would not take for granted if it were to happen.

“One of the criticisms we had last season was how we finished. We achieved our aim of staying in the league a little earlier than we did this year and, with the fixtures we had, we finished the season poorly.

“I would like to think the players learned from that experience and thought “we don’t want the same to happen again”.

“It was a horrible feeling and a horrible way to end, despite the fact we had had a great season overall.

“It is much better to be finishing it this way. We have one game to go and would love to get another positive result if possible.”